Weather Bomb hits NZ

Apparently it was the coldest May in 10 years and now looks like June is following suit. I don't think it's supposed to be this bad normally. Certainly hope not.

Thousands still without power as new cold blast approaches
4.00pm Friday June 16, 2006

Thousands of people are still without an electricity supply as a fresh southerly nears the South Island. Southland and Otago are likely to be worst hit this time, and some heavy snow showers are possible, MetService said. Though the numbers of properties without power dropped sharply today, between 1000 and 1500 properties were still without electricity in South Canterbury. Electricity lines companies said they were making progress five days after heavy snow hit the region.

Alpine Energy chief executive Greg Skelton today said some of the more remote properties were continuing to face a wait of up to two weeks before full power is restored. Line repair crews have been boosted with extra staff coming in from Dunedin and Central Otago, and today would concentrate on the coastal Seadown area, where about 50 power poles had been knocked out. Mr Skelton said damage was widespread and Alpine Energy appreciated that people were being 'very patient out there'

In Mid Canterbury, Electricity Ashburton has managed to halve the numbers of people still without power. Electricity Ashburton general manager Gordon Guthrie said about 3000 properties were now waiting to be reconnected. 'We're making fairly good progress', he said.

In North Canterbury, less than 10 homes were still without power, Mainpower planning manager Stuart Wilson said. A few water pumps and sheds still needed to be reconnected, but Mr Wilson said he hoped they would be 'pretty much all connected by lunchtime'.

MetService said today that a cold front should move onto the far south this evening. It said: 'This is likely to bring snow showers to near sea-level in parts of Southland and Otago, especially in the area from the Catlins to the Otago Peninsula. The snow is currently not expected to accumulate to warning amounts over a widespread area, but significant falls could occur in brief heavy snow showers. Forecasters will also watch this area, and issue a warning if snow accumulations look likely to exceed warning criteria.'

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF

Anger as big freeze worsens
Sunday June 18, 2006
By Jo McCarroll and Martha McKenzie-Minifie

South Island residents still without power were angry yesterday at the slow response to their plight.As the big freeze entered its sixth day, thousands were still without electricity - some without water or telephones - with many facing weeks before lines are fixed.

'People could have died out here and no one would have known'; said Graeme Hunter from Waipopo, a small community near Timaru. ' ... we didn't hear from anyone outside the area until the Red Cross got here on Thursday. And now we've been told the power could be off for another three weeks. In rural areas, you expect a power cut for a day or two in the winter, but to me it seems ridiculous in this day and age that it will take three weeks to get things running again.'

Yesterday, Civil Defence Minister Rick Barker's flying tour of the worst-affected regions was delayed when his helicopter broke down. When he arrived in Fairlie at noon, he praised the rural communities who rallied through what some locals say is the worst snowfall since 1943. MetService predicted more wintry blasts for the South Island today, which could bring snow as low as 300m in Canterbury.

Thunderstorms and hail were forecast for the North Island, a repeat of yesterday's weather when lightning struck North Shore Hospital, cutting off power and forcing it to use a back-up generator.

Some telephones were cut off after the 8.30am lightning strike, which damaged three houses in the suburb of Westlake, where a house's chimney exploded, the fireplace blew out and the wiring was fried.

The strike hit a Westlake Girls' High School sports ground during a soccer match. No players were injured but sparks flew from spectators' umbrellas. Renata Caminada, whose windows were shattered, said her neighbour only escaped injury because he was in the toilet.

Yes it is a fact of New Zealand life, we do suffer (or enjoy) extremes in weather. What makes New Zealand different from land locked continents is that our islands are exposed to the sea and both islands have high mountain ranges running down the centre. The mountains cause a buildup of clouds causing a high air pressure. Firstly causing high rain fall on the western sides of the islands and then as the clouds travel across the mountains and down the eastern slopes high wind is created. Weather conditions in new Zealand can change very rapidly from sunshine and cloudless skies to rain and heavy wind all in a matter of hours. Rural New Zealanders are generally well prepared for these extreme changes of weather conditions. Extra food, generators, wood stoves which provide heat and hot water. Most rural farmers are prepared to be isolated for weeks. Flooding and heavy rainfall often causes landslips which close roads at any time of the year. geologically speaking New Zealand is a young country and apart from the sea cliffs and in the mountain ranges solid rock is rare and most roads are built on a base of expansive clay called papa. Papa moves like jelly when wet and cracks and breaks away when it is dry.

Very interesting, Gecko. Thanks and welcome to the forum.

