Canterbury farmers brace for icy blast

This year New Zealand had the coldest June since 1972, with a snowstorm hitting South Canterbury and North Otago. Picture / Simon Baker

Canterbury farmers hard hit in the early June blizzard that blanketed the province for almost three weeks are hunkering down ahead of icy southerlies forecast this weekend.

The Met Service warned today of a "very cold change" that would sweep over the country with "biting cold winds and wintry showers" in the next few days.

With early lambing and calving under way in some areas Met Service spokesman Bob McDavitt warned that wind chill in the coming blast would be very stressful on any newborn animals caught in the open.

Snow was not expected to reach low levels, but would be a "welcome top-up" for skifields.

Bitterly cold southwesterlies "straight from the sub-Antarctic" were likely to bring snow to Southland and Otago on Saturday, with similar conditions expected to reach the North Island on Sunday.

Mr McDavitt said many people could expect the "coldest outbreak of their winter".

On Monday, there was a risk that the flow would turn more southerly, bringing very cold showery conditions to eastern parts of both islands and Wellington.

Canterbury farmers this afternoon said they appreciated the early weather warning.

Mid Canterbury farmer Rupert Curd said many farmers on the plains had already started or were a good way through lambing and would be dreading a cold snap.

"It's going to have serious consequences for them. The wind chill factor is going to be the biggest problem," he said.

"The good thing about it is that plenty of warning has been offered on this occasion."

Mr Curd, who runs sheep cattle and deer, said he was not expecting snow to the low levels of June.

Grass growth had been slow to recover from the drought and farmers had been relying on coming warmer days "to really kick it along," he said.

"When we get lambs on the ground we need grass. It's just impossible to get around stock with supplementary feed," Mr Curd said.

"We're looking for an early spring, but in light of this cold front coming through, it doesn't look like it's going to happen."

David Moore, who farms at Waitohi, near Temuka in South Canterbury, said it had been a difficult winter and the latest cold snap was "most unwelcome".

"There's been lots of mud and a lot of feed wasted."

Mr Moore also gratefully acknowledged early notice of the wintry weekend.

"Farmers will be doing all they can to get stock to shelter."

- NZPA