Ravenwood - 01/05/05 07:00 AM
New Zealand is experiencing the coldest December in 59 years. Kiwis were expecting to break out the summer clothes last month, but got snow and ice instead.
Snow, frost, hail and a tornado marked the first month of summer, with the coldest temperatures recorded in December since 1945.Apparently changing to the metric calendar means Summer starts in December instead of June.National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research figures for last month show it was the fifth coldest since records were established in 1853. The national average temperature was just 13.4C - 2.2C below normal and more like spring than summer.
The record-breaking low temperatures not only kept the summer clothes in the cupboard but slowed the growth and ripening of berries, stone fruit and crops.
The philosophical question is whether they're now having next summer or last summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Posted by: Ron Hardin at January 5, 2005 6:26 AMDidn't you watch The Day After Tomorrow???
Don't you understand that global warming causes ICE AGES???
Yeah, me either.
Posted by: Kevin Baker at January 5, 2005 7:14 AMSo let me get this straight. If it gets hotter, they're right and SUVs should be banned. If it gets cooler, they're right and SUVs should be banned.
I saw The Day After Tomorrow and I think I can clear this all up for you. You see, the coming ice age will be caused by the earth's magnetic field beginning to decay until it will actually reverse itself. When this happens the earth's warm spots will begin to cool and the cold spots will begin to warm. It's as if the heat will be transported through worm holes in the space/time thingy from one place to another. Now, when I was a kid, we had a winter where the temp hit -33 degrees F and we have not had a winter that cold since then, so clearly this spot is beginning to warm. If my calculations are correct, we will be enjoying 60 degree Januaries by the year 2875. I can't wait!
Posted by: Susan Gaffey at January 5, 2005 7:21 PM"Apparently changing to the metric calendar means Summer starts in December instead of June."
Point of fact - NZ is in the Southern Hemisphere. Summer has always begun in December there (along with Australia, South Africa, Argentina, etc). As an American (and Yankee to boot) it was weird having to put on sunblock on Christmas Day when I was in NZ as an exchange student 10 years ago.
Posted by: Andrew Upson at January 6, 2005 12:08 AMWait wait wait wait wait, so in August it's cold? And in February it's hot? So it's opposite land! Crooks chase cops. Cats have puppies. So hot snow falls up?
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