On Monday 25th July, many residents in the South Island of New Zealand awoke to find their homes and gardens covered in snow.
Police asked people to stay at home as road conditions were hazardous. The snow falls extended from Invercargill in the south up through Dunedin, Queenstown and Christchurch.
The Metservice of New Zealand warned that Monday 25th July would be bitterly cold and might turn out to be the coldest snap in 15 years.
Temperatures Plummet as Snow Falls in New Zealand
At 7am on Monday 25th July, the temperature in Christchurch was 0°Celsius and was reported as feeling like minus seven because of the wind-chill factor. Snow started falling in the city overnight and caused the closure of the airport for a few hours and cancellation of flights in other parts of the South Island.
Schools were already closed due to school holidays, but the University of Canterbury was closed for the day. Police urged residents to stay home and keep roads clear as conditions were icy. A number of vehicles had already slid off the roads in Queenstown and Dunedin, and emergency services were kept busy.
Earthquake Damaged Homes and Snow Fall in Christchurch
Christchurch was covered with a blanket of snow down to sea level and there were concerns for those living in earthquake-damaged homes.
Many homes were badly cracked and others were without efficient heating due to chimneys toppling during the earthquakes. Several thousand heat pumps have been installed since the September 4th 2010 earthquake, but there were many homes still on the waiting list.
The Earthquake Commission stated on their website that ‘The priority of EQC is to make houses secure, weather-tight or habitable with a focus on winter heating issues or houses where residents may be sick and elderly.’
The Red Cross had grants available to families and individuals who are facing large power bills due to heating their homes this winter.
The Plus Side to Snow in Christchurch
The people of Christchurch have been through almost 11 months of trauma following the three large earthquakes in their city.
The July 25th snow dump transformed the CBD and suburbs into a magical winter-land and residents were out before dawn, making snowmen and playing in the streets. Children bundled up warmly and adults chatted to each other with smiles on their faces.
While the snow may bring hardship to some and close down businesses for a day or two, the majority of people were excited and looked forward to days of fun, hot drinks and time with family and friends.
Debbie Roome - Debbie Roome is an award-winning freelance writer, journalist and novelist with over 25 years experience.
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