Media: July 2008 Storms

[Grant]

Snow and severe gale warnings have now been lifted throughout the country although many major roads, including the Desert Road, remain closed and others only accessible with chains.

Cook Strait ferries have now also resumed normal service after a couple of crossings were cancelled or delayed because of strong winds.

The MetService said this afternoon no further heavy snow falls were expected although temperatures were low and icy conditions likely to persist in some areas.

The respite is a far cry from the type of conditions which beset the country in the previous 24 hours.

Finally - a respite from the icy blasts (+photos) - 06 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

[Grant]

National MP Lockwood Smith and a full cabin of passengers had a shocking experience when a bolt of lightning hit their plane on Saturday night. "It was like a bomb going off," Dr Smith said.

Flight NZ2 to Los Angeles was hit by the bolt as it climbed out of Auckland in atrocious weather. Dr Smith said the plane didn't falter.

"I expected immediately the plane to lose power but no, she just kept climbing".

The captain told passengers all instruments were showing the systems were functioning properly.

If the plane had turned back it would have had to fly for hours to get rid of fuel.

Lightning bolt shocks MP - 07 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

[Grant]

A van has rolled on State on State Highway Two between Waikino and Waihi because of ice.

A second vehicle has also been in an accident and police are warning motorists to drive with caution.

Inspector Ian Brooker said there were patches of ice on the road. He said no one was injured in either of the accidents.

Police warn motorists of ice after van rolls - 07 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

[Grant]

A miserable blast of atrocious weather looks likely to bring near-freezing temperatures for a few more days - but that could be it for this winter.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt says mid-winter generally lasts until the end of the month, before conditions brighten in early August.

Though more fronts are on their way - including one due around July 14 - he cannot see anything in the short term that is likely to be as severe as the weekend blast.


At last - a break in the weather - 07 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

[ATO2]

Here is the link to our paper's take:


Mrs England and her family were in the midst of a weather bomb, which caused havoc in a small area from the south side on Manawapou Gully, south-east of Hawera, through to the north side of Scown's Dip.
The entire Taranaki region was blasted by a bitter cold front on Saturday, which produced the icy dump in the south and violent hail storms in other areas, including central New Plymouth.
Taranaki Daily News: local, national & world news from Taranaki's daily newspaper

[Grant]

The temperatures in the central regions of both islands are expected to plummet to -7 degrees, according to the Weather Watch Centre.

The cold temperatures are making driving conditions dangerous with the police warning Taranaki drivers of black ice. The MetService has also warned drivers on the Desert Rd of icy conditions this morning.

Weather analyst Philip Duncan said polar air had been sucked up by last weekend's storm but the weather was now settling as a large high moved in from Australia.

He said temperatures in Queenstown reached -4 degrees early this morning while Hamilton, Nelson and Blenheim hit -3 degrees. Positive numbers were also elusive in West Auckland where it was 0 degrees this morning.

Temperatures set to plummet to -7C - 08 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

[Grant]

A storm is expected to batter most of New Zealand during the next few days.

The MetService said tonight meteorologists were watching a low east of Tasmania which they expected to develop into a potentially vigorous winter storm.

The low should cross the South Island tonight and lie near the Chatham islands for a few days after that.

"This storm has the potential to affect most of the country over the next few days," said MetService spokesman Steve Ready.

"Initially, the winds will strengthen from the north with a spell of heavy rain in the north and west of both islands. A severe weather warning has already been issued for the South Island West Coast."

By Wednesday much of the North Island should be buffeted by brisk westerlies and thundery showers, and by large ocean waves on its west coast.

"The ocean waves are likely to exceed six metres and to cause some large sweeping waves along the beach," Mr Ready said.

"They will be accompanied by strong onshore winds and squally showers making conditions unsafe for rock fishing or surfing. Boaties should also check their moorings."

Storm expected to batter country during next few days - 21 Jul 2008 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

[Grant]

A storm building over the Tasman Sea is set to strike New Zealand for much of the rest of the week.

MetService this morning put out a severe weather warning for Westland and predicted heavy rain for northern and western areas of both islands.

Forecasters said the front would move quickly eastwards over the country on Tuesday preceded by strong northerly winds. Bands of heavy showers and thunderstorms would follow through to Wednesday morning.

Philip Duncan, head weather analyst for the Radio Network, said a band of cloud now stretches from as far as Darwin in northern Australia to New Zealand.

Duncan said wind speeds have reached 120km/h on Wellington's hilltops this morning with gusts to near 80km/h in the city.

Further north, winds have reached 60km/h in Auckland and 80km/h on the Hauraki Gulf.

He said: "In the past 24 hours the low has doubled in size and over the next two to three days it's going to lash New Zealand with heavy rain, severe gales, thunderstorms, hail and snow to low levels."

Heavy rain set to batter NZ in coming days - 22 Jul 2008 - Weather News - NZ Herald

[Grant]

Motorists are being warned to take care as another winter blast brings big swells, gale-force winds, hail and thunderstorms to parts of the North Island today.

Police have warning drivers on Centennial Highway, State Highway One, to take extreme care as some waves were breaching the sea wall and throwing drift wood onto the road.

Inspector Paul Jermy said motorists should avoid driving in the area until 3pm.

Kapiti Coast District Council spokesman Tony Cronin said the high winds that the council had been warned of had not eventuated and the rain had eased.

"The tide has now reached its peak and there is a fair amount of debris on the Centennial Highway," Mr Cronin said.

He said the area was being cleared by contractors.

Drivers warned as winter storm hits - 23 Jul 2008 - Weather News - NZ Herald

[Grant]

When the air pressure is low that allows the sea to rise and create a storm surge. That coupled with gale force winds driving even more water in and suddenly exposed western beaches from the Kapiti Coast to Southern Taranaki are in an extremely dangerous situation. Beach erosion, huge waves several metres high, king tides, massive rips and coastal flooding are all a possibility today.

Storm to hit hard at Kapiti Coast and Southern Taranaki - 23 Jul 2008 - Weather News - NZ Herald