New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => International => Topic started by: Mark on July 31, 2022, 08:40:13 PM
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Ski resorts across the Southern Hemisphere are having a ‘great season’ with ‘massive snowstorms dumping feet of snow on the mountains’, reports snowbrains.com.
The New Zealand ski season has been one for the record books, according to unofficialnetworks.com, and a number of ski areas are struggling to stay open with all the new snow.
Mt Lyford Ski Area has been forced to close once again after receiving feet upon feet of record-setting accumulations.
The resort, located near Christchurch on NZ’s South Island, announced the ‘bad news’ on social media:
SORRY. We tried. We are not going to make opening today. There is just too much snow on our road, the visibility is not improving. The lifts also have a good amount of rime ice on them so we will be spending the rest of the day getting everything sorted for a sunny Saturday with plenty of pow.
https://electroverse.co/too-much-snow-closes-nz-ski-resort-rare-cool-down-sweeps-uae-and-oman-quiet-atlantic-hurricane-season/
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New Zealand’s southern ski fields are lapping up the high visitor numbers and will stay open an extra week thanks to a healthy covering of snow.
Coronet Peak and Treble Cone have decided to give themselves an extra week, and will close on Oct 2.
Coronet Peak general manager Nigel Kerr said the decision was an easy one: “We’ve had a boomer of a season, there is no doubt about it, the 75th year is going to be very memorable one for snowfall and the amount of skiers up the hill, among other things.”
Kerr concluded: “It is very close to a record season if not, it certainly it has been our best season in quite some time.”
Coronet Peak is looking at a record-breaking “boomer season”.
Looking ahead, and across the country, MetService has warned New Zealanders to brace themselves for the “coldest week of the year” as record-challenging, sub-zero temperatures, additional snowfall, and heavy rain are readying to strike.
Lows of -8.1C, -6C and -5.7C have already been logged Manapouri, Lumsden, and Alexandra, respectively–on Monday–and there’s much more to come, warned MetService in a tweet:
https://electroverse.co/snow-western-australia-boomer-season-keeps-new-zealand-ski-fields-open-brits-braced-for-winter-blackouts/
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“HYPOTHERMIA RISK” IN NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) is warning there will be a real hypothermia risk for people and livestock this week as an fierce blast of polar cold invades from the south.
Nearly all eastern and southern lowland areas of the South Island will have an “effective temperature” (a reading which takes into account wind chill and humidity, as well as the normal air temp) of between -5C (23F) and -15C (5F) early Thursday morning, according to NIWA, which will prove record-breaking for many.
https://electroverse.co/dangerous-sunspot-glitch-in-the-matrix-cold-sweden-hypothermia-risk-nz-global-temp-drops/
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“ONE-IN-50-YEAR FROST” DECIMATES NZ BLUEBERRY CROP
the entirety of New Zealand –that’s both islands– has been suffering ‘a year without a spring’ in 2022.
Following a warm winter, spring is now stalling, completely failing to spring.
Due to a weak and wavy ‘meridional’ jet stream flow –itself caused by low solar activity/Earth’s waning magnetic field– a string of polar air masses have escaped the Antarctic ice sheet and have been tail-whipped north over NZ, and also Australia.
Record lows and historic snows have gripped the region in recent weeks, prompting snowfall warnings and calls for farmers to protect young livestock–ironically.
The latest out-of-season freeze has impacted crops, too, including blueberry orchards.
After sleepless, frosty nights –that saw thermometers plunge to a record-busting -5C (23F)– a Waikato family watched their blueberry crops dying in front of their eyes.
As reported by sunlive.co.nz, Monavale Blueberries, New Zealand’s largest certified organic blueberry orchard, should be full of white flowering bushes and the deafening hum of bees at this time of year. However, a “one-in-50-year” frost has left the shrubs brown, the bees vanished and an estimated 300 tonnes of potential produce destroyed — some 90% of the crop.
“We have never seen anything like this,” said third-generation orchard manger Oliver de Groot.
MetService data confirms this, revealing that -2.9C (26.8F) was the previous coldest October reading on record (since 1972).
“We are all very upset by it,” continued de Groot. “We did what we could and there is nothing else we could have done to prevent it … We grow over 40 varieties of blueberries. The main reason, if an event like this happens we have some that are protected.”
This freeze was so hard that barely anything made it.
Even two helicopters flying from midnight to sunrise couldn’t circulate the air fast enough to keep it above 0C.
“If the frost had been light they may have been able to save more berries,” said de Groot. “However, it got down to -5C (23F) at ground level,” which, for the young, blossoming berries proved devastating.
