More than 100,000 lightning strikes were recorded in one week in New Zealand during the June storms that brought heavy snowfall.
The worst damage was caused by two cyclones in Waikana, 50 kilometers north of the capital Wellington, which damaged rooftops, uprooted trees and caused massive flooding.
On the other hand, South Island ski slope operators can be happy about the heavy snowfall caused by the cold front, because the snow conditions on the ski slopes have not been favorable in June for long. The first ski season has now opened in New Zealand since the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to the joy of skiers, many roads in the mountains were closed due to snowfall, and there was a danger of avalanches in several places around the ski slopes.
Cold fronts from the Southern Ocean and the Tasman Sea are bringing the changing weather to New Zealand for days. Between June 6 and 13, the Met Office recorded 111,621 lightning strikes across New Zealand’s islands and surrounding waters.
Wellington residents have been dealing with strong winds and hail for days. Heavy rains are also common in Auckland, and the bridge in the city’s harbor has had to be closed from time to time due to high winds that sometimes reached 100 kilometers per hour.
(MTI)
