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June 2006

  • Severe winter snowstorms hit Canterbury and the central North Island
  • Temperature: Coldest June since 1972
  • Sunshine: Well above average in western and southern regions; record June totals in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki and coastal Otago
  • Precipitation: Above average in many eastern regions, especially South Canterbury; below average in Bay of Plenty

Two severe winter snowstorms accompanied by bitterly cold conditions, and later heavy frost contributed to a particularly cold June. The national average temperature of 7.3 °C was 1.2 °C below the 1971-2000 normal. This was the coldest June since 1972 which recorded 6.7 °C. The regions with the largest anomalies, more than 2.0 °C below average, were Waikato, King Country, inland Marlborough, South Canterbury, and North Otago. Parts of South Canterbury and North Otago recorded their lowest June mean temperatures in more than 50 years of record. One snowstorm hit Canterbury over 11-12 June, producing snow depths of 15 – 90 cm. The other affected the central North Island over 20-22 June. These were accompanied by bitterly cold conditions, and later heavy frost. There were more days than average in June with air frost over much of New Zealand, especially in the central North Island and the southeast of the South Island. Precipitation was about 200 percent (twice) of normal in South Canterbury. In contrast, June rainfall totals were 50 percent (half) or less of normal in much of Bay of Plenty. June was much sunnier than normal in all western and southern regions, with record high June totals in Northland, Auckland, and Waikato, and coastal Otago. Anticyclones ('highs') were much more frequent than average for June in the Australian Bight with ridges of high pressure extending into the south Tasman Sea. This pattern resulted in frequent cold southerly winds over New Zealand.

Other Highlights

  • The highest temperatures recorded during June 2006 were 20.5 °C recorded at both Kaikoura on 11 June, and Hastings on 12 June. The lowest air temperatures for the month were -14.0 °C recorded at both Tara Hills, Omarama on the 14th, and Fairlie on the 28th. The minimum air temperatures were -10 °C or lower in parts in inland South Canterbury and/or North Otago, on nine days between 14 and 29 June.
  • A tornado damaged property in Greymouth on 11 June. Northwest gales buffeted the North Island on 12 June, with damage and power outages in parts of Auckland, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, and the Marlborough Sounds. Trees fell in Tauranga, with other wind damage in Kaitoke and Nelson. A wind gust of 146 km/h from the north was recorded at Mt. Kaukau, Wellington. Power lines were damaged by wind in Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, and Gisborne, on 19 June, with power cut to thousands of residents. Several iron roofs were damaged in Gisborne, and New Plymouth.
  • A severe, widespread heavy snowfall event occurred in Canterbury over the night of 11/12 June, especially in the south, snow settling to depths of 75-90cm around Fairlie and Burkes Pass, almost 40cm in Ashburton, and more than 20cm in Timaru, some remaining in some inland areas until the 27th. Extended power cuts occurred throughout much of South Canterbury, due to broken power lines and poles. The roofs of several buildings also collapsed, due to the weight of snow. Many motorists were stranded in the snow, and many roads closed. Southerlies spread over the North Island over 20-22 June, bringing heavy snowfall down to 500m, affecting the Desert Road, and townships of Waiouru, Ohakune, National Park, and the outskirts of Taupo, with many roads closed, including those to the east coast. Two buses slid off icy roads in the Central North Island, and nearly 100 cars were stranded in the snow.
  • High rainfall events were frequent in June, occurring in various districts on 3, 10-12, 15, 18-19, and 22 June. 20 houses were evacuated due to flooding in Runanga north of Greymouth on 11 June.
  • Christchurch was the driest, Wellington the wettest, Auckland the sunniest, and Christchurch the coldest of the main centres. Sunshine hours were near average in Christchurch, record high in Auckland, Hamilton and Dunedin, and well above average in Wellington. Rainfall was above average in Christchurch, below average in Dunedin, and near average in Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington. Temperatures were below average in all five main centres.

Temperature

Mean temperatures were 1.0 to 2.0 °C below average over much of the North Island, and 0.5 to 1.5 °C below average over much of the South Island. The regions with the largest anomalies, more than 2.0 °C below average, were Waikato, King Country, inland Marlborough, South Canterbury, and North Otago. It was particularly cold and frosty at night.

Rainfall

Rainfall was about 200 percent (twice) of normal in South Canterbury, and also above normal in the east of the North Island from Gisborne to Wairarapa, as well as Wanganui, North Westland, coastal Marlborough, and North Canterbury. In contrast, June rainfall totals were 50 percent (half) or less of normal in much of Bay of Plenty, and below normal in much of Northland, Thames-Coromandel, North Taranaki, Nelson, Fiordland, and coastal areas of Otago.

Sunshine

Sunshine hours and/or solar radiation were at least 120 percent of normal in much of the western North Island from Northland to Wellington, as well as Westland, coastal Otago, and Southland, and at least 110 percent of normal in most other regions. Record high June totals occurred in the north of the North Island and coastal Otago.

Full report

For further information, please contact:

Dr Jim Salinger – Principal Scientist, Climate
NIWA National Climate Centre – Auckland
Phone +64 9 375 2053
[email protected]

Stuart Burgess – Climatologist
NIWA National Climate Centre – Wellington
Phone +64 4 386 0569
[email protected]

Geoff Baird – Communications Manager
Phone +64 4 386 0543
[email protected]

Acknowledgement of NIWA as the source is required.