This cold-induced misery isn’t just confined to the Waikato District.
Far from it.
As Blueberry New Zealand manager Rob Silberbauer reveals, “The general consensus from growers is that they’ve lost between 90 – 100 percent of their rabbiteye crop, and around 40 – 60 percent of their high bush crop.”
Silberbauer said the organisation is trying to help provide growers with technical and emotional support.
https://electroverse.co/cold-paraguay-record-lows-bismark-and-parkersburg-delhi-shivers-frost-decimates-nz-blueberry-crop/
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Queenstown experienced a record-breaking winter, with visitor spending significantly higher than in pre-Covid-19 ski seasons thanks, largely, to an abundance of snow, according to data from marketing agency Destination Queenstown.
Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods said the season started with one of the best snowfalls seen in June for a generation, and that it continued to fall thick and fast as the season went on.
From opening day through to closing, conditions were the best he could remember, said Woods.
Likewise, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone general manager Laura Hedley said the ski areas experienced wall-to-wall snow over the entire winter.
While NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson confirmed that the June snowfall at the Remarkables and Coronet Peak was one for the history books, with locals describing it as the best snow in at least 30 years.
“It kick-started a bumper season for us in terms of conditions, visitation numbers and open days,” said Anderson.
https://electroverse.co/spring-chills-south-america-russia-dips-below-30c-great-snow-new-zealand-australia-nov-cold/
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After a day of thunderstorms, two massive waterspouts were spotted off Auckland's coastline near Takapuna and also Piha.
Local Aisling Doyle was shocked when she saw one of the waterspouts arching towards land on Sunday afternoon.
"Suddenly, there was a massive funnel coming to the ground between it all. We'd just finished watching a documentary on storms - so we were like, woah! There's one in real life," she said.
"It went for about four seconds after I spotted it. I was at Birkenhead point looking out towards Takapuna."
https://www.sott.net/article/474456-Two-huge-waterspouts-swirl-off-Aucklands-coast-after-thunderstorms-in-New-Zealand
Local Georgina Packer caught the waterspout just as it was forming.
"It formed pretty quick, and it grew bigger and bigger and then started to move along - there was a boat there, which must have gunned it and got out of the way pretty quick.
"It was the weirdest thing. I've never seen anything like it at all. It was actually a bit scary," she said.
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https://electroverse.co/coldest-ever-wind-chill-australias-summer-snow-extends-to-new-zealand-m7-8-strikes-turkey/
AUSTRALIA’S SUMMER SNOW EXTENDS TO NEW ZEALAND,
Australia’s rare February snow, which turned the nation’s ski fields into a “winter wonderland in summer”, according to the ABC, has now arrived in New Zealand with on/off unseasonal flurries sweeping the country’s Southern Alps.
A foot settled Sunday at Mt Cook, Aoraki — this after the mountain posted its deepest snowpack on record last winter.
Looking ahead, both South and North islands can expect a stark cooldown during the latter half of this week as a mass of Antarctic air gets ‘tail-whipped’ over the entire country.
Returning to Australia, with the nation’s easing snow and clearing skies came plummeting temperatures.
A host of new monthly cold records were toppled across the east, in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania: New February lows were set in Pastoral, SA; Agricultural, SA; Lower North, SA; Southwest Plains, NSW; CW Plains, NSW; CW Slopes, NSW; Winmmera, VIC; Gippsland, VIC; N Peninsula, QLD; as well as a host across Tasmania — to name a handful.
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While on the other side of the world, Ian Griffin photographed the display from New Zealand:
“What an epic night!” said Griffin.
“There was an absolutely amazing display of Southern Lights over Hoopers Inlet on the Otago Peninsula. A clear sky and no wind made for simply beautiful reflections. I’ve just got home after being up all night with the biggest grin ever on my face!”
Formed by electrically charged particles colliding with gas molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere, auroras are typically confined to high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic. For them to be sweep southern England, for example, is very rare.
https://electroverse.co/auroras-barcelona-under-snow-ca-record-snow-greenland-smb-spikes-antarctica-cools/
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Another long-running climate record might be about to fall in New Zealand – and for once, it’s not a bad thing.
August has been so unusually chilly, compared with what we’ve come to expect in our climate-warmed winters, that it may prove the first month in more than six years to finish with a below-average nationwide temperature.
This pattern break – still to be confirmed, with four days of August left to run – signals the arrival of our first El Niño in seven years, and the typically cooler winter flavours the big climate pattern brings us.
But it also points to the fact a fast-heating planet has been shifting our climate state to a new normal, where the colder averages we recall from just a few decades ago become increasingly unlikely.
