Xtra News Community 2

The weather here today is...


FAR TO BLOODY HOT!

 ???

Very very hot again.

Very, very, very warm at my place....the thermometer on the wall is showing 30°C at present!


I think I'll repost all my weather messages (with photographs) that I have posted in the Weather thread at the old group since Xmas, to add a bit of colour to this thread.... :P

Originally posted on Boxing Day, 26th December 2008....



Boxing Day and summertime!

A gorgeous day at the bottom of the North Island of NZ on Friday with blue skies, sunshine and only a few clouds over the tops of the ranges. Mid afternoon, it clouded over somewhat, then the skies cleared again late afternoon.

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Castlepoint on the Wairarapa coastline east of Masterton late Friday afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02411-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02417-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02418-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02424-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/Castlepoint.jpg)

Originally posted during the wee hours of Sunday morning, 28th December 2008....



A nice warm day in Wairarapa on Saturday, although lots of cloud around, but the sun was shining and it was nice and warm. Across the ranges, it was a grey, drizzley day in the Hutt Valley and Wellington in the morning when I was over there.

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This was the weather in Wairarapa yesterday (Saturday) afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02430-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02431-CR-700px.jpg)

Also originally posted on Sunday, 28th December 2008, but late in the day....



An absolutely, fabulously cracker of a day at the bottom of the North Island in NZ.

Blue skies, lots of sunshine, only a few tiny clouds and currently 31°C at my place.

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Wellington weather this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02438-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02442-CR-700px.jpg)

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Wairarapa weather late this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02451-LVL1L-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02453-CR-700px.jpg)

Originally posted on New Year's Day, 1st January 2009....



Sunny and warm at the bottom of the North Island of NZ on New Year's Day 2009.

However, the nor'wester is blowing fairly hard today. Currently 26°C at my place.

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Pohutukawa flowers at Petone this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02460-700px.jpg)

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A lovely summer day approaching Wellington this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02465-LVL1R-700px.jpg)

Originally posted on Friday, 2nd January....



A mixed-bag of weather at the bottom of the North Island of NZ today. It was fine, but mostly cloudy in Wairarapa this morning. On the Wellington side of the ranges, it was a cloudy, grey day at first, however by late morning the sun was shining north of Lower Hutt. Back to Wairarapa and it is a partly cloudy but mostly sunny day with lots of blue skies between the clouds. However, there is thick cloud to the west and northwest over the ranges. Currently 26 degrees celcius at my place.

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Wellington weather this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02471-LVLL-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02472-LVL2L-700px.jpg)

Originally posted on Thursday, 22nd January....



Summertime continues at the bottom of the North Island in New Zealand. A couple of rainy days throughout the month so far, but mostly blue skies (with a few clouds on some days), lots of sunshine and warm temperatures.

Time for a few weather photographs taken over the past 2½ weeks.

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Featherston early in the morning on Sunday 4th January....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02475-700px.jpg)

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Dawn colours at Masterton, followed by a very early morning scene at Featherston on Monday 5th January....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02483-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02486-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02491-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02492-700px.jpg)

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Sunrise through the trees at Matarawa, followed by a view of cruise ships at Wellington on Thursday 15th January....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02493-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02499-LVLL-700px.jpg)

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The weather at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton on Sunday 18th January....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02528-700px.jpg)

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Wanganui as viewed from Durie Hill on Wellington Anniversary Day, Monday 19th January....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02562-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02563-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02565-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02567-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02569-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02570-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02572-700px.jpg)

Today's posting from me on the Weather thread at the MSN Xtra News Community 2 group....



Warm summertime temperatures continue at my place. It has been pushing 30°C most days and sometimes exceeding it. Lots of clear blue skies and sunshine to go with the warm temperatures.

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Masterton weather yesterday (Saturday) looking down Perry Street towards the southeast....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02573-700px.jpg)

A chilly 23 in Napier

It was 33 bloody degrees celcius inside my place when I got home from work at about 9:15pm on Sunday evening!!!

Like walking into a bloody hot oven!!!!!  :'(

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Wellington weather, early evening on Sunday....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02579-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02581-LVLL-CR-700px.jpg)

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Dusk at Masterton on Sunday evening....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02587-700px.jpg)

Bloody warm in Wairarapa today with temperatures well into the 30s.

A wee bit cooler in Wellington with temperatures in the mid-20s.

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Wellington Harbour early on Monday evening as the cruise liner “Nautica” departs Wellington....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02594-LVL1R-700px.jpg)

Following cold weather and a bit of rain at the bottom of the North Island on Tuesday, Wednesday was fine and sunny, but still a little bit chilly.

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Early afternoon weather in South Wairarapa on Wednesday....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02607-LVL1R-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02609-LVLR-700px.jpg)

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Featherston early on Wednesday evening....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02610-700px.jpg)

http://flowerznz.multiply.com/photos/album/16/bikerbabe.jpg#1

Grey and Windy. :(

Hot.

............ be thankful yer not in Adelaide or Melbourne

(http://www.world-of-smilies.com/wos_sonstige/g0200.gif)

It's too bloody hot at my place today....currently 34°C inside my place (according to the thermometer on the wall) in spite of fans going in every room in the house and all the windows open; and about 32°C outside!

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/HellFire.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/hot.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/HotandSweating.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/hotsun.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/IceMelted.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/ice-cream-melt.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/MeltingHot.gif)

It's almost perfect here. A little overcast, slight breeze and not too hot.
Yesterday seemed so much colder after our heat-wave the day before. I nearly lit the fire last night :o

It's raining!!!   ;D  :-*  YAY!!
 Hopefully it doesn't stop for a while.

Been raining in Wellington too. So much more pleasant trying to sleep than in the heat.

by saturday it is gonna be 44 here,  O0

There is NO WAY I could handle 44 degrees :o

I take it you are not coming for a visit then Shef >:D

I was in Hastings last week. It was so humid by 8.00am and uncomfortable. I took Bailey (Burmese kitten) with me. She found the heat exhausting poor wee soul. (Not that any of my spoilt rotten felines are poor wee souls!)

When are you coming back to NZ Kiwi, or are you not allowed back here once you've become a pasteurised Aussie?  :P

Maybe in winter!! Surely you have colder weather :o  Hehehehehe poor Mr S will go through culture shock when he gets there. ;D

(http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss334/donquixotenz/IMG_7400.jpg)

A beautiful day in Wairarapa today for Waitangi Day with the temperature pushing 30°C.

Wellington was rather cloudy this morning when I was over there.

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A beautiful day at Woodside in Wairarapa this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02616-700px.jpg)

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Grey weather in Wellington this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02622-LVL1L-CR-700px.jpg)

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Featherston in Wairarapa late this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02624-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02626-700px.jpg)

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Golden sunset colours at my place in Masterton this evening....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02627-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02633-700px.jpg)

Can I borrow Image #5 for a new XNC2 logo?

Fire me the full res version!
(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/afro.gif)

Coming your way shortly. It's 3264 x 2176 pixels in size.

BTW....it was taken from my backyard at 8:07pm this evening.... ;D

Sweet - pump it through whenever you're ready - the pipes open.

(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/smiley.gif)

Alcat, I am surpose to come back this year to do Mums ashes,  I am not ready which I know is not fare on Mum as she is in my sister linen cardboard and needs to be done.

I will still be able to use my kiwi pasport so that should be ok. 

Here it is 37 degrees at 8:50pm.    Tomorrow over 40 and Sunday 46 where we are.  fter Church on Sunday I think I might sit in the bath and read all afternoon. O0

(http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/ss334/donquixotenz/IMG_7510digeredoocut.jpg)
 >:D

I know you're not ready - but you may be more at peace when you do. Is your sister in Christchurch?

It's going to be HOT!

(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/cry.gif)

Currently 27.2 (Official) in Napier and rising

We will reach 40 today...same as yesterday. Tomorrow they are predicting mid 40's.

Id say its about 25 or 27 C here.

41 here but feels like it is still gtting hotter.
Took son to a birthday party andthey had a air con  man the heat hit us hen we left.
I rekon i coul fry an egg on the road outside.

I'm trying to work out whether it is hotter inside my place or outside. It's an oven outside and it's an oven inside where the thermometer on the wall is displaying a temperature of 34°C at the moment! There is absolutely no wind at all outside, not even the merest whisper of a breeze. And the forecasters are saying it is going to get even hotter tomorrow on the east coasts of both the North and South Islands as the hot air mass that has been causing the incredibly high temperatures in Australia drift across the ditch!!

BLOODY HOT !!!!!!!
I don't know what the temperature is and I don't want to know. It's too hot to do anything, even cook dinner - Mr S just got put on a crash diet >:D

Mr Kiwi cooked dinner here as I don't cook in weekends,  how lucky am i that is so hot in the weekend. O0

Hahaha when Mr S cooks we have a choice of Scottish, American (Kentucky) or an awesome seafood and potato delight ::)

Very warm weather with the temperature into the mid-30s in Wairarapa today.

Not even the slightest breath of wind to provide any relief from the heat.

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This was the weather near Dalefield (south-west of Carterton) this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02635-CR-700px.jpg)

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A beautiful summer day in Masterton today as seen at Library Square this afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02642-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02643-700px.jpg)

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Dusk as viewed from my backyard this evening....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02649-700px.jpg)

The thermometer on the wall in my place is currently reading 35°C.

Outside, there are no clouds; and there is no wind (not even a gentle breeze) — just oppressive heat!

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/HellFire.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/hot.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/HotandSweating.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/hotsun.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/IceMelted.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/ice-cream-melt.gif)     (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/MeltingHot.gif)

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Wairarapa weather early this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02656-LVL2L-700px.jpg)

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The weather on the Wellington side of the ranges this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02657-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02665-LVLL-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02670-CR-700px.jpg)

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Wairarapa weather late this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02675-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02676-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02677-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02679-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02685-CR-700px.jpg)

It is hot and dry.
I just got back from Rangitoto and unless there is a lot of rain in the next fortnight the next people in the bach are going to have to take water in. There was only 6 inches left in the main tank and the other two tanks (one borderline for drinking the other for cleaning only) are low as well.

Better still the long drop needs digging out fairly soon.

Dave has just done the lawns, 7:45pm but still very very hot.  Only done the front as he said too hot to do both. 
The weather man said it is going to drop 15 degrees tonight for the next 5 days

wow.....you have a bach at rangitoto??   I thought they had all gone.    That is special... :)

You could clearly see haze caused by smoke particles drifting across the Tasman Sea from the Australian bushfires in the sky at my place this evening during sunset. It was visible yesterday evening, but much more obvious earlier this evening at sunset. I suspect it may be even more pronounced by tomorrow evening.

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02690-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02692-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02693-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02697-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02703-700px.jpg)

It's hot again :'(
At least today I'm not at work, but I have a heap of housework to catch up on. And Daughter is bringing out her new boyfriend to dinner (DAMN that means I have to cook >:D)

It's cloudy but muggy in the Hutt. I'm on night shift for the next couple of nights so will be trying to sleep during the day (https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/tickedoff.gif)

waiting for rain - As we rely on tank water we need rain soon.

Geeze, that's a pain Calliope. We're on spring water, but everyone on the line learns to conserve water over the summer. Though I am tempted to go out and spray the dogs with the hose. They are both lying down and panting, it's too hot even for them!

When my brother was a Rural Fire Volly, they used to top up a couple of the old-timers, water tanks with the tankers (as 'practise' of course ;) ) Otherwise they would have just done without - getting water carried out to where they were was way too expensive on a pension.

The humidity has dropped and is currently 83%(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/buck2.gif)

This is what I hate most about Auckland.

we are still waiting for the promised heavy rain. It hasn't arrived.

What's the weather like here?

YUCKY!!

Time to jump in the pool......

(http://friendsforever.foren-city.de/images/smiles/a084.gif)

The Rains have arrived

(http://friendsforever.foren-city.de/images/smiles/a084.gif)

It's nice huh!
The sound of rain on the roof, a bit of wind in the trees... and the air's no longer like pea-soup.


Bed and book time - a good nights sleep coming up.

 :)

It's been pouring down in Wellington and the Hutt ALL day. The cats are pissed off. The youngest is an 8 month old Burmese and she's stir crazy - flying off the walls and harrassing the older ones. My lot are curfewed at night anyway, but if they get a good play outside during the day, the little one is good at night.

Auckland hits record high temperature

Auckland has experienced its hottest day in 137 years.

During the 3pm hour, the temperature at the official weather station at Whenuapai Airbase reached 32.4 degrees.

NIWA climate expert Jim Salinger says the temperature is the highest since their records began and equals a high recorded in the Auckland Domain 137 years ago, in 1872.

Weather analyst Philip Duncan says the extra hot weather was due to a sudden clearance of cloud in the skies along with a gusty nor'wester. He says WeatherWatch.co.nz's thermometer in West Auckland recorded 34 degrees, fuelled by a hot nor'wester.

Mr Duncan says although humidity is lower today, the intense heat and sunnier skies means it feels much hotter - and a humidex reading of 38 was recorded.

South Island weather analyst Richard Green says far from Auckland's high, Christchurch is having its second coldest day of the summer. It was 12.8 degrees around 6pm and still raining.

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=152435

Auckland has hottest day in 137 years  
Auckland not only experienced its hottest day of the summer - but the hottest since records began back in 1968.

Niwa Climate expert, Jim Salinger, says today's high was the highest since their records began and equals a high recorded in the Auckland Domain 137 years ago, in 1872.

During the 3pm hour the temperature at the official weather station at Whenuapai Airbase reached 32.4 - the hottest ever recorded there.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the reason for the extra hot weather was due to a clearance of cloud in the skies along with a gusty nor'wester.

"Similar to the Canterbury nor'wester, West Auckland can also receive a jump in temps when a nor'wester blows - thanks to the Waitakere Ranges.  That coupled with hot air already over the city and a surprise break in the clouds so the sun could come out, meant the temperatures surged up in western suburbs".

Across south and east Auckland it was only around 28 degrees - significantly lower without the warming affect of the wind.

"WeatherWatch.co.nz's thermometer in West Auckland recorded 34 degrees fuelled by a hot nor'wester" says Duncan.

He says although humidity is lower today the intense heat and sunnier skies means it feels much hotter.  "Our humidex reading, which is a calculation of heat and humidity and what it feels like on your skin, is recording a whopping 38 degrees in Auckland".

WeatherWatch.co.nz exclusively forecast a mostly dry day today but the clearance of cloud even surprised them.  "The rain band moving in is slower than some forecasters thought for the Auckland region but skies have this afternoon temporarily cleared ahead of it.  This has given a rapid rise in afternoon temperatures".

The latest rain radar shows the front bringing heavy rain to western areas of the North Island but the rain isn't expected to set in across Auckland until this evening.

"Some people who have recently been in Melbourne have found the heat in Auckland just as hot this week, but in a much different way.  They report that the breeze is cooler but the humidity makes it feel just as hot and exhausting".

Meanwhile Christchurch is having it's second coldest day of the summer according to Weather Anlayst Richard Green. 

Mr Green says it's currently 12.8 degrees and still raining.

http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/newstalk

It was 39 degrees at work today and has been on average 38 for the last couple of weeks.    We have a fan on the compressor/motor for a 300L refrigerated unit for cooling rollers and also spray with water every 10 minutes otherwise it stops.   Our frig guy said everyone in Auckland was having to do the same.     I don't know how the 'boss' stands it.  Its slightly cooler where I am. 
Its 28 at home now with 3 fans on. 

Been drizzling ALL DAY!!! and its still persisting down, Im rapt....this is excellent weather after the weeks of hot days weve had so far.

OH yippy-yay!!

It as cooled down!!!
And the air is clear...


... much better thank you!!

My goodness - it is after 9 am and I still have some of the windows and doors closed. Yesterday I beat a retreat down to the basement, the only coolish place left. I had flat cats and "dead" bunnies all over the place.

BTW A rabbit lying on it's side with head down looks dead even when they are very much alive. All 4 of mine were doing that yesterday.

Wet  and drizzly here   . braved the outside world and took all the dogs for a huge walk this morning.

