Your web browser (Internet Explorer) is out of date. Some things will not look right and things might not work properly. Please download an up-to-date and free browser from here.

Snow warning issued for Southland

Environment Southland is putting the word out that snow is forecast to low levels and are asking Southlanders to start thinking of a Plan B when it comes to travelling.

The MetService has issued a severe weather warning for much of Southland with heavy snowfalls expected across Thursday.

As of 11pm there were unconfirmed reports of snow in parts of Dunedin.

Emergency Management Southland spokesman Neil Cruickshank says people should keep an ear and eye on weather forecasts and check road conditions before travelling

Neil Cruickshank says the roads are likely to be treacherous and people should consider whether they need to travel at all.

He says it’s likely that people will wake up to reasonable snow around Southland on Thursday so businesses and schools especially should consider issue around transport of staff and students during the day.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the snowy forecast is reminiscent of the September snow storm last year, which collapsed the roof of Stadium Southland but hopes the revised Metservice warning, which lifts the snow level from sea level to 100m, is accurate – as this would spare Invercargill of major problems.

Emergency Management Southland will continue to monitor the situation as will emergency services.

– By Malcolm Gayfer at NewstalkZB, with WeatherWatch.co.nz

Comments

Guest on 13/07/2011 9:26am

I’d be surprised if it happened around the coast like last time especially if it turns SW. The forecasters were caught short in September.

WW Forecast Team on 13/07/2011 9:51am

Not all forecasters were!

– WW

Guest on 13/07/2011 10:42am

Pretty sure nobody forecast the heavy snow to sea level until during the time it was happening or as it was beginning to ease. I see they’re now saying snow showers to 100mtrs and not to sea level.

WW Forecast Team on 13/07/2011 11:33am

We certainly did – we started our snow predictions on the Monday and stepped it up on the Wednesday with this press release (http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/snow-and-lambing-%E2%80%93-a-deadly-combination)  which specifically mentions snow to sea level that coming Saturday and that the incoming snow was significant.

On that Saturday MetService issued a snow warning less than 20 minutes before the roof of stadium Southland collapsed, so I can appreciate where you’re coming from, but not all forecasters were late at alerting the public to the incoming snowstorm.

Cheers
Philip Duncan

 

Related Articles