The last time New Zealand happened to log a month that came in below Niwa’s 30-year average temperature baseline was May 2017 - some 74 months ago.
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/analysis-why-chilly-august-might-prove-nz-s-first-below-average-month-in-six-years/ar-AA1fRlYB?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=34acaf904e4d45229629cf529467e77e&ei=17
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HEAVY SNOW REVIVES NEW ZEALAND’S RUAPEHU RESORT
New Zealand’s Ruapehu ski field has been blasted with healthy dumpings of snow. Record snow, in fact, has crowned the North Island mountain, according to 1news.co.nz: Ruapehu is boasting the world’s deepest snow base, at 2.55cm (8.4ft).
This is a stark turnaround from events last year when the resort was closed — a closure which was effectively on course to liquidate the business until the NZ government stepped in with a $5 million “lifeline”.
Looking forward, Ruapehu Chief Operating Officer Travis Donaghue said the best days of the season are yet to come.
“We’ll keep rolling that title out [World’s Deepest Snow Base] for a while yet, we have a long season to come. It runs right through to Labour weekend so we’re not yet halfway,” said Donaghue.
“We tend to have great conditions later in the year when we don’t see as many frosts so this base will set us up perfectly.”
https://electroverse.info/new-zealand-snow-alberta-first-snowfall-low-sunspot-count/
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OCTOBER THREATENS POLAR BLASTS ACROSS BOTH HEMISPHERES
Looking at the charts, the standard ‘transitional periods’ for each hemisphere are forecast to be marked by cold.
Starting in the southern hemisphere, New Zealand is already copping a full-blown polar blast this week, though swathes of Australia could join it by October 3 or 4, according to latest GFS runs:
GFS 2m Temperature Anomalies (C) for Oct 3 – 5 [tropicaltidbits.com].
Similarly for Southern Africa, after mid-Sept’s record-breaking cold, another ‘whip’ of Antarctic air has been gripping the region this week (fig 1), with something of a repeat potentially on the cards during the first few days of October (fig 2):
https://electroverse.info/freeze-ruins-canadas-apple-picking-cold-weather-deaths-oct-polar-blasts/
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New Zealand Nears Record Low Temperature
Thermometers in Whanganui dropped to 4C (39.2F) Wednesday morning, making for the city's second-coldest March reading on record.
Whanganui, located on the West coast of New Zealand's North Island, averages a March minimum of 12.8C (55F). Its coldest-ever March low remains the 2.5C (36.5F) set March 28, 1985 (solar minimum of cycle 21). Weather books date back to 1978.
This part of the world is forecast further shivers as the month progresses.
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/new-zealand-nears-record-low-temperature
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With a low of -1C (30.2F), Christchurch posted its second-coldest March temperature on Friday in books dating to 1954. Only the -1.3C (29.7F) of March 18, 2020 is colder.
The likes of Blenheim and Wellington also notched abnormally frigid readings, of 1C and 7C (33.8F and 44.6F) respectively.
"It has been an unusually cool March," said MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon.
"We are looking at further cool temperatures for the rest of Easter ... cold overnight temperatures, especially for the North Island ... getting down to 4C and 5C (39.2F and 41F) even around Taupō and Whakatāne," Wotherspoon added.
Most of the South Island endured single-digits (C).
The fourth-consecutive overnight flurry of snow hit the South Island's higher reaches.
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/unusually-cool-march-in-new-zealand
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March was a cold one across New Zealand.
More than 25 locations experienced record or near-record low mean temperatures for March, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), with 28 locations setting records for overnight minimum temperatures.
The cooler month was "driven by a double-barrel low pressure anomaly south and east of New Zealand working in tandem with a high pressure area in the Tasman Sea to produce a southwesterly wind flow anomaly across the country," explained NIWA.
Overall, and despite the rug-swept Urban Heat Island effect, last month saw a mean temperature of 14.8C (58.6F) across New Zealand, which was 0.99C below the multidecadal average and made for the country's coldest March since 2012.
Many parts felt an early onset of autumn, wrote NIWA in its March climate summary,
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/new-zealands-record-cold-march-antarctica
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Spade-toothed whales are the world's rarest, with no live sightings ever recorded. No one knows how many there are, what they eat, or even where they live in the vast expanse of the southern Pacific Ocean. However, scientists in New Zealand may have finally caught a break.
The country's conservation agency said Monday a creature that washed up on a South Island beach this month is believed to be a spade-toothed whale. The five-meter-long creature, a type of beaked whale, was identified after it washed ashore on an Otago beach from its color patterns and the shape of its skull, beak and teeth.