After a couple of days of rain with warm temperatures, the rain ended on Friday but it got bloody cold at the bottom of the North Island.

It's still cold but the forecast is for warmer weather tomorrow (Sunday).

---

A silt-laden (from the Hutt River) Wellington Harbour on Saturday morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02707-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02710-LVLL-CR-700px.jpg)

Beautiful clear sunny day.....although a bit nippy.  Last few days have felt like winter and we have had to put the wool duvet back on our bed.

 Yes is colder and damper cramps have started again after 6 months of freedom from nightly attacks.
(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/undecided.gif)

Beautiful day here  and a gorgeous evening   . Doesn't look like it will last though  :(

Oh no, just went outside and it is drizzling...looks like a day in bed reading tomorrow. :(

Waiting for the rain again  :P

Its humid again in Auks.   I don't mind it but hope we get the promised rain.     

Just started trying to rain here(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/43emrainbow.gif) hopefully we get a decent amount. I'm not looking forward to the 29 degrees that is supposed to be accompanying it though(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/undecided.gif)

Mild and cool but its only 6am and still darkish

The rain is getting harder here

(http://www.2and2.net/files/499de1896b476.gif)

It's bloody hot again(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/11emcry.gif) and after yesterdays rain (complete waste of time - it's evaporated) it's muggy as well!

It's still hot, and now we have those godawful brown beetles that find any chink in the house and fly around hitting things and making that clicking sound(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/10emsad.gif) The dog tried to eat one, but didn't like it, so now we're sitting in the dark hoping they'll stay outside PMSL.

Just been out back to check and theres a humungous toadstool growing on the lawn, I swear the friggin thing has doubled in size overnight?? Its cool and dampish here.

So ............ where are you BB?(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/angel.gif)

Tararuas

WHere u at Shef?

Back in HB .... where it's hot, muggy and we have surplus livestock of the uneatable kind ;D

Ok....weve had clouds and showers and a lil wind all day, its still dampish outside but at least its calm and the temps about right. Had enough of muggy these last few months.

Macca ???

Macca??
 ::)

OK  so I'm REALLY NOSEY!!  I just want to know(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/11emcry.gif)
If you tell me, I'll keep it QT ;D

The last day of summer today and it was grey and wet.

Here's some weather photographs taken in “my neck of the woods” over the past couple of weeks....

---

Sunset at my place almost two weeks ago....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02719-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02723-700px.jpg)

---

Wellington a week and a half ago....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02737-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02738-LVLL-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02743-LVL2L-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02747-CR-700px.jpg)

---

Wellington Harbour the day after the last four photographs....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02753-LVLL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02754-LVL2L-CR-700px.jpg)

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Wairarapa countryside last Thursday....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02759-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02760-700px.jpg)

---

The final day of summer today....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02766-700px.jpg)

---

Tomorrow is AUTUMN!

power on, power off, power on, power off - power surges bloody hell

Well the unthinkable has happened - they had to cancel the Mission concert! It's finally stopped raining here, don't know what it's doing in town. Apparently they didn't cancel until 6:00. The gates opened at 3 and concert started at 7 :o

So the boss rang to say they are flat knacker tonight! I don't usually work Sundays but because of the cancellation they were over-run! Oh and apparently, Lionel Ritchie was in for dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FFS -------- He ate my food but I wasn't there....................*sulks*

Poor Shef - it would have been great if you'd met him.

I think this is the first Mission Concert ever cancelled. Real bad luck.

The rain has gone. Although there are probably more clouds than blue sky at the moment, but the sun is shining! (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/42emhot.gif)

ditto

Everything is soaking wet, and it's approximately 26 degrees.  So we are now getting steamed to death.  Arrrgh.  It's disgusting.

The first day of autumn was a mixture of clouds, blue skies, sunshine and warm temperatures at my place.

There were lots of interesting colour, light & shade contrasts on both sides of the ranges as afternoon turned to evening.

---

Same location in Masterton as yesterday (almost the same time), but very different weather....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02770-700px.jpg)

---

Wairarapa countryside, late afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02774-700px.jpg)

Wellington Harbour, early evening....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02776-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02781-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02785-700px.jpg)

South Wairarapa countryside and Featherston, early evening around sunset....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02789-LVLL-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02791-LVL1L-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02798-700px.jpg)

Started off a bit ho-hum here this morning. Mr S went to work a 5:30 just to do a bit of M&R but ended up down in CHB harvesting. It's now really balmy, nice breeze and sunshine(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/42emhot.gif)

Lots of weather variety at the bottom of the North Island lately.

Wet and muggy on Friday, mostly cloudy and humid yesterday, and fine and humid today.

---

A very grey-looking Wellington Harbour early on Friday evening....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02800-LVLL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02802-LVL1R-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02803-LVL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02807-LVL3L-CR-700px.jpg)

---

The eastern Wairarapa sky on Friday evening....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02812-CR-700px.jpg)

---

Wairarapa weather near Masterton late this afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02816-700px.jpg)

---

Early evening weather in Wellington today....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02819-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02823-700px.jpg)

Windy here right now, Ive just brought my tomato plants inside because theyre out in the open.
 :o

A bit of a mixed bag today. The weather was a mixture of clouds and blue sky this morning on both sides of the ranges at the bottom of the North Island. However, I got back to Wairarapa early afternoon and a receding thunderstorm was visible to the north and the ground was rather wet, but the sun was shining again. Late afternoon and early evening, it started to cloud over and get a bit cooler as a southerly began to pass through the region.

---

Autumn in Wairarapa this afternoon (after the thunderstorm)....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02832-LVL1L-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02835-CR-700px.jpg)

---

Now it's raining at my place!      (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/RainUmbrella.gif)

It's bloody freezing here (obviously I've become re-acclimatised to the HB warmth(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/08emembarrassed.gif)) and when I got home M S hadn't lit the fire. So now I have to wear sox and a jersey >:(

Freezing cold, windy, raining, sometimes hailing.   >:(

It's bloody cold at my place....I've turned the electric blanket on in my bed, and I've got heaters going!

I went to work this morning wearing shorts (and a thick jersey) and sat in a warm locomotive cab most of the day (mostly with just the window heaters going), but when I walked home early this evening, my legs got bloody cold. I think I've only worn long pants on about two occasions since late October, but I might have to dig some pairs out and start wearing longs more often unless the weather goes back to being an Indian Summer within a day or two.

Full Moon and a bloody  cold Southerly here in Wellington .... >:(

Big wind from WSW with gusts to 57 kts...took a look at Tairoa heads wind data, about 65kts gusts there.

 A day or two ago a cruise ship was waiting to leave port, and a container vessel waiting to enter the harbour, dunno if they've made it yet. I can think of a better place than Port Chalmers to spend more than a night there.

Much better here today. The wind's a bit cold, but it's nothing like yesterday!
They're forecasting fine(ish) weather for the weekend  :) which is just as well. I have to move our lambs back home from the neighbour's. The downside of having semi-tame lambs means that moving them is not easy, and the dogs aren't much help at all(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/08emembarrassed.gif), I think I'm going to have to spend some time training them instead of playing with them LOL.

It was rather chilly at my place last night; however after a cold start this morning, it turned into a nice fine day on both sides of the ranges at the bottom of the North Island.

---

Sunset in Wairarapa was behind the clouds this evening while I was driving a train from Wellington to Masterton.

However, I took the following dusk shots of a golden sky at Carterton while stopped there offloading passengers....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02857-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02860-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02861-700px.jpg)

---

The next two photographs were taken from near Clareville. The lighting conditions weren't too good by then and a locomotive travelling at speed isn't a very stable photographic platform, so I used a sports action mode to compensate and this was the result....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02862-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02863-700px.jpg)

---

It got even more colourful after that, but the light was definitely too dim to take photographs from a moving locomotive so I gave it away and concentrated on driving the train.

A beautiful autumn day at my place — blue skies, sunshine, no wind and with the temperature in the mid-20s.

---

A perfect morning for hot-air ballooning in South Wairarapa near Matarawa....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-02870-700px.jpg)

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p285/nitpnz/croppedannotated.jpg)   

she should look like this again soon  :tntrm

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p285/nitpnz/groomedkc.jpg)

It is raining here and Sally is telling me about it - at length.

Is it just me or did Autumn arrive early this year as in the 3rd week in February?

Sp1's birthday was cold and wet.

LOL Nitz, so what would she have done if she'd managed to catch it ;D
Do you have to blow dry her, or does she dry quite quickly?


Happy Birthday to SP1 :m&ms  hope she had a good day anyway!


Weather here has been awesome. Nice crisp morning ( I love autumn) and then a warm day, not a cloud in the sky. :dwfl

 She had no show of catching it, it was teasing her. She had to be hosed down then bathed and blow dried,. took more than 2 hours
It was quite a nice day here after yesterdays heavy drizzle but I didn't let her out of my sight. 

16c here at present, and  bit of a breeze about 12 kts. Mushrooms about and near frosts in the mornings on fine days. Boats haven't been out.

They said showers dammit.

SHOWERS.

It's bleeping canoning down.

sunshine and clouds but I expect the rain is not too far away

  both cat and dog burrowed their way under the blankets into my bed last night and won't even get out now that I am. 4.3c

It pissed down all night at my place (and it's still pissing down). Still....the forecast is good for the long weekend, both here and where I'll be.

I'm heading over to Wellington this arvo, then after a couple of teenage boys fly down from Gisborne early tomorow morning, a group of us are off across Cook Strait to Picton and a weekend of classic aeroplanes at Omaka Aerodrome. Then, right down towards the bottom end of the South Island in an attempt to get as far away from the JAFAs as possible! The furtherest distance away from home will be Milford Sound.

My lot were all under the duvet all night. They only got up whe I put the heater on in the lounge.

Perthistently pithing all night, cloud breaking, snow on the southern alps and currently 5 degrees. ::)

My littlest dog always spends the night under the covers - Ive just been looking for her.
Shes still there - its 11.7 here hahaha.

Shes gonna feel it when it really drops - shes grown out of her jumpers too  :'(

I bought Berty a T shirt this morning and put it on him and he sat there looking peed off and wouldn't move till I took it off.   ;D

When she was little I cut the sleeve off a jumper and cut holes in it for her legs  ;D

She prefers to wear her raincoat which has sheepskin lining.  Other obes she comes to me and I know she wants it off - she will wear her raincoat all day quite happily.

   (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/Sunny.gif) 

It's hailing!!!!!

BOO HOO!!!

Winter is here....


 :(

Where sp1 is there is snow down to 1000m, she is at 700m.

The animals woke me up sneaking in under the blankies 10.30pm

-0.3   now

Time to hibernate Nitz (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/04emsmileo.gif). It's a grey miserable day here. it hosed down all day yesterday, and the forecast is looking pretty gloomy for the whole week.
I do prefer winter to summer tho'. Closing up all the curtains, lighting the fire and just kicking back and relaxing.

Our harbour opens directly to the west - and thats where the gale is blowing from and we are in a direct line - it started hard about 15 minutes ago.  Even the dogs are looking out the ranch sliders with fear.

Ive been out and checked all the glass on the deck - all is safe  ::)

Going to be a chilly one here tonight.   Hate it when we have a frost and then a sea fog rolls in like this morning.

an amazing thunder and lighting storm and lots of heavy rain and hail ...

the lawn outside my window glows white in the night light ...

Not sure yet still asleep I think!(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/shocked.gif)

Crap...wet and cold.

Hail storm in Wellington

Updated at 8:36am on 6 May 2009

A sudden hailstorm made driving conditions treacherous in Wellington on Wednesday morning.

Police say there were drifts hail of up to 5cm on streets in southern parts of the city. Patrol cars lost traction in the suburbs of Newtown and Kilbirnie.

MetService says it's recorded 190 lightning flashes over central New Zealand since 5am, particularly over Wellington.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/05/06/1245af7a4bdc

good shot of the Wellington lightning on Breakfast, were there any strikes?

Cold and wet here in Christchurch

http://www.zl3gp.co.nz/wxlive/index.php

This looks at the area round Burwood etc - click on lightning bottom of the page.

Huge storm bringing severe gales and big seas

It looks impressive on the future weather maps [http://www.wxmaps.org/pix/aus.slp.html]and it may well engulf the entire country for several days - a low pressure system (that will affect an area the size of Australia) looks set to develop and then anchor itself off the South Island's east coast starting this Friday.

more .....http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/weather-watch/2009/5/6/huge-storm-bringing-severe-gales-and-big-seas/?ref=rss&c_id=1

Welcome winter  ;D

Theres another one, even larger right behind this one.

just been for a walk  .... wore a woolen beanie hood of hoody over and my 'canes stadium jacket ....

my knees are like blocks of ice ....

still resisting dragging out the heater candles do a good job and the flickering makes you think of open fires ...

(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt153/Newtown-Fella/willie20wellie.gif)

Rain on and off at my place, but there hasn't been too much of it. It's a wee bit chilly, but not cold.

---

Weather warning for Wellington

Batton down the hatches

The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 06 May 2009

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2388664s-06May09.jpg)

Houghton Bay, Wellington's south coast, 6.09am. — ADAM BRADLEY.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the lower North Island — with hail stones up to 2cm possible — as Wellington was this morning woken by lightning and hail.

Metservice Forecaster Heath Gullery said scattered thunderstorms — some of which could be severe — were expected to hit Wanganui, Manawatu, Tararua, Kapiti–Horowhenua and Wairarapa this morning.

Hail stones up to 2cm were possible, Mr Gullery said.

"Large hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles, as well as make driving conditions hazardous," he said.

Police warned Wellington drivers to be extra cautious on the roads this morning.

Inspector Ken Climo of central police communications said heavy hail had caused difficulty for patrol cars attending a car accident in the suburb of Newtown, with the car's tyres unable to get a good grip on the road.

"Take great care this morning, it doesn't sound like it's going to be a very nice day for driving in to work at all."


(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2389170s-06May09.jpg)

Newtown, Wellington about an hour after the storm.


(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2388304s-06May09.jpg)

Island Bay man Peter Horo described "snowy ice" outside his house, up to 15cm in places.


A central fire communications spokesman said they had had several call-outs because of the heavy rain and lightning.

"We've been called to a few episodes of minor flooding in the southern suburbs of Wellington this morning and the lightning did cause a few alarms to activate," he said.

MetService forecaster Allister Gorman said lightning storms had arrived in the capital early this morning after tracking northwards up the South Island overnight.

"In the last 24 hours there have been around 800 lightning flashes, but that's been pretty spread out around the country. Everyone has been getting a little dose of something."

Mr Gorman said most of the lightning activity experienced in the Wellington region had now moved on to Wairarapa.

"Wellington can now expect fairly garden variety winter conditions, cold and not very pleasant."


(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2388352s-06May09.jpg)

Peter O'Carroll took this image at 6am.


(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2388308s-06May09.jpg)

It's a real ‘dog day’ for some.


(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2388341s-06May09.jpg)

A Wellington back yard, about 30 minutes after the rain stopped.


Wellington had also been doused with a heavy isolated downpour this morning, with over 12mm of rain falling over the city's airport in a 20 minute period. Other suburbs in the city experienced less than 1mm of rain.

"We've also had reports of hail falling and blocking drains; people have said the hail was up to 5cm deep in some eastern suburbs."

Those looking forward to some relief at the weekend could be disappointed.

"A large low is moving across the country by the weekend and it is going to be a fairly unsettled and cold weekend for many."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/2387884/Weather-warning-for-Wellington

Chilly but clear in Christchurch.  Which should give time for all the soggy bits to dry out before the deluge on the weekend.  They are threatening snow on the East Coast - hopefully it stays in the hills.

Ferking freezing - I refuse to get out of bed till it warms up!

In bed with the lappy, aye?  (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/03emwink.gif)

the sun is shining, the birds are singing and it looks like it might be a nice day.

Ditto, BUT it's snow to 800 m for tonight

Not any more - Heinzy decided I had to get up - cooking curried eggs for brekkie at his request.

It was a clear as sky this morning which has turned grey/black and purple to the west.
The sound of the waves outside the harbour and on the bar are so loud its almost deafening outside.

