Heavy Snow And Freeze Sweep New Zealand; South Africa Sees Snow; Arctic Ice Grows In Key Regions; + Atlantic Cools Sharply, Dampening Hurricane Hype
"The base area at Mt Hutt Ski Area is looking as good as it gets for early June."
Heavy Snow And Freeze Sweep New Zealand
Winter has arrived with force in New Zealand, as a polar outbreak sweeps across the country, delivering heavy snow and biting cold a heavy snowfall.
Among the coldest days in recent memory are being endured across the South Island, with the alpine village of Aoraki/Mount Cook posting a brutal -12.9C (8.8F). Locals claimed it dipped even lower overnight to -13C (8.6F). This reading is significantly below the June average for the area and not far off the all-time station record of -15C (5F).
Elsewhere: Wellington hit 2.9C (37.2F), Auckland shivered at 4.5C (40.1F), and Christchurch dipped below at -2.8C (27F). It’s a cold snap reminiscent of historical extremes — not unprecedented, but certainly uncommon this early in the season.
The snow came in thick and fast, and all.
More than 30 inches (76 cm) fell on alpine regions, with Mt Hutt hammered by over 90 cm (~35 inches) in just five days. Lake Tekapo was similarly buried, and State Highway 8 between Fairlie and Twizel was shut down due to hazardous conditions.
Emergency services were forced into action as travelers became stranded amid worsening visibility and treacherous ice.
Skiers are rejoicing. After a rocky pre-season, these storms have reset the playing field.
Mt Hutt now boasts a base depth of nearly 100 cm (~39 inches), with more snow forecast on June 12 and 13.