"We know very little, practically nothing" about the creatures, Hannah Hendriks, marine technical adviser for the Department of Conservation, said. "This is going to lead to some amazing science and world-first information."
If the cetacean is confirmed to be the elusive spade-toothed whale, it would be the first specimen found in a state that would permit scientists to dissect it, allowing them to map the relationship of the whale to the few others of the species found, learn what it eats and perhaps lead to clues about where they live.
https://www.sott.net/article/493162-Worlds-rarest-whale-may-have-washed-up-
https://youtu.be/w8r-KR_p7_k
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Invercargill has smashed its July temperature record by almost 2C as a lingering high promises settled weather for most of the country through the weekend.
A southerly blast is still lining up the mainland early next week - with snow expected in parts of Canterbury, Otago and Southland - but it was the sunshine and relative warmth that were grabbing attention today.
In Invercargill, the temperature reached 18.6C at the airport between 2pm and 3pm.
“It actually smashed its previous record,” MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris told the Herald, crediting a northwesterly windflow over the southern South Island for the balmy temperatures.
“And it’s not a short record there, it goes back to 1948.”
The former record in a city where the average daytime July high is about 10C was 16.7C, set in 2013, Ferris said.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/record-high-temperature-for-invercargill-settled-weekend-weather-as-southerly-blast-looms/GTTVF4VY6BADRFLAIZ6EO4NSMM/
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Crowds descended upon Canterbury's ski fields for a "perfect snow day" on Friday, with Mt Hutt drawing over 3,000 skiers and snowboarders alone. "Today is the day we’ve been waiting for!" wrote Porters Alpine Resort on its website.
Fresh snowfall this week has revitalized South Island ski fields, and as the weather cleared, skiers hit the slopes in their droves.
Heavy blowing snow had caused significant disruptions across the region, with areas such as Fairlie, Hanmer Springs, and parts of Canterbury, all blanketed white, before the flakes shifted towards Marlborough.
Owing to the conditions, multiple severe weather warnings were issued, including for North Canterbury which was put under an orange warning for heavy snow.
As of Friday, all facilities at Mt Hutt Ski Area, Porters Alpine Resort, and Mt Dobson were operational, with access roads cleared.
Mt Hutt cleared access roads.
Mt Hutt general manager James Urquhart had anticipated a large turnout, but Friday’s crowd "exceeded our expectations."
"This is our busiest day of the season. It seems like everyone in Canterbury took the day off," he added "There’s a lot of excitement on the slopes today."
New Zealand Ski chief executive Paul Anderson remarked that Thursday was also an “amazing day” with decent snow bases reported across the South Island after the most-recent 24-hour storm, including the 83 cm (32.7 inches) at Mt Hutt.
"Epic snowstorm hits Mt Hutt," reports unofficialnetworks.com.
Meteorologist Alwyn Bakker explained that a high-pressure system was now over much of the South Island, keeping skies clear and the temperatures low. Mt Dobson is noting -7C (19.4F), while Mt Hutt, slightly cloudy, is seeing -4.6C (23.7F).
"A lot of ski fields received a substantial snowfall from the recent storm," said Bakker. "The low temperatures are helping to preserve the snow, making it a great time for skiing."
Clear skies and biting lows at Mt Hutt.
This reality calls into question the myriad of predictions calling for catastrophic glacial demise in New Zealand.
One prominent forecast claims that a significant number of glaciers on NZ’s South Island will have completely melted by 2030.
“In a decade, we predict that many of our beloved and important glaciers will be gone," said NIWA principal scientist Andrew Lorrey in 2022. "This will have far reaching impacts, such as altering our beautiful landscape, affecting the livelihoods of people who rely on these natural wonders for tourism, and flow on effects from decreased meltwater during periods of drought."
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/heavy-snow-hits-new-zealand-chilean
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By Stuff
Joanne Naish
10:44am Oct 4, 2024
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A state of emergency was declared for the New Zealand city of Dunedin as it has its wettest day in more than 100 years.
"I didn't expect the event to be of this magnitude," city mayor Jules Radich said on Friday morning.
According to NIWA, Dunedin's Musselburgh station recorded its second-wettest day on record with almost 131mm in the 24 hours to 9am today local time (6am AEST). The last time it was at least this wet in Musselburgh was in April 1923.
READ MORE: Dad slugged with $25k defamation bill over Facebook post he didn't write
Dunedin flood
About 22 roads are closed to flooding around Dunedin. (RNZ)
Residents in low-lying parts of Dunedin, including in South Dunedin, were worst hit by "significant surface flooding" overnight.