Lots blue skies and (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/shine.gif) at my place today too!

Here too. A real cracker of a day. Pity I had to work :(

I had yesterday and today off (after working nine early shifts in a row, most of them 4:30am starts). Unfortunately, I've got to go back to work at 4:30am tomorrow morning and work another seven shifts before getting a four-day long weekend (Friday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday) in just over a week's time. Life's a bitch sometimes!  :'(

4pm and starting to freeze already.   Well it feels like it. (http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/figuren/k055.gif)   Did I mention I hate winter. ::)

Brrrr - I just had to go and look at the temp gauge outside - on the deck its 10c

and 8 in Hamilton.

Clear and cold.

And my oldest son accidentally popped my hot water bottle yesterday(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/cry.gif)

It really dark here, just had a lightning and thunder.

It isn't very warm either. Last night was a hottie and blanket hogging cat night.

Weve had thunder and lightning all night - building to this morning spectacularly.

They are giving warnings on the radio this morning that its heading for AK now!

Much warmer overnight too thank goodness.

I admit to being an Auckland whimp.  It's cold !
Its been sunny off and on all day but its freezing...... I don't like winter.   

There's quite a decent dusting of snow on the Tararua Ranges, as revealed this morning when the clouds lifted. Since then it has been a bloody nice day, but not long ago the sun set, then the temperature dropped dramatically. I reckon it's going to be a bloody cold night. It has that feeling about it!

We had a SW wind all day today. So far our weather's been really warm, so everyones been whinging ! I have a feeling we're going to have a bit of a frost tomorrow (wind's dropped, but the temp hasn't risen). I've had the fire going for a couple of weeks, but because I'm the only one here, I can see I'll have to either 'dump' some hot water soon, or get the kids home for a long, deep, hot bath. (I've already had a couple, but I'm a bit paranoid about falling asleep LOL)

 NZ set for another dose of bad weather
3:04PM Saturday May 09, 2009

Four large low pressure systems will be rotating around the country by midnight, sucking up much colder southern air from the Antarctic.

Our weather watch centre reports this will mean the conditions which brought lightning strikes and hail yesterday will be re-energised. Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the massive depression will intensify this afternoon.

Mr Duncan says it will mean snow to low levels in the South Island, single digit highs for many places tomorrow and heavy showers along the western coastline.

---

But can you believe it?

Hells bells - it's really frosty here. I'm stoking the fire flat stick, the waters boiling, it's warm inside, but only just. I'm considering a bath, but I know it's going to feel cold when I get out(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/04emsmileo.gif)

Stay in the bath all night and just keep adding more hot water every so often.... ;D

Wet Wet Wet.

Definitely a 'get under the blankets and watch videos' day.

I've got enough "laugh lines" thank you, I don't want them all over(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/grin.gif)

It's overcast here and quite nippy. I have to go over and pick Hannah up from Napier. If it's warmer at her place I might stay there lol.

Weve got blustery hard itermittent showers - ahh well - heres winter.
Time to hunker down and keep warm.  It will soon pass  ;D

Its been sunny most of the day but it turned all dark and dingy in the last hour.   

4 degrees.   >:(

More icy weather tipped for south

The Southland Times | Monday, 11 May 2009

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WHITE TRACT: A tractor covered by snow that fell
on the road between Nightcaps and Ohai yesterday.
— BARRY HARCOURT/The Southland Times.

Snow fell to the foothills in Southland, West Otago and Queenstown yesterday, as temperatures rapidly plummeted.

MetService advised a low pressure system, accompanied by several fronts, was expected to keep the weather cool.

Conditions were expected to get worse last night with a severe weather warning in place.

Ohai Food Centre manager Polly Poihipi said the cold weather had resulted in a rush of people coming in to stock up on warm items.

"I think people were a little shocked when they woke up and saw the snow ... it (snow falling) is a little bit earlier than usual," she said.

The snow that fell in Nightcaps did not stay for long after rain fell.

The Milford road carries a traffic warning with snow showers expected to affect the road east of the tunnel yesterday.

Maximum temperatures yesterday ranged from 4 degrees Celsius in Queenstown and Wanaka, to 5°C in Gore and Invercargill.

The snow is good news for skifields in the Southern Lakes district with The Remarkables reporting a 25cm snow base and Coronet 30cm, while Treble Cone has 20cm mid-mountain, and Cardrona 30cm.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/2399897/More-icy-weather-tipped-for-south

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Sunny days are here again ...

Snow in Lindis, Milford

By PAUL GORMAN - The Press |  Monday, 11 May 2009

Warmer weather this week will bring a welcome return to autumn after more than just a taste of winter.

Snow, sleet, hail and rain pelted Canterbury yesterday.

However, the wet conditions eased this morning, giving way to a sunny, cold day in much of Canterbury.

MetService said there was still a risk of showers and cold winds over the next two days.

However, from Thursday warmer north-westerly winds were likely to strengthen as the sluggish storm system moved away.

Snow fell to about 300m yesterday on Banks Peninsula, on the higher Canterbury Plains, in the foothills and in parts of inland South Canterbury.

Mount Hutt skifield had another bumper 25-centimetre snowfall.

"Over the last 10 days we've probably had close to 140cm," ski area manager David Wilson said.

Opening day was scheduled for June 13.

Methven and Springfield had snow flurries, while Fairlie had snow yesterday morning.

A couple of centimetres settled at Mount Somers and there was also light snow in Geraldine.

MetService severe weather forecaster Andy Downs said snow had fallen to low levels from bands of heavy showers crossing the South Island's east coast.

"Tomorrow there's another low coming round this complex low, but it brings winds round more to the westerly quarter to Canterbury, so the weather should then clear."

DESERT ROAD: Occasional snow showers are expected on higher parts of the road until early  afternoon and again tonight. 1 to 3cm could accumulate near the summit  at times during these periods.

MILFORD ROAD: Further snow showers are expected on the road east of the tunnel until early  afternoon, especially south of Lake Gunn. 2 to 4cm of snow is likely to  accumulate at times until about 3pm with the heaviest falls from Lake Gunn  southwards but snow level gradually rising to 600 or 700 metres.

LINDIS PASS: Occasional light snow showers expected on the road until mid afternoon. 1 to 2cm  of snow could accumulate near the summit at times until about 3pm.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2399857/Sunny-days-are-here-again

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Wild weather in Tauranga

By MICHAEL FOX - Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/) with MICHAEL FIELD | 2:13 PM - Monday, 11 May 2009

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                           BEACHED: Hail on the beach at Mount Maunganui. — DONNA FORLONG.

Wild weather has hit Tauranga, badly damaging a shopping centre and coating roads with hail and ice.

Police have been evacuating the Bayfair Shopping Centre in Tauranga as the severe weather hits.

They said the centre was flooding.

A spokesman at the Tauranga Fire Station said there had been "extensive damage" to the mall.

"There's a lot of hail and it sounds like it's blocked the drains and basically the mall got flooded from that," he said.

Sections of the ceiling had also fallen down and damaged the sprinkler system. He was unsure how many people had been evacuated.

Flooding had hit roads in the area, with Senior Sergeant Deirdre Lack of Mt Maunganui Police saying the hail had blocked drains and prevented the heavy rain from draining away.

"It was pretty bad. We actually had to divert traffic due to the flooding — there were cars stuck in it," she said.

Ms Lack said the flooding had lessened and expected the roads to be back to normal in an hour.

Tauranga City Council spokesman Marcel Currin said that most of the surface flooding was at Mount Maunganui and Papamoa.

Mr Currin said it appeared the damage to the roof of the mall, which caused the ceiling to collapse, was due to the heavy hail.

Oceanbeach Road between Girven Road and Concorde Avenue is closed while State Highway 2 at Te Maunga and Papamoa Beach Rd near Domain Rd was also affected.

Motorists are advised to avoid these areas if at all possible and to use extreme care.

Ice had also formed on State Highway 2.

Police said the storm was heading toward Te Puke.

Metservice spokeswoman Kathleen Kozyniak said there had also been thunderstorms and lightning in the Western Bay of Plenty Area.

She said 11.6mm of rain had been recorded at Tauranga Airport today with seven millimetres coming in a particularly heavy burst.

The bad weather was forecast to remain in the area, she said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2401406/Wild-weather-in-Tauranga

Brrr.  At least the sun is out here with a clear blue sky even if it is only 9 degrees.  Bet there will be another doozy frost tonight.

A day without rain - so glorious - everything is clean and the greens are so much greener.
So we head off down the beach to take the dogs for a well earned walk.  One of the local foxies came out to state his name and address and for us to f off from this part of the beach - then he and our big dog decided to have a tussle - my lil dog wanted to help - I scooped her up as Heinz went in to untangle the intruder from his dogs line at which time the foxie took umbrage at being released and of course mouthed Heinzies hand with his teeth  ;D gouging out about four rip and tears across his thumb, and the joining web to the index finger on his right hand.  OOOO it looks sore!!  Damn Im glad hed cooked brekkie b4 we went for a walk  ;D  Hes all bandaged up now and keeps swearing at the intruder dog - his plans of getting some more work done round the house when the rain stopped have been put on hold  ::)

Ouch! Make sure you keep an eye on it re infection L'lee. Dog bites are very prone to infection (speaking from experience here. Mine got infected even after an AB shot at the ER.)

It's bloody freezing here. Cold and raining. Even the dogs are curled up inside. Ususally Hank's outside until I make him come in.

Meanwhile, down south....

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Cartoons/631SnowInSouthIsland11May09.jpg)

Will do Shef - we unwrapped it this morning and its looking quite good - I wanted to keep the bandaged pressure on them to make sure healing started before we rewrapped it - watching for infection he infects easily -- MEN  ;D

Tis cold enough to freeze them brass balls up here this morning - especially out in the wind.

Hamilton weather page is saying a temp of 14.7 and a windchill factor of 14.7.

There is an explanation about windchill ---- how cold it actually feels. Calculated by combining heat and wind speed - I dont understand.

I understand the combining - but the wind chill was - I thought - how cold the wind temp was and that figure removed from the temp gave you actual temp.

Anyone?

Don't look at me - it's all beyond me(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/12emdgust.gif).

I'm more one of the
a) nippy
b)cold
c)fucking cold
d)freezing
e)piss off - I'm not getting out of bed until the wood-stove has been going for at least two hours.

The problem is that the wood stove is in the lounge/dining room, and the wood's outside, and ATM I'm the only one here >:(  - and if I don't go to work I don't get paid(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/11emcry.gif). *sigh*







Careful about the tight wrapping L'lee, if it gets infected, you don't want to push it down. Garic is a good poultice to prevent infection. It can hurt a tad though (as Mr. S found out  ;D)

(http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/NEWZIR.JPG)

OUCH!!

(http://i42.tinypic.com/2s9yq2a.jpg)

Flooding and slips after deluge

By PAUL GORMAN - The Press | 5:00AM - Monday, 18 May 2009

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IN FLOOD: Tim and Sandra Jorgensen, of Darfield
watch the Rakaia surge through the Rakaia Gorge.
— DAVID HALLETT/The Press.

Raging rivers roared across the South Island yesterday, flooding Omarama, threatening bridges and blocking the main highway south.

Rain fell on already sodden high-country catchments, while melting snow turned the Rangitata, Waitaki and Rakaia rivers into torrents.

The Rangitata River near State Highway 1 peaked about 2.30pm, with water bursting through its southern bank, flowing across farmland and roads, closing the highway and forcing motorists to detour inland through Geraldine.

The main trunk railway line was also closed between the Rangitata River and Temuka.

KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said workers would inspect the track, culverts and bridges today before deciding when to reopen the line.

The Waitaki River was expected to peak last night. As a precaution, the 113-year-old bridges between Kurow and Hakataramea were closed until 7am today. Floods in 1995 weakened some of the wooden piers on the northern bridge across the Waitaki.

The old Waimakariri River bridge near Kaiapoi was also closed for a time yesterday.

Omarama was on the brink of a Civil Defence emergency yesterday, with 31 people evacuated from the camping ground at 5.30am, along with three residents living near the river.

A major slip closed the Lindis Pass, while a slip on the Mt Cook Highway caused problems.

State Highway 77 was closed to campervans and other high-sided vehicles because of high winds.

MetService severe weather forecaster Ian Miller said the weather system had brought massive amounts of rain to the West Coast and the Southern Alps.

The country's wettest place Cropp River inland from Hokitika had 440 millimetres of rain between midnight Friday and midnight Saturday, with another 106mm from then until 7am yesterday.

More than 300mm had fallen close to Mount Cook village and parts of the Mackenzie Country had about 70mm.

Meridian Energy spokeswoman Claire Shaw said vast inflows to the Waitaki hydro system had forced the power company to spill water.

"We started spilling Friday night at Benmore to put a hole in the lake, so when the expected rain came down we had somewhere to put it. Spilling at Aviemore followed pretty soon after that, and we started spilling at Pukaki today."

It was difficult to know how long the spilling would continue, she said.

Environment Canterbury southern flood controller Graham Sullivan said the Waitaki was a massive river, but an expected peak flow of 1800 to 2000 cubic metres a second would cause problems and surface flooding.

"It could well be the biggest flow since 1995.

"It's been a combination of three things a lot of snow, a lot of rain, and we already had a saturated catchment from a fortnight or so ago, and those things have combined to provide an enormous amount of water."

Another burst of rain is expected in the high country and the Canterbury foothills this morning, but should clear this afternoon.

Last night, MetService forecaster Mark Pascoe warned the weather was about to turn cold, with south to south-westerly winds this week bringing a chance of snow to low levels in parts of the south on Wednesday.

Snow was possible to about 400 metres in Canterbury and to 200m to 300m further south.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2418478/Flooding-and-slips-after-deluge

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Deluge brings chaos to region

Lindis Pass closed after bridge scoured

By JEFF TOLLAN - The Timaru Herald | 5:00AM - Monday, 18 May 2009

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TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: Rising floodwaters near
Falstone Reserve at Lake Benmore put at least one
caravan in a precarious position yesterday.
— STEPHEN BROWN/The Timaru Herald.

The surge of water down the Omarama Stream has forced the closure of the bridge on State Highway 8, completely shutting the Lindis Pass to heavy vehicles.

New Zealand Transport Agency operations manager for Otago/Southland Murray Clarke said the high flows scoured an abutment of the bridge.

The damage was found about 9.30am today and crews are now at the scene trying to repair the structure.

Mr Clarke said light vehicles are taking a detour along a private road.

``It's quite a big job to get opened. Water got in behind the embankment where the road is up against the end of the bridge.''

Nobody can recall when the bridge was last closed due to scouring, Mr Clarke said.

It follows on from the king-hit to the region by the weekend's weather; which forced evacuations, blew part of the Opuha Dam out, isolated townships and put Omarama on the brink of a Civil Defence emergency.

And that was just the start.

The Waitaki River's Kurow bridges were last night closed from 6pm until 7am today due to high river levels.

State Highway One was closed from Orari to Ealing yesterday afternoon after the Rangitata River breached a stop bank. It was reopened early this morning.

Trains were also stopped, with the line between Temuka and Bankside at Rangitata closed due to safety concerns.

Kiwi Rail public affairs manager Kevin Ramshaw said workers will inspect the track, culverts and bridges this morning before deciding whether to reopen the line. So far two trains have been delayed.

Traffic also faced delays yesterday, with diversions through Geraldine from Hinds and Orari. Journeys were made even slower by the one-way bridge north of Geraldine.

By 5pm yesterday up to 200 vehicles were queuing either side of the bridge as contractors tried to keep traffic moving.

As night drew on, roads were still closed as water, up to knee height in places, ran across farmland and roads.

New Zealand Transport Agency regional manager Colin Hey said the highway between Orari and Ealing would remain closed through last night, and be reassessed this morning.

"It's really a matter of having a look in the morning, reviewing the situation and playing it by ear."

He said that, in parts, the water was thought to be about half a metre deep, but "nobody's game to drive through it" to measure the depth.

One contractor had tried but turned back when water started flowing over the bonnet of his vehicle.

Even when the water recedes, Mr Hey said the highway would most likely need repairs to the seal before it could open.

