West Coast counts its losses after 'blizzard-like' weather

The Coal Creek area near Greymouth was one of many areas on the West Coast hit by flooding last week. Photo / Greymouth Star

Sodden West Coasters are drying off and counting their losses after "blizzard-like'' conditions ripped through the region and killed dozens of cattle last week.

WeatherWatch said wind chill in the region last Tuesday and Wednesday made it feel as cold as minus 15C in some places.

Federated Farmers West Coast president Katie Milne said many farmers lost two or three cattle due to the weather, a few lost around 10, and one farmer suffered "major'' stock losses.

The weather was unlike anything to have hit the region before, in terms of how widespread it was.

"It was a howling easterly over here with horizontal ice pellets - it wasn't hail, it was different than hail - it wasn't sleet, it wasn't rain. There were trees blown on the road and you couldn't hardly stand up.

"I lived in Canada for a few years and it got to minus 10C but I was running around in a sweatshirt because there was no wind but when you're wet and cold and it's windy it's pretty uncomfortable.''

The local community was rallying around the farmer who had lost so many stock.

"It is a terrible tragic thing that's happened really and it's never happened before''

Weatherwatch analyst Phillip Duncan said the "brutal'' wind chill was continuing in some parts of the South Island today.

A southeasterly low was driving some sleet and snow to parts of Southland, Canterbury and Otago but there was less moisture in the air so it wouldn't fall as heavily as it did last week.

The main factor was wind chill.

"The highs will be single digits in some areas - five degrees - which is not very warm. But the wind chill is a significant thing. In some exposed areas it's going to feel like it's minus 5C or colder.''

Last week WeatherWatch received reports of "dozens'' of cattle dying from the cold around Hokitika.

"It shows how brutal the cold air can be. It's very rare for cows to be killed by the cold so, from a farming point of view, just be aware of the wind chill factor.''

Wellington and Wairarapa were also being affected by the weather system today - to lesser extent than in the south, but it was still "not too flash'' at the bottom of the North Island, Mr Duncan said.

The West Coast was fine and dry today, and warmer winds were expected to raise temperatures elsewhere in the South Island next week.

The North Island is also forecast to get some snow showers, with snow showers forecast for both the Desert Road and the Rimutaka Hill Road.

From 3pm to midnight 1-2cm could accumulate on the Desert Road above 600m, while the Rimutaka Hill Road could receive the same amount from 1pm to 11pm.