Snow, hail and sun herald spring

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GISBORNE residents shivered through snow and hail as a cold blast from the south came through the Gisborne and East Coast district last night.

Just after 5pm, a hail storm came out of nowhere in the Mangapapa area with hail reports from Valley Road, Patrick Street, Ormond Road area.

Up in the hills north and south of Gisborne snow fell and settled but is mostly gone with the sunshine this morning.

At Motu and Rakauroa, snow settled on the hills and roads while at Matawai, there were some flurries in the hills.

At Matawai School this morning, principal Glenn Knight said there was a mild frost followed by sunshine.

“Late yesterday there were some snow flurries on the hills but we are a bit lower and had nothing.”

Up the coast there were reports of heavy hail also and Mount Hikurangi has a fresh dusting of snow on its cap this morning.

The hail storm seemed to travel right through the north Island with reports in Opotiki, Palmerston North and Hamilton.

Today for Gisborne MetService predicts a high of 17 and an overnight low tonight of 6 degrees.