Omarama has also been plagued by water worries.

Early yesterday the town was "on the edge" of a Civil Defence emergency, with water ankle-deep in the main street and up to a metre deep in other places.

Constable Paul Mander of the Kurow police said the town "just got by" without declaring an emergency, though 31 people were evacuated from the camping ground at 5.30am, along with three residents living near the river.

He said emergency services, including Civil Defence, had been planning for the rain.

"We knew it was coming and semi-prepared for it last night [Saturday]."

A major slip in the Lindis Pass saw that road closed, while a slip on the Mt Cook Highway, just north of Peter's Lookout, partially closed one lane.

"It's quite unpredictable," Mr Mander said of the flooding and slips.

"A few bridge approaches have been damaged and we've still got quite a lot of rural residents who are isolated, but it's business as usual for them."

At Huxley Lodge, in the Hopkins Valley at the head of Lake Ohau, 17 school pupils and their teachers from John McGlashan College in Dunedin were trapped, the roads too dangerous to get in or out of the area.

However, Mr Mander said police have spoken to the group and are satisfied they will be OK.

"They were planning to stay in there for a week anyway, it's just the access [that is the problem]."

And when it wasn't raining, it was blowing.

State Highway 77 was closed to campervans and other high-sided vehicles because of high winds. There were reports yesterday that in exposed areas the winds were too strong for people to stand upright.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/2418603/Deluge-brings-chaos-to-region

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Roads closed, stock moved as deluge hits

By WILL HINE in Queenstown - The Southland Times | 5:00AM - Monday, 18 May 2009

Roads were closed and stock was shifted after a deluge of rain hit the Southern Lakes and Central Otago during the weekend.

Queenstown and Wanaka received more than a month's rainfall in just three days, causing problems in the Lakes district and further downstream in Central.

The Clutha River rose sharply in several places, triggering flood alerts, while the Dart River near Glenorchy swelled from a sedate 50 cubic metres a second to more than 650 cumecs yesterday.

Lake Wakatipu rose 60cm and Lake Wanaka rose about a metre but neither threatened to flood.

The wet weather caused problems on roads, with at least one traffic incident caused by flooding.

Acting Sergeant Terry Wood, of Queenstown, said a motorist was taken to hospital with chest pain after his vehicle left Glenorchy Rd on Saturday afternoon.

"He was driving into Wilson's Bay, hit some water and aquaplaned across into a tree."

The man was later discharged from hospital, Mr Wood said.

There was also a slip about 22km from Queenstown on Glenorchy Rd, which blocked one lane, and flooding on Frankton Rd.

Constable Mike Johnston, of Wanaka, said the Hawea-Makarora road was blocked by slips twice on Saturday.

Further north, a gravel road surrounding a bridge in Matukituki Valley was washed away on Saturday night but was rebuilt by contractors yesterday.

Cromwell police closed State Highway 8 at Tarras because of slips on the Omarama side of the Lindis Pass, before reopening the route yesterday afternoon.

Otago Regional Council environmental information and science director John Threlfall said he was tracking river levels and had an eye on waterways near Balclutha.

"You've got Wakatipu, Wanaka and Hawea combining with the Manuherikia, which, all combined, is giving us the high flows in the south end. We're advising farmers to move stock from low-lying levels but we don't expect it to be too much of a problem."

Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson said the Manuherikia River was high. The Clutha River was high but it was not causing any problems for the Manuherikia flow to clear.

"We are not near any of our risk levels yet ... it will depend on just how much more rain we get in the high catchment areas," he said.

Coronet Peak ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said torrential rain washed away a lot of the snow that had fallen during the week.

"It's snowing again now, so that bodes well," he said. "One good thing is the rain's filled up all the reservoirs so we've got plenty of water for snow-making."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/queenstown/2418561/Roads-closed-stock-moved-as-deluge-hits

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Cyclist survives torrent

Clyde coastguard comes to rescue as man stranded

By WILL HINE in Queenstown - The Southland Times | 5:00AM - Monday, 18 May 2009

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OFF TRACK: Richard Todd, of Alexandra, who was
rescued by the Clyde coastguard after getting stranded
on a bike track in Central Otago at the weekend.
— BARBARA WITHINGTON/The Southland Times.

An Alexandra man found himself up to his neck in a "raging torrent" yesterday after biking along a track next to the swollen Clutha River.

The Clyde coastguard rescued Richard Todd after he was stranded biking along the rail trail from Clyde to Alexandra.

Before setting off Mr Todd had seen the Clyde Dam spilling water "like Niagara Falls" but he was familiar with the riverside track and decided to go ahead with his regular ride.

Mr Todd said he was cycling along the trail when he got to a pool of water about 30cm deep on the track. "That was all right but then I came to another lot. It was probably up to my handlebars."

Mr Todd's bike slipped off a submerged wooden section.

He managed to unhook his feet from his pedals but was starting to get nervous.

"I thought, `how far do I go'? I was getting too deep, I was up to my neck in it. It was getting deeper and deeper."

Mr Todd decided to turn back but by then the river was a foot higher and rising.

He found an outcrop of land, which had become an island of sorts, and called rescue services; the Clyde coastguard arrived within 20 minutes.

"I happened to have my mobile in a waterproof pouch in my backpack, luckily. Otherwise I think I would have been screwed. I was very cold and ... all I could see around me was water. Thank God for the search and rescue."

Recovering at his house after the ordeal, Mr Todd said he had been "quietly sh***ing himself" as the water rose around him.

He paid tribute to the excellent work of emergency services and said he planned to thank them in person.

Contact Energy spokesman Jonathan Hill said the Clyde Dam floodgates were opened during the weekend to let the Clutha River flow at its natural rate.

"The fact the dam is there is irrelevant because we're simply passing the volume of water upstream of the dam to downstream of the dam."

Mr Hill said the river was running at about 1500 cubic metres of water a second, three times its normal flow rate.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/2418562/Cyclist-survives-torrent

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Snow on the way

Some South Island roads reopen

By PAUL GORMAN - The Press | 12:51PM - Monday, 18 May 2009

An early winter snowfall is brewing south of the country and is expected to bring snow to much of Canterbury from tomorrow night through to Thursday.

Weather forecasters are warning of plunging temperatures and snow to low levels, possibly as low as sea-level, on Wednesday.  

Blue Skies Weather forecaster Tony Trewinnard says south-westerly winds will become very cold tomorrow in the wake of a cold front, and even colder on Wednesday.  

Rain will spread north tomorrow afternoon, with snow lowering to 200m in the evening, and flurries to sea-level on Wednesday, although little snow is expected to settle that low down.  

From tomorrow night until Thursday morning 3 to 5cm could accumulate between 200m and 400m, with up to 10cm above that, Trewinnard said.  

MetService severe weather forecaster Mark Pascoe said the icy blast would be worst in Southland and eastern Otago, leading to dangerous driving conditions on higher roads.

ROADS REOPEN

South Island roads closed during yesterday's flooding have reopened.

Water across State Highway 1 near Rangitata, which forced motorists to detour inland through Geraldine, has cleared.

In North Otago, the 113-year-old Waitaki River bridges between Kurow and Hakataramea reopened this morning.

Environment Canterbury southern flood controller Graham Sullivan said the crossing would remain open unless the river flow reached a trigger point of 1500 cubic metres of water a second.

Caution is being urged on State Highway 8 in the Lindis Pass, from Omarama to Tarras.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2420325/Snow-on-the-way

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Storm, winds cause havoc

By CLAIRE CONNELL - The Marlborough Express | 1:00PM - Monday, 18 May 2009

High winds caused havoc in Marlborough at the weekend, uprooting trees, throwing a car-sized wooden shed 600 metres across a paddock, ripping roofs off houses, and leaving 6000 homes without power.

Linkwater couple Barbara and Jarrett Jenkins woke to chaos outside their home at about 4.30am yesterday.

"This wind just came out of nowhere; there was this roar and a bang and the wind hit a macrocarpa tree just about hit the house," Mrs Jenkins said today.

The tree was uprooted and just missed the corner of the house.

She said their wood-and-iron calf shed, big enough to fit a car inside, was uplifted and thrown 600m to the other side of the paddock.

Their hayshed roof came off and was hurled into the creek.

Their conservatory suffered, too, with four sheets of heavy plastic bending back. The couple had to tie them down, but water was still coming in the roof this morning.

"We had a two-seater wooden swing thrown 50 feet [16 metres]. I mean, it was silly to go outside; there wasn't much we could do until daylight."

The couple have insurance.

Despite being one of the worst affected, their power remained on.

Steve Benjamin, resident of Waikakaho Valley, said power was out at his house from Saturday night until lunchtime yesterday. There was no damage to his house.

Linkwater Services service station co-owner John Smith said it was a "pretty rough night" at Linkwater, with reports of three residents having roofs blown off their sheds. Power was out in the area from 3am to 7am on Sunday, but was restored quickly thanks to the efforts of Marlborough Lines staff, he said.

Marlborough Lines engineer Richard Steer said about 6000 customers were affected at some stage with trees falling on lines. Power was out ranging from a few minutes to 14 hours at Waikakaho Valley.

Areas disrupted included Onamalutu, Wairau Valley township, Spring Creek, Ngakuta (near Linkwater), Springlands, Linkwater, and areas in the Marlborough Sounds.

Waikakaho Valley, north of the Wairau River, and Wakamarina (near Canvastown) were also affected, with 10 trees down.

Mr Steer said Marlborough Lines had about 30 staff working, and finished about 9pm last night. All power had been restored apart from a few isolated houses, he said.

Marlborough Roads asset manager David Miller reported multiple trees down in areas north of Blenheim. Beech trees were down on State Highway 1 behind Renwick, State Highway 63, State Highway 6 west of Havelock, and the Marlborough Sounds behind Kenepuru Heads.

Ellen Plasier, who lives in the Outer Pelorus Sound with her family, said they had no reports of major damage but many branches came down on Saturday night.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/2420128/Storm-winds-cause-havoc

I guess winter has arrived early. It was a wee bit chilly with some rain when I started work at 4:30am, but by the time I got over to Wellington it was absolutely freezing.

While driving the train along the western shoreline of Wellington Harbour between Petone and Ngauranga I observed two Boeing 737s only a couple of minutes apart approaching Wellington Airport and being bounced around like corkd bobbing in Cook Strait in the middle of a storm. In each case, as the airliner got right down into Evans Bay not far from the runway threshold, a puff of smoke could be seen as the engines went to full thrust and the approach was abandoned, followed by the nose rising and the aeroplane climbing rapidly. There wasn't a problem with visiblity, so I guess it was simply too rough to carry on with the final approach.

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Wellington Harbour this morning, viewed from Rocky Point on the western shoreline and looking towards Evans Bay and Wellington Airport....

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Back in Wairarapa and the sun was shining, although it was bloody freezing over here by then. Late afternoon and the sun disappeared behind clouds, followed by light rain. It feels like it is snowing in the hills.

Wintry weather hits

NZPA | Wednesday, 20 May 2009

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          EARLY WINTER: Cold blast brings snow.

An icy blast of snowfall and gales has stopped ferries from sailing across the Cook Strait this morning and closed roads around New Zealand.

Inter-island ferries were not sailing due to the conditions, with one Bluebridge ship earlier today requesting a tug to assist with berthing in the strong Wellington winds.

Bluebridge spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said the ferry service had cancelled two sailings due to rough conditions in the strait, and was waiting to see if it needed to cancel more.

The Interislander had cancelled some of its morning ferries, though all afternoon ones were expected to sail.

In Otago, State Highway 87 between Outram and Middlemarch was closed due to snow. The North Island's Desert Road, closed due to snow this morning, reopened about 10am.

The MetService had a weather warning over Southland and eastern Otago with 5cm to 10cm of intermittent snow showers forecast over hills for the day, forecaster Chris Noble said.

The MetService had reports of snow down to 200m, though not in great amounts. However, conditions would ease over the day.

"Pretty much the whole of the country's in for some interesting weather," he said.

The snow and winds would ease during the day and be replaced with frosty conditions for the next few days.

But the North Island faced cold showers and southerlies until Friday and more snow on the Desert Road overnight.

Snow was forecast to lower to the top of the Rimutaka hill road this afternoon.

"The whole country is under a very cold south west flow. It's a good taste of winter," Mr Noble said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2425741/Wintry-weather-hits

It is 5 here at the moment although it doesn't feel like it and raining.  Make that pouring. ::)

Bloody freezing early this morning when I started work. And it's still freezing! There's a light dusting of snow right down low on the hills in Wairarapa. I imagine there is heaps of the white stuff above the bushline on the Tararua Ranges. BRRRRRRRRRR!!!

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The Mangaroa Valley out the back of Upper Hutt with a light dusting of snow on the hills....

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Icy storm tipped to abate today

By MARC GREENHILL and PAUL GORMAN - The Press | 5:00AM - Thursday, 21 May 2009

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DEEP FREEZE: Snow blankets the Crown Terrace,
above Arrowtown, in Central Otago yesterday.
— MARK HOTTON/The Press.

The snow, sleet and hail peppering Canterbury is set to clear as a bitter southerly blast eases today.

Temperatures around the region hovered between 1 degree Celsius and 4°C yesterday as glimpses of sunshine punctuated icy showers and snow to about 100 metres.

Snow fell on the Port Hills, with flurries in Christchurch's western suburbs. There were heavier snow showers inland.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said the wintry showers should clear today as sunny intervals increased towards the afternoon, although temperatures were forecast to stay low.

Rain and sleet buffeted Banks Peninsula yesterday, forcing the early closure of the Hilltop Cafe and Bar.

Owner Laurie Sutton was not keen to get stuck.

The storm moving in was like a "big wall", she said.

"The last front that came through (before closing) was pretty impressive.

"We looked out and thought ‘we'd better get out of here’."

A thin blanket of snow made driving over the hill hazardous, although a grader cleared the road early yesterday.

A "white-knuckled" Akaroa tour bus driver stopped in at the Hilltop, Sutton said.

The Christchurch to Akaroa road was reduced to one lane after high winds felled a tree at Cooptown, near Little River, yesterday morning.

The changeable weather had tourists in the central city running for cover.

British backpacker Sarah Mountain, who arrived in Christchurch on Monday, was questioning the wisdom of her unplanned detour to New Zealand.

"I was just backpacking around southeast Asia, so I wasn't really prepared for this cold weather. I've been stocking up on winter clothes."

After visiting an even chillier Queenstown, Mountain said she would warm up in Australia's North Queensland.

Federated Farmers Mid-Canterbury president Michael Morrow said persistent rain would cause extensive run-off and increase the risk of flooding in the high country.

"Snow, ironically, may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Snow will dissipate the storm's effect on rivers rather than concentrating it like rain does."

Most animals were in good condition and ample feed was available, he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2428227/Icy-storm-tipped-to-abate-today

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Unseasonable weather causes huge avalanche on Birch Hill

By JEFF TOLLAN - The Timaru Herald | 5:00AM - Thursday, 21 May 2009

Unseasonable weather has brought on a large avalanche 2000 metres up Birch Hill in the Aoraki-Mount Cook National Park.

Conservation Department staff say the event is unusual for this time of the year and has most likely been brought on by the unseasonable weather in the mountains, which includes two storms.

Only two people, hunters, were in the park at the time and were not near the area where the avalanche occurred.

It is thought to have happened on either Sunday or Monday.

First reports suggested it had been a size five avalanche, the largest on the scale, which would have been capable of wiping out a village.

DOC ranger Ray Bellringer told The Herald yesterday the slip was now thought to be a size four. It started 2000m up Birch Hill and travelled about 1200m.

A southerly coming off the coast has given the area a reprieve that looks set to continue through to the weekend, Mr Bellringer said, though the weather next week does not look stable.

While during the winter the area had too many avalanches to count, they were "unusual for this time of year".

Because of the amount of debris involved, Mr Bellringer said, the avalanche was most likely slow moving, more so when it reached the valley.

He said the present risk of avalanches in the park was listed as considerable.

On lower terrain, Federated Farmers yesterday urged farmers to prepare for widespread snow to low levels and strong winds.

