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6 Oct 09 – New Zealand: Two major North Island highways remain
closed this morning after unseasonal heavy snow in the last two days
stranded motorists for two nights. The roads could re-open this
afternoon
“Motorists were rescued from their stranded vehicles yesterday and
spent another night in emergency accommodation last night.
“Police closed the Desert Road, State Highway 49 from Waiouru to
Ohakune and State Highway One between Waiouru and Taihape last
night. The roads remained closed this morning.
“The unseasonal snow caught sheep farmers in the middle of late
lambing.
"Snow was reported as far north as Te Aroha and Katikati. Much of
Waikato shivered in 6C temperatures and in Auckland the temperature
peaked at 10C.
“WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said yesterday's snowfalls
were a rare event.
"I've had people say to me this is far worse than
the middle of winter and I have to agree. "Even if this was the middle
of winter this is extreme."
“The Taupo-Napier highway looked like a car graveyard yesterday, as
freezing, blustery weather prevented motorists retrieving vehicles
trapped in heavy snow.
“Metservice was forecasting another 5cm to 8cm of
snow above 500m on the central plateau last night.”
See entire article:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10601501
Thanks to Richard Prosser in Christchurch, New Zealand for this link
Hi Robert,
I read your "Middle of
Winter" article. It was dated October 6. Since it's
Fall in the northern Hemisphere, it's Spring in the
southern hemisphere.
This means they had a spring snow storm that put their
winter snow storms
to shame. The article even says "unseasonal."
Travis Hill
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