A whopping 143mm of rain fell in Dunedin between 4pm on Wednesday to 8am Friday - more than twice the normal rainfall for October of 60mm.
Residents were urged to keep off the roads due to potential slips and surface flooding as another 40mm to 60mm of rain was expected to fall in Dunedin up until 11pm Friday.
https://www.9news.com.au/world/wettest-day-100-years-dunedin-new-zealand-streets-flooded/5b8b899b-7155-4e60-b162-e5f6e580356d
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A rare, heavy dumping of snow over the weekend has left New Zealand's Mt Hutt ski field covered in nearly a meter (3.3 feet) of fresh powder, sparking talks about a potential late-season reopening.
The unexpected storm delivered severe weather to much of the country, with the South Island experiencing particularly intense snow. Mt Hutt saw one of the heaviest October snowfalls on record, even more impressive when you consider its nearly November.
Ski area manager, James McKenzie, shared the remarkable conditions with Morning Report, calling it "one of the biggest snowfalls in October" he’d witnessed in his 20 years on the mountain.
"It would have been perfect to get this snow back in June," said McKenzie, speaking to the unusual timing. And although the ski field did recently close up shop for the season, there were hints of a potential reopening: "We wouldn’t rule anything out," McKenzie added, though he stressed they would first need to ensure safe access to the field after such a heavy accumulation.
Currently, snow drifts of up to five meters (16.4 feet) blanket parts of the access road, complicated by avalanche debris that workers must first navigate and then clear before any late-season skiing might resume.
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/mt-hutt-nz-could-reopen-after-a-meter
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Ripu Bhatia
Stuff
Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:39 UTC
mmmmmm
One of the world's rarest flowers is in the process of blooming at Auckland Zoo.
Amorphophallus titanum, or the corpse flower of Sumatra, Indonesia, is one of the largest flowers in the plant kingdom and only flowers once every seven to ten years.
The flower blooms for just two to three days, sometimes even less, and once fully opened emits a powerful stench to attract pollinators.
The unique specimen stands nearly two meters tall in its pot and is on display in the South East Asia Jungle Track's high canopy habitat, Auckland Zoo said.
It is usually based in the Indonesian swamp forest exhibition, which is a climate-controlled tropical drone, but this is currently closed for upgrades.
The zoo said it can't guarantee how long the flower is going to bloom for as individual specimens can vary.
https://www.sott.net/article/496481-Rare-corpse-flower-blooming-at-Auckland-Zoo-New-Zealand
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Wellington, New Zealand is enduring its chilliest starts to the year in a decade, with a prolonged streak of cold weather.
MetService data reveals this summer has been anything but summery, with 13 consecutive days of below-average temperatures — the longest January cold spell since 2014.
Meteorologist Clare O’Connor confirmed the anomaly, noting January’s average temperature of 17C (62.6F) is nearly 3C below normal. "This is one of the longest runs of below-average daily temperatures we’ve seen in summer since 1980," she said.
Persistent southerlies, driven by low-pressure systems to the east of the North Island, are the main culprits. These winds have battered the region with gusts up to 100km/h and delivered double the usual rainfall, resulting in cloudy skies and colder days.
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/wellingtons-cold-start-to-summer
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https://electroverse.substack.com/p/mid-summer-snow-blankets-new-zealands
Mount Hutt in Canterbury woke up to rare summer snow on Monday, with a chilling blast delivering a few inches of powder.
General manager James Urquhart noted that while snow falls on the mountain at least once a month year-round, summer snow is typically just a light dusting. "This amount is more than we usually see in summer," he said.
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Heavy rainfall across New Zealand, particularly in Auckland and Northland, has caused flooding, power outages, and disruptions. Several regions of the country have been receiving heavy rains along with strong winds due to an atmospheric river phenomenon.
The heavy rain on Friday (April 4) was caused by a deep low crossing the Tasman Sea, bringing a band of warm air and moisture. MetService issued weather warnings and watches for several regions, including Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Waikato, and the top of the South Island.
Auckland experienced significant disruptions with all Gulf Harbour ferries cancelled and replaced by buses. Power outages were reported in Remuera, Piha, Karekare, and Glenfield. Vector estimated restoration times between 3 pm and 4 pm New Zealand time for some areas.
https://www.sott.net/article/498814-Heavy-rainfall-batters-many-regions-of-New-Zealand-flooding-power-outages-throw-life-out-of-gear-nearly-8-inches-of-rainfall-overnight
https://youtu.be/Kc0Y09h2tRg
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The first snowfall of the season arrived on Tuesday afternoon, with 10cm of snow falling at Cardrona Alpine Resort, located between Queenstown and Wānaka.