It followed a warning of the wild weather on Tuesday by the Canterbury Civil Defence.

Though South Canterbury and the High Country were now in recovery mode, farmers still needed to be wary of the weather, the federation's Mid-Canterbury president Michael Morrow said yesterday.

"In terms of animal welfare, we are thankful most animals are in good condition for this time of the year.

"Farmers are advised to monitor river and creek levels. Plans should be put in place to move stock to higher sheltered ground, especially if this does turn out to be a mean southerly blast.

"Ample feed and feed grain seems to be available, so farmers are in a good position to weather the storm, should it be a repeat of the 2006 event," Mr Morrow said.

There has been extensive damage to High Country farm tracks, fencing and flood gates caused by the recent heavy rains, which on Sunday saw the Rangitata River peak at its highest level in 15 years.

Mr Morrow said farmers needed to check their supplies, including food, water, fuel and alternative lighting, to make sure they could get by should the weather turn sour.

He added that people needed to check road conditions before they set out.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/2428454/Unseasonable-weather-causes-huge-avalanche-on-Birch-Hill

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Early snow falls heavily at skifields

By MARK HOTTON in Queenstown - The Southland Times | 5:00AM - Thursday, 21 May 2009

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WINTRY BLAST: Te Anau police patrol State Highway 94
at Gorge Hill after an overnight fall of snow.
— BARRY HARCOURT/The Southland Times.

The white gold of winter fell in the Southern Lakes District yesterday with skifields receiving heavy blankets of snow.

Snow fell to about 400m around Queenstown, with about 2 to 5cm dusting parts of Arrowtown.

More than 10cm fell across the Crown Terrace above Arrowtown, making chains compulsory on the upper part of the Crown Range Road, which connects Queenstown to Wanaka.

Police reported no problems on roads around Alexandra, Cromwell, Wanaka and Queenstown.

Consistent snowfalls this month have delivered spectacular pre-season conditions to Coronet Peak and Remarkables skifields, according to NZSki.

Coronet Peak ski area, set to open on June 6, received between 50cm and 100cm of snow this week, helping create an 80cm base at the top of the mountain, and 50cm at the base building.

Ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said it was unusual to get consistent snow falls throughout May but staff were making the most of it to pack it into a base for the season.

The Remarkables received 45cm of snow this week and more than 1.5m during the past fortnight, which has helped create a 1.2m base across the mountain.

More snow showers are forecast for Queenstown this week but it is expected to clear but remain cold during the weekend.

Cardrona has an upper base of about 90cm and a lower base of 40cm, after 60cm of snow fell earlier this week.

The mountain experienced blizzard conditions, and staff have warned the avalanche danger remained high.

Snow affected State Highway 87 between Outram and Middlemarch, and State Highway 8 between Omarama and Tarras with the Lindis Pass closed overnight on Tuesday.

Weather also affected services at Queenstown airport.

Air New Zealand airport manager Dave Whitaker said several flights early in the morning were delayed, and one Qantas flight into the resort was diverted to Invercargill.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/2428330/Early-snow-falls-heavily-at-skifields

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Wintry blast arrives in Taranaki

By KIRSTY JOHNSTON - Taranaki Daily News | 5:00AM - Thursday, 21 May 2009

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COLD SNAP: Hockey teams from New Plymouth Boys' High School
and Francis Douglas Memorial College battle the elements as
Stratford enjoyed a rare sprinkling of snow last night.
— BRADLEY AMBROSE/Taranaki Daily News.

Winter well and truly settled herself upon Taranaki yesterday, sneaking her icy fingers into every crevice and making residents wish for a toasty fire and a hot toddy.

At about 8pm last night, Stratford was treated to a heavy fall of snow right down to the centre of town.

Local Brooke Lockyer, 16, couldn't believe it when she looked out the window of her Pembroke Road house to see the family car coated in snow.

"It was snowing quite heavily," Brooke said.

"When you put your hand on the car there is quite a layer, when you walk outside your head gets covered straight away."

Brooke and sisters Ruby, 11, and Ivy, 8, took full advantage of the rare opportunity of snow in their yard, taking photos and making snowballs.

Earlier in the day, violent hail storms between Puniho and Rahotu coated the roads in white, causing cars to slide off the road and bringing traffic to a crawl.

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WHITE DELIGHT: Nichole Smyth checks out her Puniho Road,
Okato driveway after heavy hail covered it in ice.
— CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News.

Sharemilkers Peter and Nichole Smyth, of Puniho Rd, said the storm started at about 10.15am with only little hailstones, but changed quickly into big ones the size of peas.

"The horses didn't like it much but at least they didn't try to jump the fence," Mrs Smyth said.

Rural postie John McDonald came across some skid-marks in the hail on Puniho Road, and wondered who might have lost traction on the icy surface and feeling glad he had only been going at a crawl.

Coincidentally, one Taranaki Daily News photographer returned red-faced after guiding the newspaper's Mazda gently into a ditch on the same road yesterday morning.

Reports of snow as low as Warea turned out to be hail, but still provided some wintry wonder and cheap entertainment for the kids.

At the Stratford Mountain House, staff had been kept busy rescuing stuck cars from the road after it snowed off-and-on all day.

"The grader's been and gone and we've had two inches more of snow since then," waitress Sam Burrows said at about 4pm.

"We had to use my 4WD to tow a car that got stuck only 4WDs and chains can get up here now," she said.

They expected snow down to 500m last night, Miss Burrows said, although the MetService forecast was snow down to 700m.

Dawson Falls reported heavy snow and Manganui Ski Field had a heavy fall on the lower areas, but were waiting for finer weather to open the slopes.

Today's forecast is a low of 5°C, fine apart from cloudy periods, cold southwesterlies. It should warm up towards the weekend.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2428357/Wintry-blast-arrives-in-Taranaki/

Roads reopen as sun melts snow

By JAMES IHAKA and NZPA - The New Zealand Herald | 12:30PM - Thursday, May 21, 2009

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WHITE WONDERLAND: Snow fell to low levels around
Rotorua overnight. — ANDREW BLACK/Weatherwatch.

The Desert Road and State Highway 4 through Tongariro National Park were reopened late this morning after sunshine melted ice and snow.

The MetService also lifted heavy snowfall warnings with only light showers expected near Ohakune and Raetihi.

The Desert Road had been closed as conditions were too treacherous for motorists - a truck and trailer having jack-knifed this morning, blocking both lanes north of Waiouru.

Seven trucks which became stranded on SH4, north of Ohakune, from around 3am, unable to negotiate the incline through the National Park as snow and ice coated the roads.

Roading crews worked this morning to free them as the road warmed enough to clear a path.

Black ice in Taranaki meant a number of vehicles slid off the road, although no injuries were reported.

Police patrol cars were out leading traffic as most crashes were caused by people going too fast for conditions, Stratford police acting Sergeant Dave Lindsay said.

"But even in the patrol car we were getting some people trying to overtake us. Obviously they were in a hurry to get to work."

Police attended at least six accidents between Stratford and New Plymouth this morning.

Rotorua awoke to the rare sight of snow this morning with the eastern suburbs and hills behind the airport coated.

Weather analyst Philip Duncan says winter has "well and truly arrived early".

"It's like we haven't had an autumn. We had a warm April but there's been no in between," he said yesterday.

"We are two months away from the coldest part of the year, so to see temperatures this low is certainly eyebrow-raising."

Auckland's temperature dropped to 9°C yesterday and the maximum was only 12.

Wellington (max 11°C, min 9°C) and Christchurch (max 5°C, min 2°C) were even colder.

Wind chill took the temperature in Christchurch down to minus 7°C.

The southerlies whistling their way through the North Island are being caused by a high weather system to the west of the South Island and a low to the east of the North.

Temperatures throughout the North Island are likely to struggle to rise above 12°C.

"The southerlies are likely to be around the North Island until at least Friday and possibly even Sunday," Mr Duncan said.

Last night, a large hail storm hit the Rotorua area. Police warned drivers to take care on the road between Ngongotaha and Rotorua where the slush was 6cm deep.

Yesterday's snow also brought some fun for some. Vivienne Retter, a Palmerston North importer, took her staff to the Desert Road to make snowmen and throw snowballs at each other. Two of them, Erin Dais and Bruce Peters, had never seen snow before.

"I've never taken a winter holiday in my life so I'm rapt to be here," said Ms Dais, 21. "But that might change, though. I think I want to go skiing now."

The wintry blast closed the Desert Road for several hours in the morning.

Workers clearing the road of ice and snow said some drivers had been caught out by the foul weather, and some trucks had jack-knifed.

The Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry service cancelled two sailings due to rough seas.

Spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said one ferry asked for a tug to help it to berth in the strong Wellington winds.

An Interislander spokesman said all its ferries were operating, but some sailings had been delayed.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10573549

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Snow eases, Desert Road reopens

The Dominion Post, NZPA and Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/) | 1:00PM — Thursday, 21 May 2009

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                           THE WHITE STUFF: Rangataua, 5kms south of Ohakune.


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                             SNOW DUMP: Rangataua, 5kms south of Ohakune.


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                                      CLOSED: The Turoa mountain road.


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                                GET CHOPPING: Ohakune needs firewood.


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                                     DUSTED: Rangataua gets a coating.


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                                         FENCED IN: Fields of white.


The Desert Road and State Highway 4 through Tongariro National Park have been re-opened after sunshine melted ice and snow.

The MetService also lifted heavy snowfall warnings with only light showers expected near Ohakune and Raetihi.

The Desert Road had been closed as conditions were too treacherous for motorists - a truck and trailer having jack-knifed this morning, blocking both lanes north of Waiouru.

Seven trucks which became stranded on SH4, north of Ohakune, from around 3am, unable to negotiate the incline through the National Park as snow and ice coated the roads.

Roading crews worked this morning to free them as the road warmed enough to clear a path.

Black ice in Taranaki meant a number of vehicles slid off the road, although no injuries were reported.

Police patrol cars were out leading traffic as most crashes were caused by people going too fast for conditions, Stratford police acting Sergeant Dave Lindsay said.

"But even in the patrol car we were getting some people trying to overtake us. Obviously they were in a hurry to get to work."

Police attended at least six accidents between Stratford and New Plymouth this morning.

Rotorua awoke to the rare sight of snow this morning with the eastern suburbs and hills behind the airport coated.

Weather analyst Philip Duncan said the cold snap was set to continue until tomorrow as winter had "well and truly arrived early".

"It's like we haven't had an autumn.

"We are two months away from the coldest part of the year, so to see temperatures this low is certainly eyebrow-raising."

Southerlies were expected to continue chilling the North Island until at least tomorrow, possibly through to Sunday, he said.

All roads were open in the South Island but motorists were urged to drive with care.

FERRY DELAYS POSSIBLE

A cold southerly blast is expected to cause delays and possible cancellations of ferry sailings till the weekend.

Swells peaked at 9m in Cook Strait yesterday. The highest swell recorded in Cook Strait was 14.2m in 2002.

Bluebridge ferry spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said two morning sailings had to be cancelled yesterday because of rough conditions but services resumed at 1pm.

One Bluebridge ship had requested a tug in Wellington to assist with berthing in strong winds.

An Interislander spokesman said all its ferries had been running, though there had been some delays.

Regional harbourmaster Captain Mike Pryce said swells of up to 12m were forecast for Saturday.

"It's going to be a bit lumpy for the next three days. If the sailing does go it'll be lively. I don't think they'll be selling many meat pies."

Yesterday's high winds of up to 100kmh forced Meridian Energy to shut its new Makara wind farm to avoid damaging equipment. Some of the 25 turbines were out of action for about an hour at the peak of high winds early yesterday.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/2428098/Snow-eases-Desert-Road-reopens

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Playing in the snow's a blast

By JONATHON HOWE - Manawatu Standard | 1:00PM - Thursday, 21 May 2009

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READY: LAV crew Corporal Tom Waters waits for better weather. — NZDF.

Waiouru's freezing conditions failed to stop a group of Linton-based soldiers from finishing the penultimate day of a rigorous month-long training exercise.

The men and woman of the 1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment battalion head home today but they were met with thick snow, icy puddles and blustery winds at the Waiouru training area yesterday.

Attacking enemy bunkers, clearing out mock urban environments and blasting targets in light armoured vehicles (LAVS) were just a few of the scenarios about 350 battalion soldiers took part in.

Lieutenant Colonel Grant Motley, the 1st Battalion's commanding officer, said firing live rounds could be a challenging experience for a young and inexperienced soldier.

"It gets the heart beating and until they get confident they are overly concerned about making mistakes.

"There are a lot of very young soldiers; we've had 100 new soldiers in the last 12 months. In four weeks they've come a long way."

Most of the training involved the use of Linton's 29 LAVs, which have not yet been deployed overseas since being purchased in 2003.

Lt Col Motley, who has spent 21 years in the army, said the LAVs would be effective in East Timor and Afghanistan.

"Driving towards the target at 60km an hour they can fire on the move with deadly accuracy.

"I'd like to see them deployed but that's a totally political decision. They'd do a good job if they were deployed."

The bitterly cold conditions and intense training were nothing new for Sergeant Neville Hinga, who has been in the army for eight years.

"I'm used to it, I've been up here for a while."

Another eight-year veteran, Lance Corporal Reuben Lima, said using loaded weapons was just a part of the job.

"You can't afford to be nervous. But when I joined up and got my hands on a Styer it was pretty buzzy."

The army will bring its training to lower North Island towns when the Benghazi Stakes logistics exercise begins on Saturday.

About 230 soldiers will be involved in operations including driving, forward repair and field catering. The exercise, which includes Linton soldiers, will be held at Santoft, Levin, Woodville and Waiouru.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/2429143/Playing-in-the-snows-a-blast

So the best thing to do is check that no-one's hurt, then leave them to stew on the side of the road! After 5 years of driving the Taihape/Napier road, I've seen all types of idiots. The ones who will spray your car with gravel/snow (depending on the weather), who then find out that you've slowed down for a reason - and then expect you to tow them out. Or because you've got chains, and they didn't bother checking whether they'd need them (if they had them in the first place). :-\






BTW it's really sunny here, but really cold. I've been trying (without ANY success) to get the dogs to help bring in some wood. I think there must be a 'nest' of some kind in the woodshed, because they both tried to get to the bottom of the heap(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/09emcrook.gif)

Another job for Tim when he's here on the weekend(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/08emembarrassed.gif)

Standing at the rugby park tonight in thermals,  jacket, gloves and scarf it was still toooo coooold. 

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I've put the butter in the waterheater cupboard, right next to the vent pipe.

I drove down from Auckland to Hamilton yesterday afternoon to babysit my grandson for the weekend, and I had forgotten just how cold it gets here. I'm bloody freeeeezzzzzzzing!!! Got all my winter woolies on, thermal vests etc, fire going, and I'm still cold, it's even worse late at night and early in the morning when I go outside for a smoke........it's enough to make me want to give up.  Can't wait till I can get back up the line, where, even if it is a bit colder than usual it is nothing like this. At least I don't wake up to a white garden!

Roll on Summer! I hate the cold.

Blowing a flipping gale where I am.  Since we overlook the Ngauranga Gorge the wind whisks up the gorge like its a bloody tunnel.  Oh and it is cold.  I've got the fire burning so am rather toasty.

Wet and cold.   Nice and warm in here.... lecky blanket on, got the jamas, ug boots and robe on so will do the mad dash up the stairs early tonight and have a read.

Now that brings back memories.

All of the above.

I'm half-way through a 10½-hour shift driving trains between Wairarapa and Wellington. Heading off back to Wellington again in ten minutes. The last bit gets interesting with waves crashing over the tracks between Petone and Ngauranga.

High winds cause chaos

Stuff.co.nz (http://) and NZPA | 5:18PM - Saturday, 23 May 2009

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ROCKING AND ROLLING: A ship heads out into
Cook Strait from Wellington Harbour yesterday.
— CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post.

Wild winter weather conditions bashing Cook Strait and the capital have seen ferry crossings cancelled, houses damaged and roads closed today.

Wellington's CentrePort has reported storm-force winds gusting at over 60 knots at the harbour entrance, with waves topping 14 metres at 1.30pm.

