1939 Snowstorm

[Andy]

While out working today i yarning to a couple of older blokes who were alive during the big snowstorm that infected much of New Zealand in the great winter of 1939.

Alexandra got around 15 to 20 inchs.

Anyones else have any info or photos, found this link below.

http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/memwebs ... storms.pdf

Cheers

[Michael]

In a weather book I have there was one in 1973 that was bad

[Gary Roberts]

While out working today i yarning to a couple of older blokes who were alive during the big snowstorm that infected much of New Zealand in the great winter of 1939.

Alexandra got around 15 to 20 inchs.

Anyones else have any info or photos, found this link below.

http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/memwebs ... storms.pdf

Cheers

20" in Alex! Crikey! That's a lot of snow. I wonder how much they got up here? Might start asking around amongst some of the old boys.

We accumulate a fair bit of the stuff on the mountain, but that's not far off being at 2,000m ASL... 20" at Alex level is something to write home about.

WOW! I just read that document Andy. Snow in Auckland?! I told my wife only yesterday that the last time it snowed in Auckland was probably back in the Ice Age! Wrong again...

[Fujita Phil]

Great Article Andy. Thanks for that.

I have heard stories of that snow fall from the "locals" in Dunedin but always thought that the snow depths were exaggerated. So it was up to the eaves in some places I might see if there are any photos at the Museum or Library if I get a chance one day.

Imagine watching the snow build up to a metre in depth over those few days outside your door. Heaven Though I'd be upset if my new spouting fell off

[tich]

On Banks Peninsula, from what I've heard, there was at least a foot of snow at sea-level in the July 1939 snow, but some drifts up in the hills were reportedly as deep as 9 metres! Chch escaped with just a few inches.
Apparently few places in NZ escaped the snow in 1939. Auckland, Northland got flurries, settling on the hills. Gisborne had a brief dusting, and even Tauranga reported snowflakes.

Could it happen again? The general climate maybe warmer (effects of global warming?) now, but remember the early July cold blast last year. The movement of cold air cells and sheltering by the central mountains may have spared the northern North Island from the snow, but when was the last time Hawkes Bay had such a severe and widespread low-level snowstorm?

[GreggWard]

Very interesting reading Andy.

[Andy]

Yea its always great reading those old stories isn't it

Here some pics of Alexandra in the snow in June 2002, this storm affected most the country. 25cm snow fell in Alexandra the biggest fall since the 39 storm.

Most of the photos were taken early morning before another 7cm fell later in the day.
After the snow the famous Alex fog come in, a short lived winter freeze of three days of temps ranging from -8 to a top of -2, and no sun.

[Gary Roberts]

Yea its always great reading those old stories isn't it

Here some pics of Alexandra in the snow in June 2002, this storm affected most the country. 25cm snow fell in Alexandra the biggest fall since the 39 storm.

Most of the photos were taken early morning before another 7cm fell later in the day.
After the snow the famous Alex fog come in, a short lived winter freeze of three days of temps ranging from -8 to a top of -2, and no sun.

Ya know, people are forever asking me why I choose to live in such a "cold" climate, but after the wife and I visited Japan a few weeks ago it amazes me that anybody would choose NOT to live down here! Sydney was terrible! It was like we were ambushed by ninja armed with hot wet towels when we changed airplanes! They call that WINTER?! Japan was only marginally better. (And at least they had the excuse it was Summer!) The Japanese rainy season is a lot like an Auckland summer. Around the high 20s-low 30s, and humid to the max ALL THE TIME!

This is the only place to be, right Andy?



PS - Andy, let me know next time you expect a Hoar frost. We haven't had any up Twizel way so far. Might come down and visit. I've been meaning to catch up with a mate who shifted to Alex recently.

[Michael]

High 20's and low 30's in Ak

Youre right about the raininess but the temps are more like high teens to mid 20's in an Auckland summer

The Japanese rainy season is a lot like an Auckland summer. Around the high 20s-low 30s, and humid to the max ALL THE TIME!

[Gary Roberts]

High 20's and low 30's in Ak

Youre right about the raininess but the temps are more like high teens to mid 20's in an Auckland summer

Well, I dunno Michael. While I was there I experienced some pretty darn hot summers. It would hit 30+ now and then in central Auckland where I lived, especially around early February. I used to read about West Auckland getting 33+ on occasion.

It wouldn't be so bad were it not for the humidity. It's like Calcutta sometimes! Hot and damp, like shoving your head inside a kettle.

I believe the same thing which has banished the once-cold Auckland winters (the loss of open ground, replaced by vast amounts of concrete, steel and asphalt) is causing the Auckland summers to get worse (or hotter...).

But it's all your's mate! At least you have the harbor, the Domain and Cornwall Park! They are world-class if you ask me.