According to MetService, rain is expected to fall as snow in the high country of the lower South Island this morning, with conditions beginning to ease in the afternoon.
Despite temperatures dipping to chilly lows of just 2C overnight in certain regions, MetService meteorologist Silvia Martino reassures that winter is not arriving earlier than anticipated.
"People may feel the cooler temperatures, especially after a mild start to April," says Martino. However, this temperature dip is typical for autumn, a season known for fluctuating temperatures.
Cardrona and Treble Cone general manager Laura Hedley, says, "The first snowfall of the year is always exciting, as our team and guests get prepared for another epic winter.
"Although this time around, we're glad the snow on the ground will be short-lived, as we work hard to get multiple development projects completed before the 2025 season - when Cardrona will become New Zealand's biggest ski area."
Staff say Cardrona is set to open for the winter season on June 15.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ya580-Hehhk?feature=share
https://www.sott.net/article/498932-Temperatures-drop-and-thick-snow-hits-parts-of-New-Zealand-in-early-winter-cold-snap
There is a video here
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Cyclone Tam is causing major problems across the North Island of New Zealand, resulting in thousands of people without power, roads flooded, and all ferries in Auckland cancelled. Flights have also been delayed or stopped, leaving many travellers stuck before the Easter weekend.
A truck was found overturned near Kaiwaka, a Northland settlement. The rescue team had to pull out several drivers from their cars. Strong winds have ripped off roofs and knocked over trees and fences, too.
A scary moment happened in Mairangi Bay, Auckland, where a big tree fell on a house where an elderly couple lives. The tree damaged their balcony and blocked them inside. Their daughter said the tree just missed their bedroom.
In another part of Auckland, a loud bang surprised a man when the wind knocked over his fence. Many homes have been damaged, and trees have fallen on houses and cars. People are being told to stay home if they can and avoid driving unless it's necessary.
click here to see video >> RE: weather in New Zealand. in International - Page 2 of 2 (http://www.localweather.net.nz/smf/index.php?topic=8930.msg75805#msg75805/)
Northland MP Grant McCallum said the storm damage in Paihia is very serious and keeps happening every time there's bad weather. He said something needs to be done to protect the area, especially because so many people there rely on tourism.
https://youtu.be/JSh9Zir3UmA
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Snow in New Zealand's South Island is not unheard of, but it is typically reserved for the colder winter months. The recent snowstorm, however, defied these norms by occurring during a time when snow is a rarity.
Reports from the Southern Alps and surrounding regions noted significant snowfall, with some areas receiving over 30 centimeters. The storm caught many off guard, leading to both excitement and challenges as communities adapted to the sudden wintery conditions.
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/cyclone-triggers-rare-snowstorm-in-new-zealand-s-south-island/ss-AA1DgLEk?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=4484481f8e6b4065a6c8166432a49a3f&ei=9#image=2
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Video of Beckenham at bottom of page.
The Selwyn District and Banks Peninsula are also under a local state of emergency. In Selwyn Huts, residents were told to self-evacuate or risk being cut off. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell travelled to Canterbury to assess the situation.
Floodwaters have submerged roads across Christchurch. In the city's southern parts, streets like Cashmere Road, Henderson Road, Summit Road, and Eastern Terrace are either fully or partially closed. Northern areas also faced major disruptions, with Avondale Road, Fitzgerald Avenue, and sections of New Brighton Road underwater.
Banks Peninsula roads have been badly hit. SH75 from Tai Tapu to Akaroa remains closed. Other closures include Gebbies Pass Road, Le Bons Bay Road, Millers Road, and several bay routes. Slips and fallen trees have made access dangerous or impossible.
Authorities have urged people to avoid non-essential travel. If driving is necessary, residents are advised to go slowly and avoid flooded roads.
Public services have also been disrupted. The Little River Library and Customer Service Hub shut down due to flooding and will reopen on May 2.
Officials warn people to stay away from contaminated floodwaters. The storm will persist overnight; another high tide is expected around 7:41 pm.
https://youtu.be/R7mQETIX8fo
https://www.sott.net/article/499325-Christchurch-in-New-Zealand-declares-state-of-emergency-amid-torrential-rain-and-widespread-flooding-6-inches-of-rainfall-in-24-hours
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Mt. Hutt, New Zealand, received 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) of snow over the weekend—an unprecedented total for early May.
Snow drifts exceeded 2 m (6.6 ft) in some areas, with the upper mountain base now around 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and the lower base at 50 cm (1.6 ft). This is a record accumulation for the first week of May, which normally sees just 5 cm (2 inches) of powder.