It said only one ship had arrived in this morning, with a decision made to delay arrival of others until entrance sea condition improved.

CentrePort said a ship had been diverted to Napier and another was currently anchored in Cloudy Bay, and would wait there until Sunday afternoon before attempting to enter the harbour.

Heavy seas have washed up debris onto roads around Wellington's south coast, with police advising motorists to avoid the area. Wellington City Council workers were attempting to clear the roads.


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DEBRIS: Flotsam washed up on Owhiro Bay Parade creates a hazard for motorists. — NICK BLACK.


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SEA SWELL: Waves of up to 14 metres at the harbour entrance helped push debris onto Wellington's south coast. — NICK BLACK.


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STORM: CentrePort reported storm-force winds of 60-plus knots in the harbour and along the south coast. — NICK BLACK.


Falling trees and debris had knocked out power to houses in Ngauranga, Johnsonville and Plimmerton.

High winds had also closed a road near Upper Hutt. A number of power poles on Blue Mountains Road had  been damaged and had blocked the road to all traffic, police said. Emergency services and council workers had been working to clear the area.

Power poles are also reported to have been knocked down in the suburbs of Naenae and Petone, while there is a report of downed telephone cables in Titahi Bay.

However up to 1200 households have had power restored after outages caused by overnight weather, Radio New Zealand reported.

There have also been numerous reports of wind damaging houses and lifting roofs in the Hutt Valley.

In Christchurch, falling debris has partially blocked the main route through the seaside suburb of Sumner.

Earlier in the day up to 700 passengers had their travel plans disrupted after nine ferry sailings were cancelled with high winds and big swells affecting the Cook Strait.

Two Bluebridge ferry crossings were cancelled last night, and there would be no sailings today, spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said.

Interislander spokesman Nigel Parry said they would not be taking any passengers across the Strait today and advised people to rebook.

Meanwhile, the MetService has issued a severe weather warning for southerly gales, heavy snow and heavy rain around the country.

A strong cold southerly airstream was expected to bring snow to the central North Island, with heavy falls of 15 to 25cm predicted to fall this afternoon and evening.

The Desert Road, State Highway 49 through Ohakune and SH4 through Tongariro National Park were likely to be affected.

A spell of heavy rain was expected this evening for Canterbury to the Kaikoura Coast, southeast of Blenheim, the MetService said.

Severe southerly gales were expected for Banks Peninsula, east of Christchurch, to Wairarapa, with gusts reaching up to 120kmh at times.

A severe weather watch for heavy rain in Wellington and the Wairarapa all weekend was also issued, with a low expected to bring heavy rain in the coastal hills of the Wairarapa, southern and eastern slopes of the Tararua Ranges, and Wellington.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/2435829/High-winds-cause-chaos

The past couple of days has seen low cloud and drizzly weather in Wairarapa although temperatures have been mild. Over in Wellington, the weather has cleared up somewhat from last weekend, although it is still not perfect weather. The forecast for Wairarapa tomorrow is early morning fog, then a beautiful sunny day.

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Wellington Harbour early yesterday afternoon with the Interislander ferry Arahura sailing past Lowry Bay on the eastern side of Wellington Harbour....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04146-LVL1R-700px.jpg)

 Tell ya later sun is not up yet just a starry sky. Great sunset last night and easterly had a bit of warm in it.
Washing day so it better come up sunny! ::)(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/42emhot.gif)

Absolutely lovelee day today -- better than yesterday.

(http://i40.tinypic.com/n86bk.jpg)

It's a beautiful fine, sunny day at my place.

There's quite a bit of snow on the Tararua Ranges though.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.

ISSUED BY MetService AT 7:59 pm 29-May-2009

WINTRY SPELL ON SUNDAY WITH SNOW DOWN TO SEA LEVEL FROM SOUTHLAND TO THE KAIKOURA COAST. SNOW DOWN TO UNUSUALLY LOW LEVELS OVER THE NORTH ISLAND WITH HEAVY FALLS EXPECTED IN THE SOUTH AND EAST

MetService expects another wintry spell this weekend.  A strong, very cold southerly is forecast to reach southern New Zealand late Saturday and quickly spread north over the whole of New Zealand on Sunday.

Snow showers are forecast to lower to sea level from Southland to the Kaikoura Coast and fall to unusually low levels on the hills in southern, eastern and  central parts of the North Island. 

Note that, although snow amounts will probably be marginal for a warning in many southern areas, MetService is issuing one because of the very low levels involved.

Snow is likely to many roads in these areas. With the strong southerly winds, windchill will be severe for animals and trampers in open areas.

People are advised to keep up to date with weather forecasts.Motorists will need to check road conditions before departing, particularly on Sunday, and plan for possible road closures.  Farmers should shelter vulnerable animals.

FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO: http://metservice.com

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS FOLLOWS:

                              HEAVY SNOW WARNING

AREA/S AFFECTED: SOUTHLAND OTAGO CANTERBURY MARLBOROUGH ALSO HILLS AND RANGES OF WELLINGTON WAIRARAPA HAWKES BAY GISBORNE MANAWATU WANGANUI TAIHAPE TARANAKI AND TAUPO FORECAST:

SOUTHLAND OTAGO
Bitterly cold southerlies expected to strengthen on Saturday night. In the 12 hours from midnight Saturday expect snowfalls down to sea level. 5 to 10cm of snow are expected to accumulate above 200 metres and possible 15cm about the eastern hills and ranges. Snow showers should ease or clear during Sunday afternoon and evening with the freezing level rising a little.

CANTERBURY MARLBOROUGH
Bitterly cold southerlies are expected to strengthen early Sunday morning. In the 21 hours starting about 3am Sunday expect 5 to 15cm of snow down to 200 metres with lighter falls down to sea level in Canterbury and about 200 metres in northern Marlborough. The heaviest falls are likely to be in north Canterbury and about the Kaikoura ranges where there may be 25cm above 500 metres. Winds and showers should ease during Monday morning,with the snow level rising slowly.

WELLINGTON WAIRARAPA
Strong, bitterly cold southerlies expected to spread north early Sunday morning. In the 24 hours from about 8am Sunday expect 10 to 20cm of snow above 300 metres and lighter falls down to about 200 metres on the hills.

HAWKES BAY GISBORNE
Bitterly cold southerlies are expected to strengthen from late Sunday morning.Snow is expected to lower to about 200 metres in Hawkes Bay and 300 metres in Gisborne during Sunday afternoon and evening. In the 24 hours from midday Sunday to midday Monday 10 to 20cm of snow may accumulate above about 300 metres,and up to 40cm at higher levels in the ranges. Note snow is expected in many farmed areas. Wind and snow should ease during Monday afternoon and evening with the snow level rising slowly.

CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM MT TARANAKI TO TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK TO LAKE TAUPO.
Very cold southerlies expected to strengthen during Sunday morning. Snow falls are expected to lower to 200-300 metres  during Sunday afternoon and evening. In the 18 hours from about noon on Sunday expect 5 to 10cm of snow to accumulate above 300 metres and 10 to 20cm above 500 metres. This includes farming country of inland Taranaki, Wanganui, and Manawatu as well as all of Taihape. Showers should ease or clear during Monday morning with the snow level rising slowly.

NEXT SEVERE WEATHER WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE 9:00am Saturday 30-May-2009

Forecast prepared by: Oliver Druce

For further information after 9pm contact Duty Forecaster Geoff Sanders

A service provided through a contract with the Crown

http://metservice.co.nz/public/weatherWarnings/severe-weather-warnings.html

Wintry blast due

NZPA | 10:51AM - Saturday, 30 May 2009

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2459807s-30May09.jpg)

           WINTER BEAUTY: The Southern Alps with a mirage effect as seen from the Port Hills on Friday morning.
                                                                           — CARYS MONTEATH/The Press.

Although technically winter has not quite begun, New Zealand is in for its second polar blast in two weeks with snow expected to sea level in some areas.

The MetService has issued a severe weather warning of a strong, very cold southerly expected to reach southern parts of the country this afternoon, spread over Canterbury tonight, and quickly spread north tomorrow morning.

Snow showers are forecast to lower to sea level from Southland to the Kaikoura coast and fall to "unusually low levels" on the hills in southern, eastern and central parts of the North Island.

Duty forecaster Oliver Druce said the warning had been issued not because of the amount of snow expected but because of the very low levels involved.

The snow is likely to close many roads and wind chill is expected to be severe.

He advised drivers to check road conditions before travelling and farmers to provide shelter for vulnerable stock.

Conditions are expected to ease on Sunday afternoon in the South Island and Monday morning in the North Island.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2459791/Wintry-blast-due

It's overcast, very still, and a wee bit chilly at my place today.

It's officially WINTERTIME on Monday, although it looks like tomorrow will be winter.

I've just heard a rumor that it's just started snowing in Ward!!!!

We've had it all in Masterton today....alternating fine periods (with a bit of sunshine) and showers, then hail, then snow, then more sunshine, then more snow, then more sunshine. Now I'm at work and about to head off to Upper Hutt and it looks (and feels) like more hail and/or snow is on the way. The white stuff is down bloody low on all the hills around here and the temperature is bloody freezing!!

New Zealand Police Alert 2:00pm 31 May 2009 Wellington

Location of incident: Porirua - Wellington - Hutt Valley

Incident type: Adverse weather
       
Police are advising motorists to drive to the conditions as reports of heavy hail showers hit the Wellington region.
Police also wish to advise families heading up the Rimutukas to see the snow will be disappointed. Although snow falls have been reported, it has quickly melted.
Issued By: Supervising Sergeant Stephen Ross

Light snow here, if it gets any thicker Im off to take some pix :)

Now there's claims it's snowing in Blenheim!
 ???

And now heavy snow in Ward...

6.1 deg here and cooling down real fast....

It,s been fkn cold all day.Spent the day watching the races.
Relying on electricity.Need a top up for gas bottle too. Bottle empty,but can,t be bothered going out.

4.6....

2.9..... it's starting to get cold.... and the wind cuts right through ya!

Amazing night sky thou - it's really clear out there.
(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/afro.gif)


Am awaiting some of those 'off-on' downpours but it doesn't seem they are going to arrive..

 :(

Scratch that - I just went out and moved my little outdoor sensor thingy out of the wind - it has settled at 5.8...  doh to me... lol...

It was still setup for summer and the nor-easters...

(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/08emembarrassed.gif)

Cold snap moves north
31/05/2009 17:08:02


There are predictions of a cold night across the country.

Oliver Druce from MetService says a bitterly cold snap which has already chilled the South Island has moved onto the North Island.

He says snow is expected to unusually low levels, with only Nelson and the South Island's West Coast exempt from the icy conditions.

It has already snowed in Otago and Canterbury, with the white stuff dusting parts of Napier, the hills around Wellington, and the Desert Road.

Temperatures have dropped to minus five in Wellington.

In Napier the temperature has dropped to four degrees.

There is a wind chill of around zero to minus two.


http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=158048

BRRRRRRRR....still bloody cold in Wairarapa.

It's snowing in the northern suburbs of Upper Hutt (Maoribank and Timberlea) and in the Mangaroa Valley. Also snowing on the Wairarapa side of the Rimutaka railway tunnel. And, I get back to Masterton and it was snowing again, then it was sleet, now it's back to snow. It looks like it's going to be a bloody freezing night!

And it's WINTER tomorrow!!  :o

It's been snowing here, and to think I was so happy to be back because it's so much warmer! Little missy and I came home and lit the fire, but the house still isn't warm. Eldest daughter drove back to Aucks today, she said there was some snow on the Titti, but not much anywhere else.

here at the moment;
Cold, clear, crisp - and stars like diamonds everywhere above.

Wet (with some sleet) and freezing cold!

Over and out!!

After last weekend's rather nasty storm where it snowed at Masterton and Upper Hutt, the weather has been very pleasant at my place, although rather chilly at night. Today was a beautiful sunny day....and I had the day off too!

---

Sunrise as seen by the signalman at Petone railway station yesterday morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Sunrise-Sunset%20Pix/petone_d_23-6-09-700px.jpg)

---

Wairarapa weather late yesterday morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04162-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04165-700px.jpg)

We came home from Hammy last night with -2 most of the way.

Wake this morning to a frost and now its raining  :o

                           (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/ColdBreath.gif)

Bugger....it's raining!

I hope it isn't still raining when I start work at 4:30am.

'Cause if it is raining then, I'll end up getting wet!  :'(



It must be time for bed!  (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/19emmoon.gif)

Bloody freezing. Hailstorm this arvo and rain ever since. *grump* I have two dogs inside, three on the verandah, none of them want to venture out into the rain (so much for Tim's dogs being 'braver' than mine :D)

Hey Shef - how do you get the dogs to go out and have a pee?

Ive been wondering cos our two cross their legs when the temp gets to about 5 and refuse to go out.  ;D

Its cold here, but we havent got it like you lot -- lucky buggers!  ::)

Ok - seriously - I take out a handful of 'little' cat biscuits. I let them sniff, then throw them. As soon as they all get off the verandah, I shut the gate until I think enough time has passed for them all to have had a good pee/poo (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/08emembarrassed.gif). The worst bit is that they are all supposed to be 'intelligent' dogs but it works every time.

hahahaha OK .. I'll try that when its a wee bit cold here.

Just got home from rugby practice.  Its icy cold out there tonight.   Icy for a Jafa that is.

Jeez Ferney - yer a bit too old to be running round after a rugby ball this time of night  ;D

 ;D

Actually......I do run around the lawn with a rugby ball.  Plenty of life left in this girl.   ;D

starry, fine a little on the fresh side but otherwise not bad

I see they're forecasting 2 degrees celcius for Auckland overnight!  :o

That'll be something those soft JAFAs will do really hard....;D

Around zero right now with a high of 8 today.   Clear and starry above and lots of black cloud right along the coast at sea.

Really nice morning here - 1Deg were I am and realy clear and fresh outside - yummy.
Will need to hose the ice off the truck this morning - the first time this year.


Feel sorry for those who's hoses have frozen!!

(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/afro.gif)

PS: We have the fire going already...

 ;D

This was sent to me by Besto - he wanted to know how to post it - but the poor wee laddie probably would have messed it up - so he asked me to post it.

http://www.youtube.com/v/qvN5hXHezMo

 ;D

(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/04emsmileo.gif) Holy Moly----- How can a dog that little pee so much(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/04emsmileo.gif)

BRRRRRRR....that was one mean “mother” of a frost this morning, in Wairarapa, the Mangaroa Valley, the Hutt Valley, and in Wellington. However a beautiful fine (although slightly chilly) day followed.

---

Wairarapa weather on Friday morning (after the big thaw)....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04184_700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04190_700px.jpg)

---

Wellington weather early on Friday afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04194-LVL1L_700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04196-LVLL_700px.jpg)

Shore freezes over and more to come

By TANYA KATTERNS - The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Saturday, 20 June 2009

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2518789s-20Jun09.jpg)

PRETTY SLICK: Pauatahanui Inlet displays an unusual frozen shoreline.
Nearby Paraparaumu had a -6.7 degree celcius start to the day.
— Photo: NICOLA CUSTANCE.

It was fine weather for polar bears, but not so hot for humans.

In the lower North Island, Paraparaumu woke up to a frozen -6.7°C and the sea froze over on the shoreline of Pauatahanui Inlet.

Widespread frosts blanketed areas from the Central Plateau to Nelson yesterday, bringing sub-zero temperatures and leaving some regions nudging record lows.

Temperatures ranged from -10 to -1.6 degrees celsius, making for dangerous driving and leaving some waterways rimmed with ice.

With the shortest day of the year tomorrow, MetService is warning that frigid days are not over yet.

The lowest air temperature was recorded in Tongariro a chilling -8.6°C, though an estimated -11°C "on the ground". Nelson was also bearing the brunt of the cold snap with a thick white frost and -10.6°C ground temperature early yesterday.

Masterton recorded -6.2°C, Levin -5.6°C and Kelburn -1.6°C. However, most roads remained open. Some streets in the Central Plateau resembled ice-rinks, but after a layer of grit was laid there were no closures.