[Michael]

I got records and it may get 29 or 30 one or two days only and thats not in sucessive years ie in 1998 or 99 we got it a couple of times but no way in 1997 or 2002.
It can get sunny and humid then it clouds over in summer.
The 33's are unofficial and usually confined to Henderson or like that.I been to Napier and its a lot hotter than Auckland in summer with a hot wind blowing as well.
As for the winters its not that "real cold" where its iced all over the lawns and white where you could skid on the whitened ashphelt as a kid or pools of water frozen where you need a hammer to break it.It still feels cold but its just the bitter SW that we get now

High 20's and low 30's in Ak

Youre right about the raininess but the temps are more like high teens to mid 20's in an Auckland summer

Well, I dunno Michael. While I was there I experienced some pretty darn hot summers. It would hit 30+ now and then in central Auckland where I lived, especially around early February. I used to read about West Auckland getting 33+ on occasion.

It wouldn't be so bad were it not for the humidity. It's like Calcutta sometimes! Hot and damp, like shoving your head inside a kettle.

I believe the same thing which has banished the once-cold Auckland winters (the loss of open ground, replaced by vast amounts of concrete, steel and asphalt) is causing the Auckland summers to get worse (or hotter...).

But it's all your's mate! At least you have the harbor, the Domain and Cornwall Park! They are world-class if you ask me.

[Gary Roberts]

I got records and it may get 29 or 30 one or two days only and thats not in sucessive years ie in 1998 or 99 we got it a couple of times but no way in 1997 or 2002.
It can get sunny and humid then it clouds over in summer.
The 33's are unofficial and usually confined to Henderson or like that.I been to Napier and its a lot hotter than Auckland in summer with a hot wind blowing as well.
As for the winters its not that "real cold" where its iced all over the lawns and white where you could skid on the whitened ashphelt as a kid or pools of water frozen where you need a hammer to break it.It still feels cold but its just the bitter SW that we get now

Yeah, when I first lived in Auckland as a little kid, I thought the excellent frosts and the ice were normal, but as the years went by they became rarer. All the open fields near where I lived in Mt Wellington got covered with factories, and the cold just kind of "went away".

We hit 35°+ down here in summer often, but the humidity is usually in the single or low double figures, so it feels great. When it's 29° in Auckland and 100% humidity it's almost unbearable! Well, it was for me! I was glad to escape that.

Not trashing Auckland itself, mind. Despite its problems, it's still a very beautiful place (ie the harbor, gulf, islands, Tamaki Drive, West Coast beaches, the Domain, Cornwall Park/One Tree Hill, etc). You guys just need a climate overhaul!

[Michael]

Sure do I wouldnt mind the climate so much if we didn't get these awful SWers so often(theyre boring,theyre cold,theyre wet,theyre are so windy).I can put up with the NE they (can get interesting).And like the SE and N the best

You guys just need a climate overhaul!

[tich]

Here some pics of Alexandra in the snow in June 2002, this storm affected most the country.

The snow, heavy as it was, I think only affected Canterbury and Central Otago. Coastal Otago and Southland I believe were spared. Still an extremely widespread fall considering the situation. (warm advection - the 1939 event sounded like a cold advection storm)

[Gary Roberts]

Here some pics of Alexandra in the snow in June 2002, this storm affected most the country.

The snow, heavy as it was, I think only affected Canterbury and Central Otago. Coastal Otago and Southland I believe were spared. Still an extremely widespread fall considering the situation. (warm advection - the 1939 event sounded like a cold advection storm)

Strange conditions here right now. We had a high of 13.5° at 15:25 this afternoon, and it's currently hovering around 9.3°. The barometer hit a low of 1008 at around the same time as the temperature peaked but has been slowly but steadily climbing. The wind has been WSW all day and not strong. Is this an advective deal happening, and are about to get more snow sometime soon do you think? This is the warmest we've been in quite some time.

[Michael]

That was horrid There was a low of about 940 something south of the chathams and there were secondary low after another rotating around them keeping the SW flow going

Here some pics of Alexandra in the snow in June 2002, this storm affected most the country.

[spwill]

Check out WeatheronLine long range map for July8 04. Thats a big snow fall event map if it happens.

[Gary Roberts]

Check out WeatheronLine long range map for July8 04. Thats a big snow fall event map if it happens.

Link?

[Michael]

http://expert.weatheronline.net.nz/pslv_frame.htm

Doesnt look too bad for us only looks moderate westerlies as the trough north of us will keep the wind down

Check out WeatheronLine long range map for July8 04. Thats a big snow fall event map if it happens.

Link?

[Michael]

June 29 and 30th look more frightful

[Gary Roberts]

http://expert.weatheronline.net.nz/pslv_frame.htm

Doesnt look too bad for us only looks moderate westerlies as the trough north of us will keep the wind down

Thanks for that.