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/mt-hutt-sees-record-early-may-snowfall
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Early snows will fall across New Zealand’s South Island this week.
Two modest systems will deliver up to 6 inches of dense snow between Wednesday night and Sunday.
The Remarkables will see the highest totals: perhaps half a foot by the weekend. Cardrona is forecast to receive some 5 inches total, while Coronet Peak should get 3 inches.
Snow levels start high—near 5,000 feet—but drop to around 2,700 feet on Friday.
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/early-snow-for-nz-uhi-sprawl-has
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Winter has arrived with force in New Zealand, as a polar outbreak sweeps across the country, delivering heavy snow and biting cold a heavy snowfall.
Among the coldest days in recent memory are being endured across the South Island, with the alpine village of Aoraki/Mount Cook posting a brutal -12.9C (8.8F). Locals claimed it dipped even lower overnight to -13C (8.6F). This reading is significantly below the June average for the area and not far off the all-time station record of -15C (5F).
Elsewhere: Wellington hit 2.9C (37.2F), Auckland shivered at 4.5C (40.1F), and Christchurch dipped below at -2.8C (27F). It’s a cold snap reminiscent of historical extremes — not unprecedented, but certainly uncommon this early in the season.
The snow came in thick and fast, and all.
More than 30 inches (76 cm) fell on alpine regions, with Mt Hutt hammered by over 90 cm (~35 inches) in just five days. Lake Tekapo was similarly buried, and State Highway 8 between Fairlie and Twizel was shut down due to hazardous conditions.
Emergency services were forced into action as travelers became stranded amid worsening visibility and treacherous ice.
Skiers are rejoicing. After a rocky pre-season, these storms have reset the playing field.
Mt Hutt now boasts a base depth of nearly 100 cm (~39 inches), with more snow forecast on June 12 and 13.
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/heavy-snow-and-deep-freeze-sweep
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June 18, 2025 • 9:33am
Multiple crashes led to the closure of Heriot Row in central Dunedin.
Hamish McNeilly
Icy conditions in central Dunedin have caused multiple vehicle crashes and led to the closure of Heriot Row, disrupting traffic and prompting emergency services to respond.
Large areas of the city were blanketed in a frost early on Wednesday, making roads treacherous and increasing the risk for drivers.
Police officers worked to free three trapped cars, which had crashed in a bottle neck at the bottom of Heriot Row.
A tow truck as well as a grit truck were called to the area.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360727399/icy-conditions-lead-vehicle-pileup-central-dunedin-road
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While the Aussie Alps logged one of their best winters in years, alarmists pointed across the Tasman at New Zealand’s sparse snowpack as their proof of "climate breakdown". But spring has flipped the script.
Temple Basin Ski Area, which announced closure in late August after weeks of bare rock, was hit with a foot and a half of fresh snow late last week. Enough to reopen for the weekend, spin lifts, and bring skiers and boarders back up the slopes.
“It was simply fantastic,” said Temple Basin president Peter Marriott. “Really good snow with really good people, and lots of smiles.”
The Basin now plans to keep running lifts on weekends — an unexpected comeback.
https://electroverse.substack.com/p/new-zealand-resort-revived-noaa-data
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Twenty-seven pilot whales have died after they became stranded on a remote stretch of Northland coastline on Monday.
They were discovered on Twilight Beach (Paenga Rehia), about 11km south of Cape Rēinga, that is part of the popular Te Paki Coastal Track and the first leg of Te Araroa.
Ngāti Kuri Trust Board executive trustee Sheridan Waitai said walkers had come across the mass stranding.
The alarm was raised with Ngāti Kuri, who live and work in the area, and the Department of Conservation (DoC).
"We are always ready to go because this is the season and this is what happens," Waitai said.
Ngāti Kuri assessed the site on Monday and confirmed there were 27 pilot whales stranded.
The location, the condition of the animals and tidal factors contributed to the decision not to launch a rescue operation.
Waitai said there had been times when others had tried to save and move stranded whales but it is hard on the marine mammals.
"Just touching them is awful for them. So, sometimes rescuing's not really the best choice."
The decision not to attempt to rescue the pilot whales on Monday had carried a lot of weight, especially as whales are considered family and tūpuna (elders) in Māori culture.
"It's more the responsibility and the obligation to do it right and do the tikanga right," Waitai said.
"You wouldn't hang your father out in front of everybody and leave them out on the beach and whales are like whānau, so you don't you treat them like that."
Waitai said decisions are made so their whakapapa can be maintained through kōrero.
"So you can always uphold and remember who they are."
All of the pilot whales have since died. In response, Ngāti Kuri developed a cultural and bio-hazard clean-up plan.