The Rimutaka Hill Road was closed on and off throughout the morning as contractors cleared sleet and ice.

Forecaster Cameron Coutts said the cold mostly affected the central and lower North Island and lower half of the south as wind took the brunt of the chill off Canterbury and Dunedin.

The lows were not records for any of the regions but many were running close, he said. The lowest temperature recorded in New Zealand was on July 03, 1995, -21.6°C at Ophir, Central Otago.

Chilly weather is expected to continue well into next week.

"We are looking at highs in the single figures. It will be frosty and bitingly cold well into the week before it starts to clear. Mix that with some showers and winds over the next few days before it settles, and it will be fairly unpleasant."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/central-north-island/2518663/Shore-freezes-over-and-more-to-come

Farken cold.  The wind cuts through you like a knife.  Glad I have the log fire going....only problem is that 4 cats are sprawled in front of it and there is no room for me. :'(

The dogs have been yelled at all day - get away from the heater.  The huntaway cross sits so close he sucks all the heat up.
Theyve got fur coats on!!!  ;D

The animals have got built-in fur coats....you haven't.

Therefore your need for the heater is considerably greater than theirs, so chuck them outside!  ;D

Hahahaha I can see your sister causing you greviously bodily harm.
 Like I'm putting my babies in the frost(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/12emdgust.gif).

I must admit - Hank keeps my place in the bed warm - unlike hubby - when I tell him to move over he does ;D
*sigh* I wish dogs could do breakfast in bed :D

I don't think his sister would need to cause grevious bodily harm cos the Burmese Bear would bite him VERY hard. That Burmese Boy has been known for the resulting hospital admissions from THOSE bites of his.

Wellington shivers as southerlies bite

By MICHAEL FOX - Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz) and NZPA | 10:42AM - Tuesday, 23 June 2009

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2526413s-23Jun09.jpg)

WINTRY BLASTS: Between May 01 and June 21 Wellington
copped 27 southerly days, with 16 of those being wet.
— KENT BLECHYNDEN/The Dominion Post.

Wellingtonians bemoaning the consistent cold weather have been vindicated by new figures released by the MetService.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said that several snowy outbreaks in May combined with southerly winds had set the scene for an onset of wintry temperatures.

"MetService data confirms the talk of the town that Wellingtonians have been experiencing a sustained southerly assault so far this winter", he said.

Results show that in the 52 days between May 01 and June 21, Wellington copped 27 southerly days. On top of that, 16 of those days were wet.

This compares with 20 southerly days in the same period last year, of which 13 were wet.

Dunedin came second with 17 southerly days, and 13 wet ones compared with eight and four last year.

Christchurch and Auckland were equal with 13 southerly days. Twelve of these were wet in Christchurch and only nine in Auckland. In the same period last year, Auckland had 13 southerly days, but Christchurch only had five.

Mr McDavitt added that playing fields around the country this winter got muddy earlier than normal because of a very wet May.

"The hardest place to play weekend sport recently has been in Wellington. Their last dry weekend was the first weekend of May."

"In Christchurch and Dunedin it was mid-June and in Auckland it was dry last weekend," he said.

While temperatures across the country had taken a sharp dive into in May, they were now levelling out.

The coolest time of the year is likely to be between mid July and early August, as per normal, he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2526339/Wellington-shivers-as-southerlies-bite

The last few days (and nights) have been bloody freezing at my place.

Today, the sun is shining, but it's still very chilly.

Here too, in fact I'm thinking of getting a gas heater to supplement the coal range heating. It doesn't seem to be warming the house at all :(.


If it gets any bloody colder I'm going to hibernate for the rest of the winter.

For those who dont know our harbour - its very similar to Hokianga Harbour, many say it reminds them of Hoki.

Well for those who know Hoki, the sand dunes on the opposite side are invisible, gone, removed, in fact if I didnt know better I wouldnt believe there is even a harbour out there  :o  Some bastard has gone and pulled a thick fog in that has blinded everyone  ::)

Ye Gods! -4°C

There is a heavy, heavy frost and just enough high cloud to stop the sun.  I've been up for over an hour and it hasn't thawed at all.

Aww come on - how can it be that cold down there when its about 13 I guess here.  ;D

SOOK!!  hahaha

Its wet here, Dogs dont wanna go out for their morning pee yet  >:(
Weather warnings coming in are saying its gonna get rough later.

It was -4 out my way too DT.   Goosebumps on the goosebumps this morning.(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/undecided.gif) 

I dragged Mr DT out the Waimak. Plantation and got a ute load of pine cones.  The good thing about it being that damp and cold is the cones just pop off the tree without any real exertion.  Took more energy to carry the boxes of cones back to the truck. 

The frost has gone except on puddles where there are STILL sheets of ice.  Garfield didn't expect ice skating when he went to torment Sooty next door lol.

Cats don't understand the finer points of karma ;D




It's pissing down here, and cold. I'm over winter(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/09emcrook.gif)

It's a gloomy, grey day at my place, but it isn't raining.

It isn't exactly cold either (yesterday and last night were also surprisingly mild, temprature-wise).

However, I can't speak for the weather early this morning, because I didn't get out of bed until after 10:30am....why should I when I'm on a five-day rostered long weekend? I'm having a weekend of leisure doing sweet “FA” (and not even feeling guilty about it) before the rude 4:30am shock (that's the shift start time....the alarm clock will go off at 3:30am) on Wednesday morning.

Oooops....spoke too soon.

It's raining at my place now.

Although it is only light rain and it still isn't cold.

Cold and shitty here in Woodville

Pissing down at my place now!

It's a bloody sight warmer here today at 2°C.  Which is a good thing considering the amount of rain we had last night.  -4°C on top of that much water wouldn't be fun.

Hell of a light show in ak central last night.
A good couple of hours of chunder and thightning.
All quiet this am but misty and heavily overcast.

I spent half the night worrying if I was gonna blow away, the wind was on the angle right onto the bedroom doors!!  We lot one glass window on the deck GRRRRRRRR!!  Its still blowing at over 60 here - through the night there were times when it felt as if someone was throwing a handful of wind as hard as possible onto the house.  Quite scary  :-\

I'm home and planning on heading off for points north, it's calm and a bit drizzly here at present with breaks of sun and hasn't been under 3c for the last few days. Should I stay home?

The wind is howling but the sun has just broken through. However forecast is for heavy rain around noon.

No letup here yet - still howling and driving rain.

It sounds deathly quiet here this morning after the lightening and thunder over night.

Great sound and light show last night.

The wind on Takapuna beach this morning was something else!!  
Real Wellington weather!

Damn near blew me and my poles away (https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/cheesy.gif)

I even had to wash the car afterwards, I made the mistake of parking near the sea wall by the boat ramp(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/08emembarrassed.gif) and the waves were starting to break over the top.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4foMcJady4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4foMcJady4)
I am not in this video (Mum is) but this is the group I walk with slowed down to fit with the music

Some of the splash from the waves this morning was hitting the trees at the top of the cliff at the end of the beach you can see in the clip.

I was so cold all day. My hands have been playing up really badly lately, and I got to the stage even rolling a smoke was difficult (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/08emembarrassed.gif). So I headed into the warehouse to buy a bag of coal (which BTW was about $2.50 more than at P&S ) and they had gas heaters at $99 and gas bottles at $46.50. I caved. So I'm sitting in a toasty warm house (I only had to run the gas heater for about an hour and a half) and even the dogs are smiling at me.

*sigh* BLISSSSSSSS(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/05emsmilep.gif)

I thought we were in for some rough weather.

So how come there is still blue sky outside?

It is 2 degrees.  (https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/undecided.gif)

It's nice and mild at my place today. A few clouds floating around, but mostly blue sky.

And that big yellow thing I saw in the sky at Wellington yesterday morning is back. I wonder how long it will stick around?


I hear things are a wee bit rough down south in Otago....

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Cartoons/2288RoadsClosed03Jul09.jpg)

Nice day up here - I have the house totally opened up and airing out - the first time in ages!


However... I am sitting in the office with the door closed keeping out the little cold southerly gale blowing down the hallway...

 ;D

Woke to an awesome morning, which turned overcast and cold and rainy AGAIN!!

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Cartoons/2299Rain09Jul09.jpg)

It started as a glorious day in South Otago, and stayed a glorious day all the way to Christchurch.

Which doesn't explain the piss poor driving I had to contend with.  You know the type.  Sit at 80ks, only speeding up when the road gets nice and wide.......... in the passing lanes.  There were 2 types of these drivers.  Women with excessive clothes on, and men with big fat moustaches.  I haven't figured out the significance of either, but they were the culprits at each passing lane.

While I didn't get all the number plates, I did get one.  If you see the over dressed woman in a small hatchback with the numberplate DAD 2, tell the silly bitch to hand her licence in.

Where is all this Global Warming the Green party has been promising us? Could do with some of that right now.

It's absolutely PISSING DOWN!!

 :D

After days of rain........it fined up yesterday afternoon - so we had a frost this morning, but a fine day (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/42emhot.gif)(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/02emteeth.gif). Then at half past 4 .......... it started raining again(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/11emcry.gif)

Yup pissing down - freezin cold and windy - its winter.

28deg today in Cairns  ;D

Pissing down at my place in Wairarapa.

Approaching to land at Wellington Airport late this morning was an interesting experience. It was one of those days where flying into Wellington was better than any fairground ride you can imagine. The sort of day where during the approach, you get chucked around like a cork bobbing around out in Cook Strait during a wild storm; and where you don't land....you simply arrive on the runway with a huge thud (with full reverse-thrust being initiated the instant the mainwheels connect with the runway and before the nosewheel goes down) and the flight attendant announces over the PA, “I guess that means we must have arrived in Wellington!”  ;D

It's not even that cold here ???
The last couple of days, we've had the strong NW winds we usually get in spring. Maybe an early summer?
 :-\

I was in Hawke's Bay yesterday afternoon and this morning.

The weather wasn't actually all that cold in Wellington today.....it was just bloody attrocious as far as wind and rain goes.

Likewise in Wairarapa....it's reasonably warm, but pissing down!

Good night for a sail up here - Especially if you wanted to head east!
It's screaming outside!!

 ;)

It's really blowing here, don't think it's raining though. The last time it blew like this the roof came off...................................the dog's kennel!

We are getting hit by really some good gusts - shaking the house and making things creak and thud in places I've never heard it before!


Lol... the front deck is clear - all the chairs and pot plants are stacked on top of each other down the other end....

On the up side all the leaves have gone as well - so just so long the bloody tree stays where it is right now then this could work out rather good.



Wonder how the Jafa's are coping right now....
;D


Op - winds stopped - and here's the rain.


The wind will be back.....

 ::)

It's Quiet (no wind)  and dry (no rain)

I'm sure it'll change in the next day or two, (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/09emcrook.gif), but I am enjoying it ;D

Its pissing down here grrrrrrrr

A thin layer of high cloud at my place (although the sun is shining through it okay), but otherwise a nice day.


It was cold early this morning, but it is warming up now.

Start of the golden weather

By EMMA PAGE - Sunday Star Times | 5:00AM - Sunday, 23 August 2009

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2778466s-23Aug09.jpg)

GOLDEN WEATHER: Raniera Sisley and her brother Toatoa
get in some practice for summer on the Petone foreshore.
— KEVIN STENT/Sunday Star Times.

IF you thought there was a hint of spring in the air, you're right. After an extremely cold winter, temperatures for the first few weeks of August have been one to two degrees warmer than normal around the country.

Last week, magnolias and cherry blossoms were out in style in Auckland, and daffodils and other spring bulbs were bravely beginning to bloom in Wellington and Christchurch.

And the good news is that the outlook is stable. Average temperatures and rainfall including everything from Nelson's 200-odd hours of sunshine and 90mm of rain for a typical October, to Milford Sound's 690mm of rain, or Dunedin's paltry 145 hours of sunshine are expected over the next three months.

Senior climate scientist Georgina Griffiths from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said that after the record-setting cold month of May, and a chilly June and July, spring was beginning. "Spring has sprung a wee bit early and the expectation is everything is back to normal."

Spring is usually considered to start in September and go through to November.

But it may not be such good news for summer and the Christmas holidays. Waiting in the wings is an El Nino weather pattern a temporary increase in sea temperatures in the Pacific that arrives at irregular intervals every few years and causes weather changes around the globe. Griffiths said Niwa was watching the seas in the tropical South Pacific and the corresponding changes in the atmosphere, which were currently looking "El Nino-like".

If the El Nino conditions continue to intensify it would mean more frequent and stronger south-westerlies, and the possibility of drought for the northern and eastern areas of both islands as higher temperatures and the wind dried out the soil.

Not every El Nino is the same but the weather pattern generally means cooler summer air and sea temperatures for most of New Zealand which could be a dampener for holiday makers. "Going swimming in an El Nino can be notably cooler," said Griffiths.

But some areas are likely to escape the cool El Nino weather, especially northern and eastern regions including Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury, because the wind tends to become dry and warm up as it travels over hills.

Other areas that may experience a warmer summer compared to the rest of the country include Northland, Coromandel, Wairarapa and the Bay of Plenty. It could be wetter than normal in Buller, Westland, Fiordland and possibly Southland and Taranaki.

Predicting weather a long time in advance was difficult and forecasters said that in around six weeks they would have a better idea of what summer would be like.

But around the country it seems spring fever has already hit. There has been an influx of visitors at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, which features a "spring valley" walk with magnolias, camellias, blossoms and daffodils.

Visitors were last week also enjoying spring blooms in Wellington, while in Christchurch the daffodils were just beginning to poke their heads through the ground and the magnolias were out. Wellington visitor service officer Charmaine Scott said the fragrant walk in the Botanic Garden was living up to its name and the magnolias had come out early.

"I think spring is here a month early."

And the warmer weather also brings more activity on the exercise front: gyms around the country are reporting customers coming in to prepare for bikini season.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/2778444/Start-of-the-golden-weather/

It's been a wonderful day here. I've had all the doors and windows open, airing out the house. Washed the sheets and mink blankets without having to use the dryer.
'Tis starting to chill down now though. But I have a nice pile of split wood ready for the fire. Son came over this afternoon to help out his Mum :-*

(http://www.rd1.com/rd1web/images/weather/akrad.gif)

(http://www.rd1.com/rd1web/images/weather/sat.jpg)

It must be spring - we have gale warnings(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/09emcrook.gif) *sigh* I hate the wind, and it's worse cos I'm here on my own (nobody to yell at (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/08emembarrassed.gif) lol)

It was still 21 here at 5pm last night and it has blown a gale all night and going to be a warm one again.  The leaves are out on the willows, usually the first to announce spring weather.

All 3 of our water tanks are overflowing - I hate to see the waste  :D

Its quite warm this morning but we have a westerly.

(http://www.rd1.com/rd1web/images/weather/sat.jpg)

YUK this looks awful  >:(

This was the moon setting at 6.44 this morning

(http://i25.tinypic.com/30auyb9.jpg)

And about half an hour ago in the same direction  ;D

(http://i32.tinypic.com/2e4ht0w.jpg)

Not a cloud in the sky, could see right down to the Central Platuae (sp) all day. all 3 Mt's puttin on a good show for the tourists.

Well the sun's been shining all day, but it's been so damn cold. Even the dogs have spent a lot of the day inside- even though the verandah door's been open all day. It's feeling like a frost tonight, and work in the morning   (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/10emsad.gif)

Beautiful spring weather at the bottom of the North Island at the moment, although rather frosty early morning in Wairarapa and the Hutt Valley.

---

Wairarapa weather on Saturday morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04214-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04215-CR-700px.jpg)

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Wairarapa weather this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04221-CR-700px.jpg)

Yeh we're getting days like that - took the boat out for a spin today, kicked the tyres n stuff.  The harbours just flat  :)

Not gonna be like it for long though, a change is on the horizon.

(http://www.rd1.com/rd1web/images/weather/sat.jpg)

Another bloody cold, frosty morning when I started work at 4:30am, followed by a beautiful spring day on both sides of the dividing ranges at the bottom of the North Island. A bit of high cloud, but the sun is shining through it okay, the temperature is in the high teens and there is no wind at my place.

