Tue, 05 Oct 2010 2:10p.m.
By Josh Heslop
Winter this year seemed like an evil character from a B-grade horror film. Just when you think the monster’s dead, he springs back to life with his worst attack yet!
Mid September saw one of the biggest storms to hit New Zealand in decades. Early media reports described the system as a storm the size of Australia – with tentacles. While I must admit I had a laugh about it at the time, those tentacles were certainly felt. Maybe it should become a new weather term?
Stadium Southland was one of the early victims of the storm. Its $10 million roof collapsed under the weight of snow. On top of that, hundreds of thousands of newborn lambs died in Southland and South Otago as relentless snow and sleety rain fell in the regions.
Further north, high winds cut power to thousands of homes in Manuatu, Rangitikei, Taranaki and western Bay of Plenty. Meanwhile, later in the week, a pod of pilot whales were pushed ashore at Spirits Bay in Northland, prompting a massive rescue effort by the Department of Conservation to relocate them to a more sheltered bay.
While these were the major events of the week, surface flooding and lifted rooves kept emergency services busy across the country. Records were broken too, with Whanganui having its wettest September in 120 years. Wind gusts also reached 154 kilometres per hour at the Manukau Heads. That’s hurricane force people!!
It’s quite typical to have throwbacks to wintery weather during Spring. It’s the seasonal battle as the globe tilts to give us our time in the sun. This event was just a little more extreme than usual.
I was optimistic about a good spring and summer in my last blog. I still am, now that we’re back on track. NIWA is still predicting above average temperatures and normal rainfall from now until December.
The good news is that the week ahead is looking tentacle-free so make the most of it!