The iwi informed DoC who, on Ngāti Kuri's invitation, deployed two of their staff to help.
"There have since been two tides that have flushed the beach clean and it is now safe to walk on," Waitai said.
Ngāti Kuri asked that walkers keep off the dunes from Te Rerenga Wairua/Cape Rēinga to Kahokawa on Te Oneroa a Tohe/Ninety Mile Beach.
Waitai said the request was to prevent further bio-diversity damage to the dunes and to also protect cultural sites.
A rāhui was put in place but has since lifted.
Waitai praised the walkers for their help and for respecting the process, which included them being asked to leave the beach.
"We just said, 'You're welcome to stay up in the micro camp and rest up there, but not on the beach'. And there was no opposition. They were just they're just really helpful."
Pilot whales - which are in fact one of the largest members of the dolphin family - are considered prolific stranders.
Information by DoC stated that while there were recordings of individual strandings nationwide, mass stranding hotspots were Golden Bay, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Islands.
The biggest recorded pilot whale stranding was an estimated 1000 whales at the Chatham Islands in 1918.
Northland's largest pilot whale stranding is considered to be in August 2010 at Spirits Bay, about 30km away from Twilight Beach, when 80 to 100 pilot whales stranded. Of them, 58 died and the remainder were refloated or moved to nearby Rarawa Beach for release.
The rescue effort was recognised as one of the largest and most complex in the region. DoC, Project Jonah and Ngāti Kuri were all involved, their numbers bolstered by volunteers.
Another mass stranding took place in November last year when more than 30 pilot whales became stuck at Ruakākā Beach.
Four died and the remainder were successfully refloated.
DoC has said most scientists believe individual whales strand because they are diseased and are coming to the end of their natural lifespan.
However, the department acknowledged mass strandings were more contentious and surrounded by numerous theories.
"The most likely hypothesis is that pilot whales' echolocation is not well-suited to shallow, gently sloping waters, because they generally prefer high relief (steep) areas such as the edge of the continental shelf."
DoC said this would also explain why most mass strandings happen in summer, when the whales follow popular food sources inshore.
"Another theory points to pilot whales' highly sociable behaviour - when one whale loses its way and strands, its pod mates may swim to its aid."
Information by the department stated the theory that parasites affect the nervous systems of pilot whales and may be responsible for mass strandings was not well supported.
https://www.sott.net/article/502545-27-pilot-whales-die-after-stranding-on-remote-Northland-beach-in-New-Zealand
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Flooding has inundated parts of the Coromandel Peninsula as a tropical low moves south toward New Zealand, prompting a State of Emergency in the Thames‑Coromandel District.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/01/21/in-photos-flooding-across-coromandel-as-tropical-low-bears-down/
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At least two people have died and several are reported to be missing, including a young child, after landslides in New Zealand, officials said on Thursday.
It comes after high winds and heavy rainfall over the past few days on the North Island, leading to multiple power outages and widespread flooding, local media reported.
The first landslide hit a house in the community of Welcome Bay on New Zealand's North Island at 4.50am, police said.
Two people escaped the house, and the bodies of two who were trapped inside were recovered hours later, Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said.
Later the same morning, emergency services were called to a second slide at the base of nearby Mount Maunganui.
The rubble hit Beachside Holiday Park, where a number of people in the "single figures" are missing.
Images showed vehicles, travel trailers and an amenities block crushed by debris.
As of Thursday evening, no survivors or bodies had been recovered from the Mount Maunganui rubble.
"There was a shower block and a, sort of, combined shower block-kitchen block and there were people using that at the time the slide came through and they are some of the ones that we're working hard to try and recover now," Mitchell told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
New Zealand's Fire and Emergency commander William Pike said that members of the public "tried to get into the rubble and did hear some voices".
He said that his crews "were able to hear the same. Shortly after our initial crew arrived, we withdrew everyone from the site due to possible movement and slip".
No sign of life had been detected since, Pike said.
Australian tourist Sonny Worrall said he was within the campground when he heard then saw the landslide.
"I looked behind me and there's a huge landslide coming down. And I'm still shaking from it now," Worrall told New Zealand 1News news service.
"I turned around and I had to jump out from my seat as fast as I could and just run."
He looked back to see the rubble carrying a travel trailer behind him.
"It was like the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my life," Worrall said.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V_ehZJXWg1Q?feature=share
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https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2PYMGGcI_AY?feature=share
https://www.sott.net/article/504207-Up-to-9-people-dead-in-landslides-floods-after-heavy-rainfall-in-New-Zealand-UPDATE