Red, white ... and turning blue very quickly
Monday June 19, 2006

Brothers Dave and Phil Hurn were not going to miss a chance for a swim at 'the best beach in the world', even if was just three days to the shortest day of the year. Dave (left), a Mt Maunganui local, and Phil, from Tauranga, joined about 100 other brave souls for the annual 'Polar Bear Mid Winter Swim' at Main Beach, the Mount, yesterday.

It was the second year in a row the brothers had braved the chilly waters, 40-year-old Dave saying it was 'something to do.' Said Phil, 44: 'We've got to have a bit of fun.'

Like last year, the pair sprinted to the water in board shorts and body paint. This year, the paint was 'Fire and Ice' red and white. Last year, it was blue for the Blues Brothers.

Standing around before the swim at 1pm, the brothers were already shivering. 'It's just the wind chill,' Dave said. 'It's not too bad in the sun.'

Several hundred spectators watched as the swimmers hit the water with piercing screams. The water temperature hit 15C. With an air temperature of 12C, not counting the wind-chill factor, some swimmers said it was warmer in than out.

The swim, organised by children's charity Kiwanis and Classic Hits radio station, raised several hundred dollars for Plunket.

NZ Herald

Blizzard warning for Canterbury
Monday June 19, 2006
By Maggie McNaughton and Juliet Rowan

Canterbury residents were warned to brace themselves yesterday as another heavy dumping of snow was forecast to add to already miserable conditions. The MetService issued a new heavy snow warning for North Canterbury last night as power companies continued their battle to reconnect hundreds of homes that have been without electricity since last Monday's heavy snowfall.

'It won't be as bad as [last] Monday, but it will be more blizzard-type snow than before due to the strong, cold southerly that will accompany the snow', said forecaster Gerard Barrow.

But the snow is not all bad news in the North Island. The snow depth on Mt Ruapehu is expected to reach one metre today, adding weight to predictions of the best ski season for the central North Island mountain in a decade. Chairlifts are due to open this week at both skifields, following the opening of beginners' areas on Friday.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts marketing manager Mike Smith said several hundred learners and tobogganers took to the slopes at the weekend, enjoying better weather than opening weekends in recent years. 'It's cold, but a nice sort of cold - pretty dry.'

Mr Smith said this season was shaping up to be the best in the seven years he had worked at Ruapehu and possibly the best in 10 years. The icy roads caused problems in the central North Island yesterday, with six accidents on State Highway 1 between Taupo and Turangi in the hour and a half from 8am. No one was injured but Taupo police said cars left the road after drivers lost control in icy conditions. The road remained open as sun melted the ice during the day.

But the Desert Road and State Highway 4 between National Park and Raetihi were closed last night because of poor conditions. The MetService said the North Island could expect heavy showers today, which would ease by this evening.

Meanwhile, about 1000 Canterbury households were still without power last night and the weather had made work more difficult. Timaru District Council communications manager Graeme Stilwell said the severe weather had left 'everyone a bit gun-shy'. 'There has been a rush on supermarkets this weekend, with everyone stocking up, just in case,' he said.

For those still without power in Geraldine, Temuka and Timaru, motorcamps had offered people free showers. Mr Stilwell said Civil Defence had established teams equipped with a total of 18 generators to visit those without power to replenish their water supplies.

In Ashburton, apart from some remote and badly damaged areas, the majority of the rural distribution network was expected to be operational by late last night.

Get help, snowed-in southerners told

Snowbound South Islanders entering a second week without power are being told to get help rather than tough it out.

About 800 Alpine Energy consumers in South Canterbury were still without electricity last night, prompting chief executive Greg Skelton to warn: 'For some, things are getting dire'. 'People should not try to tough it out, but contact civil defence at their local councils', he said.

Geez, sounds like the extreme winter we had earlier this year. We wound up having significant amounts of rain into May, and are so far about 60% over normal rainfall.

Man it;s crazy outside at the mo. Rain is Lashing down, the most I've ever seen (or heard). I had to go out to the car to get something and stepped in a puddle over my shoe. A bit weird considering the garden is on a terrace with a steep slope heading down to the road and the 'pond' was at the top.

Pretty cool really as I know it will be really sunny and fairly warm again tomorrow. Glad the shortest day's over with now tho, was getting me down having to end my exploration so early everyday. Throwing out our body clocks a bit too.

And you weren?t troubled by freezing ice and blizzards at all when you were in SI? And there was I worrying about how you were all managing in the sub-zero temps in a campervan and driving all those miles. The media reports sounded dire (and still do) for that region.