SpateofcitycrashesasairportrecordscoldestJuneday

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

MetService meteorologist Kyle Lee said the temperature at Dunedin Airport was -8.6degC, narrowly beating the previous record of -8.5degC which was set in June 28, 2006

The cold conditions and widespread freeze caused a spate of vehicle crashes, and set power supply alarm bells ringing.

Mr Lee said the coldest spot in the southern region yesterday was Middlemarch, where the temperature dropped to -11degC.

Dunedin City dropped to -0.4degC, Alexandra Airport recorded -7.9degC, Queenstown Airport was -5.7degC, Twizel was -7.3degC, Lumsden was -4.8degC and Invercargill was -4.2degC.

Dunedin police were kept busy with several crashes due to icy roads yesterday morning.

Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said police were called when a car crashed into a parked car after sliding on ice at the intersection of Orbell and Fea St about 5.45am. No injuries were reported.

However, another car crashed into a fence in Orbell St at 7.50am — a fencepost went through the car and a person was taken to hospital with minor injuries, he said.

While some commented on social media yesterday about the lack of...