Christchurch snow days

This page is a brief history of significant snowfalls in Christchurch.

Riccarton Mill in a snowy July 1895 [1895], CCL PhotoCD 4, IMG0018 — Riccarton Mill in a snowy July 1895, CCL PhotoCD 4, IMG0018

If there’s snow in Christchurch

Check the Christchurch City Council website for more information;
Go to the Environment Canterbury website for Canterbury information.

A timeline of Canterbury snowfalls

Significant snow storms occurred in Christchurch in 1862, 1895, 1896, 1901, 1918, 1945, 1992, 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

14 July 1945

There was record snowfall 30 to 40 cm over most of the city.
The snowfall ranged between 25 cm to 60 cm in rural areas.
The snow was followed by -1 to - 7 °C frosts that froze the snow to power and telephone lines, resulting in several broken and bent poles.
Power was cut off for about a week in many rural areas.

The Big Snow, [1945] - Mr Bettle outside his shop in Heathcote Valley, CCL PhotoCD Gimblett Collection Gimblett-0084 — Big Snow, [1945] - Mr Bettle outside his shop in Heathcote Valley, CCL PhotoCD Gimblett Collection Gimblett-0084

27 August 1992

The "Big Snow of 1992" was Canterbury's heaviest snowstorm for 30 years. Snowfalls of 5cm to 30 cm fell in Christchurch and over 100cm fell on the Port Hills.

Across the Canterbury Plains approximately 40cm of snow fell, which in some locations fell on top of snowfall from the previous month.

The 1992 snow storm killed over one million stock in Canterbury and damaged buildings in the Christchurch and surrounding areas. Its overall economic impact was estimated to be somewhere between 50 and 100 million dollars.

The 1992 snowstorm had a recurrence interval of about 50 to 100 years. However, while this snow storm was particularly heavy in Christchurch, other areas of the Canterbury Plains seem to have been less affected than in previous events.
Information from CCC archives: Christchurch City Update ’97 — Natural Hazards