---

Wellington weather, early this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04223-LVLL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04227-LVLL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04228-LVL3L-CR-700px.jpg)

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South Wairarapa weather, mid-morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04231-LVL1L-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04232-CR-700px.jpg)

The weather here (except yesterday) in my part of Oz is stunningly beautiful....the days have been 20 to 28 deg, blue skies, puffy clouds and with smell of jasmine in the air...I smell it everytime I walk outside.....just gorgeous. We had a couple of thunderstorms but while this weather is gorgeous, i would realy like a week of rain.

We had fog fog fog fog this morning.  Seriously, I wanted to ring 111 and get someone to check into who stole our sand dunes  ;D

Love the Tararuas  :D

sort of breezy here. Have a punter who has a big awning up - at least it was before I went to bed.

Taiaroa heads wind is showing off the scale at 70 kts, mine is gusting at 60kts at present. Just saw an emergency vehicle going past.

I'm waiting for the power to go off.

No wind at all here at the moment but no doubt by about 10am the seabreeze will arrive.    Had to get up and close the upstairs windows about 3am though as there was a gusty  norwester.

{SWW Event 2009/45.3}
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST IN:
CANTERBURY OTAGO


SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.
ISSUED BY MetService AT 7:31 am 15-Sep-2009

SEVERE NORTHWEST GALES IN PARTS OF OTAGO AND CANTERBURY HAVE EASED.

The strong northwest gradient over the lower South Island has now
eased and the wind warning for parts of Otago and Canterbury is now
lifted.

FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO
http://metservice.com

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS
FOLLOWS:

=============================
WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE
=============================

STRONG WIND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR: EXPOSED PARTS OF DUNEDIN
AND NORTH OTAGO AND INLAND PARTS OF CANTERBURY SOUTH OF THE
WAIMAKARIRI RIVER INCLUDING THE MACKENZIE BASIN
NO FURTHER WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT FOR THE ABOVE AREAS.

A service provided through a contract with the Crown

The weather has been mostly fine and warm at the bottom of the North Island over the past few days, however it has been cloudy at times.

Today, however, it has been bloody freezing and mostly cloudy, although with the occasional spell of sunshine.

---

Wellington weather early on Thursday afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04233-LVL1R-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04236-LVLL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04239-LVLR-LVL-700px.jpg)

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Wairarapa weather late on Thursday afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04241-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04245-CR-700px.jpg)

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The weather in Masterton this morning, looking along SH2 in both directions....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04251-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04252-CR-700px.jpg)

Thems mighty big thunders I be hearing.(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/09emcrook.gif)

Wow that was short sharp downpour......   2 minutes and the gutters were overflowing.

Yesterday started off as a beautiful day, then a cold front passed through the bottom of the North Island during the afternoon, followed by more fine weather.

Today is another lovely spring day, although with a bit of high cloud in Wairarapa, but mostly sunny.

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Wellington weather early yesterday afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04257-LVLR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04258-LVL1R-700px.jpg)

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Sunrise near Matarawa this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04260-700px.jpg)

Tis very gloomy here today.

For the last 2 days we have had beautiful, mild mornings which deteriorate into cold and wet by late lunch time.  The rain is heavy and in really big droplets rather than the normal 'rain'.  Sounds like hail, without the ice.

The temperature was quite mild when I started work at 4:30am this morning, although there was a bit of drizzle.

However, since then the temperature has gone downhill and it is now bloody freezing outside.

It was raining in the Hutt Valley and South Wairarapa this morning, although it's still mostly drizzle in Masterton.

The forecast is for snow down to 400 metres in the hills around here today, with up to 50cm of snow falling above 600 metres. It's certainly cold enough at the moment and getting colder....BRRRRRRRRRRR!!

Woodville's got snow
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/2sexy4mypants_photos/Picture441.jpg)

(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/2sexy4mypants_photos/Picture444.jpg)

(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss248/2sexy4mypants_photos/Picture449.jpg)

Brrr Sexy.  Hope you have your thermals on.          It is very wet and cold here tonight.  Squally rain blowing in from the east.

Thats my kids making the giant snowball  ;D

It is never too cold to go out and play in the snow. ;D

Snow, ice chase spring away

Wintertime in Springtime

The Dominion Post | 8:19AM - Friday, 25 September 2009

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2901448s-25Sep09.jpg)

SKIDDING: The weather made conditions treacherous
for drivers. — ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

Snowfalls have caused traffic chaos in the lower North Island and laid on a frosty welcome for spring lambs.

MetService forecaster Derek Holland said yesterday's chilly easterly blast brought record low temperatures to the Kapiti Coast and single-figure lows to the rest of the region.

The thermometer in Paraparaumu barely nudged 8 degrees Celsius — the lowest maximum temperature recorded in September since records began in 1993.

The Rimutaka Hill Road was closed from just after 4pm because of heavy snow, which fell as low as 200 metres in the Tararua Range, Wairarapa, Wellington, southern Manawatu and Central Hawke's Bay.

Snow was also expected to hit relatively low levels in parts of Nelson, Marlborough and North Canterbury.

Temperatures stayed in the single digits in Wellington yesterday, with a high of nine degrees recorded in Kelburn.

Heavy rain in the capital may have contributed to at least one nose-to-tail crash, which briefly closed the Mt Victoria Tunnel in the afternoon. One lane of The Terrace Tunnel was also blocked by a breakdown just after 4pm.

Wairarapa experienced an unusually chilly spring day with a top temperature of 7°C in Masterton, the lowest in 17 years.

Snow made the going difficult for motorists in the Manawatu Gorge, Pahiatua Track and Norsewood areas, and high winds were reported on State Highway 1 between Sanson and Foxton and in the Ashhurst area.

State Highway 1, north of Bulls, was affected by flooding.

Mr Holland said residents in the central North Island and Bay of Plenty should watch for rising rivers and streams and surface flooding.

"Over the lower North Island and upper South Island, the combination of cold rain or snow and strong winds is likely to be stressful to vulnerable stock, and farmers in these areas should consider moving stock to shelter."

Satellite pictures showed particles from Sydney's dust storm drifting across the north of the North Island yesterday, ushered in by the low from across the Tasman, but Mr Holland said it was being dampened down by rain.

"It might just look like a hazy day."

Fresh southeasterlies were predicted to bring more rain and chilly temperatures to the Wellington region today but showers should gradually ease tomorrow.

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2901441s-25Sep09.jpg)
GOING NOWHERE: Kirsty McLean, of Upper Hutt, comes to a standstill in snow on the Rimutaka Hill Road,
where she was struck for “two freezing hours” yesterday. — ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2901444s-25Sep09.jpg)
SCARY CONDITIONS: Robyn MacKay, left, and Cassandra Christiansen of Masterton were stranded at
the Rimutaka Hill Road summit. — ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2901447s-25Sep09.jpg)
WHITE COAT: Earthworks contractor Greg Robertson checks out the snow accumulating on his truck.
— ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/2901449s-25Sep09.jpg)
SLIP AND SLIDE: Drivers were stranded when the road was closed. — ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

STRANDED IN SNOW

Masterton friends Robyn MacKay and Cassandra Christiansen spent 1½ hours stranded at the Rimutaka Hill Road summit after snow closed in as they headed home after a day shopping.

"We'd already stopped the car because it was getting scary when we heard they had closed the road," said Ms MacKay, 20.

"It was freezing, we only had one blanket."

They left Wellington about 3.30pm and it was nearly 6pm when they got home.

"After they cleared the road, we took another half hour to get down the hill because it was such slow going."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/2900874/Snow-ice-chase-spring-away

It's been a totally gorgeous morning, but looking to the south, the crap is on the way.  :-[

Oh, and to the west, oh and the north now.  The sun is still shining......



still,.........



its dimming.........



its trying to shine..........



going..........



going.........



gone!  :'(

bright sun, warm air glorious spring day here in Queenstown. (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/Tanny.gif)

At least it didn't rain here again.  I'm over soggy feet.

Today started off grey and crappy, although at least it hasn't rained today at my place.

During the afternoon (and particularly after about 3:00pm) it has gradually fined up, although it is still bloody cold!

---

Here is a photograph of the weather as viewed in my street about an hour ago....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04263-700px.jpg)

    Auckland hasn"t made up its mind what to do. One of my daughters flew out to Australia
   at 6:00 this morning. I was up all night, walking around home & airport in a teashirt, it was
   coming down in buckets, to-day it hasn"t been raining,  but it"s been bloody cold

The southerly has arrived - although it's not cold yet - but the fire is going just in case...

At least the southerly blew the rain away.

 ;D

Bloody freezing at my place today! (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/WarmingByTheFire.gif)

It was snowing on the hills to the west of Masterton late this afternoon as I was setting out for Wellington.

The snow was right down low almost to the plains.

In the Hutt valley, sleet was getting splattered on the locomotive windscreen between Manor Park and Waterloo.

In Wellington it wasn't raining, but it was bloody cold.

---

[size=10]Here are a couple of photographs taken earlier this evening looking across Wellington Harbour from the western shoreline....[/size]

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04274-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04275-700px.jpg)

Call me a moaning Jafa if you must.

It has been COLD today.

Colder than most of winter. The tempature still wasn't in double digits by 1pm.

I spent a large chunck of the early am awake due to Mr SP and Sally between them stealing most of the blankets. >:(

I would have lit the fire tonight but for the fact we "summerised" it a fortnight ago.

It,s real brass monkey weather today,and yesterday all over Hawkes Bay.
So much for global warming!!!!!!!!
I remember the baths used to open on Labour Day. ::)

LOL Besto they still might be  ;D

Bloody cold at the bottom of the North Island on Tuesday).

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This photo was taken while crossing the railway bridge over the Waingawa River just after 10:30am. The Tararua Ranges are hidden in the clouds; what you see there are the foothills....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04279-700px.jpg)

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Wellington Harbour just after lunch while heading back to Wairarapa....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04282-LVL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04285-LVL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04286-LVL-CR-700px.jpg)

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Wellington Harbour looking towards Wellington City, late afternoon while heading back to Wellington.....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04289-LVL-CR-700px.jpg)

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Matiu-Somes Island early evening while returning to Wairarapa on the last run of the day....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04299-LVL-700px.jpg)

Very nice and warm in Broome thank you very much

Mostly fine at the bottom of the North Island today although still a wee bit chilly.

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Wairarapa weather this morning while travelling the long Matarawa straight....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04305-700px.jpg)

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Hutt Valley weather near Silverstream early afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04311-700px.jpg)

After holding off all day, the(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/rain.gif)has arrived at my place.

We've had a thunderstorm here in the last hour - now we have heavy rain.

My old weather station outblew it's anemometer during our last big wind so I just finished setting up my new this time a  Pro WS1083  wireless touch screen station with a PC-Link, about 4pm. This one has a wind direction indicator and wind speed and a rain guage, as well as temp etc., so I can tell ya we've had 6mm of rain in the last hour, outdoor temp 8.6c. Wind has been swinging from N E to Se about 8kph this evening. Pressure 1001

Downloaded the pc programme and spent the last hour or so configuring it but I guess it will need to gather itself a day or so of records before I will connect it and see if that display works. 

I hope to be able to compare our microclimate with Dunedin's, eventually.

Springtime weather in South Wairarapa this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04321_LVL1L_700px.jpg)

Another great spring day at the bottom of the North Island today in both Wairarapa and Wellington.

The temperature was considerably warmer in Wairarapa though compared with Wellington.

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Wellington Harbour, just after lunchtime today....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04325_700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04327_700px.jpg)

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By way of contrast weatherwise — Wellington Harbour two weeks ago....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04314_700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04315_LVLR_700px.jpg)

So....as it's a long-weekend for folks who don't work weekends, I wonder if the weather will shit itself?


Mr Murphy seems to have a lot to do with it....;D

A bit of a mixed bag at the bottom of the North Island today.

A bit of sunshine, lots of clouds, a bit of rain, a bit of everything.

---

South Wairarapa countryside early this morning (at 6:31am) as viewed from the foot-hills of the Rimutaka Ranges....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04331-700px.jpg)

Another beautiful day in paradise.

Springtime Wairarapa weather near Matarawa late this morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04333_700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04335_LVL1R_700px.jpg)

Another glorious spring day at the bottom of the North Island.

Warm temperatures and lots of sunshine on both sides of the ranges, although there is a lot more cloud on the western side.

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The weather at Masterton and Waingawa, early-morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04336-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04338-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04340-700px.jpg)

---

The weather at Upper Hutt and in the Mangaroa Valley, mid-morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04342-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04344-700px.jpg)

---

South Wairarapa weather, late-morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04347-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04348-700px.jpg)

 ;)

Current data for my neck of the woods
Tuesday, 27 October 2009 11:44:44 a.m.

Temperature (°C):
Current          12.2
Trend (per hour) +1.5
Average today    11.3
Wind chill       10.3
Heat index       12.2
Dew Point        4.2
Rel Humidity     59%

Wind (km/h):
Current Gust     23.4 W
Average Speed    18.0 W

Rainfall (mm):
Current rate     0.0
Last hour        0.0
Total today      0.0
Total yesterday  4.5
Total this month 6.0 since startdate 17th October
Total this year  6.0

Pressure (hPa):
Current          1022.6
Trend (per hour) -0.3

Overcast (although with a bit of blue sky showing) and mild in “Dunners” this evening.


Back to Wairarapa weather tomorrow.

  Awwww, In Dunners, no see? Doncha luv me any more!

I only got here today (I was at a wedding at Waimate yesterday).

Dinner tonight at one of Dunners' restaurants, then time for some shopping tomorrow morning.

Back home again tomorrow afternoon....it's only a fleeting visit. I spent last Friday night in Christchurch, so decided to head home from Dunedin instead. Besides, some of the other guests at the wedding (friends of mine) were heading here, so that made up my mind.

I go Town tomorrow, lunch date on the yacht, see ya next time  ;)

 Sun shining here, (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p285/nitpnz/21109.jpg)

(https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/2funny.gif)

I got back to a nice, warm Wairarapa day.

A bit of blue sky, a bit of cloud, but nice temperature.

Tomorrow is another day and it's back to reality with a thud, starting work at 4:30am! (https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/angry.gif)

Strong winds lash Canterbury

Container ship breaks moorings

The Press with Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz) | 10:44AM - Wednesday, 04 November 2009

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix/3031272s-04Nov09.jpg)

PRETTY: A beautiful sunrise at New Brighton pier today before the winds picked up. — JASON MOONEY.

Motorists are being warned to be on the alert as gale-force winds continue to batter Canterbury.

High winds at the Port of Lyttelton have seen a container ship break its moorings.

Chief executive Peter Davie said the incident happened just before 8am. A tug and pilot vessel were put into action and the ship's crew is reassessing the conditions.

Strong northwesterly winds are expected to continue around Wellington, Wairarapa and the top half of the South Island today.

A deep low over the Southern Ocean is forcing strong to gale northwest winds over the south of the country this morning, and the lower North Island through to late afternoon, the MetService said.

Severe weather warnings and watches for wind and rain have been issued for Wellington, the Wairarapa and Canterbury as a cold front moves across the country.

"There is likely to be a northwest gale over the South Island preceding this front," commented the MetService's Bob McDavitt.

The MetService said the winds had the potential to damage trees and powerlines, to lift roofs, and make driving hazardous, especially for motorcycles and high-sided vehicles.

Police were advising motorists to exercise caution when travelling through the South Wairarapa area and going over the Rimutaka Hill due to the high winds.

Brief heavy rain in the Westland ranges south of Otira had been expected this morning.

Mr McDavitt said the wind was expected to ease in time for Thursday, with showers clearing over the North Island and becoming confined to western districts in the South Island.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3030365/Strong-winds-lash-Canterbury (http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3030365/Strong-winds-lash-Canterbury)

 (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/sun.gif)                       

got all the lawns mowed yesterday cos we had severe weather warnings that didn't happen, GLORIOUS day here now after a new front swept up your way about 6am, I'm off to my gdaughter 's for lunch and have mothballed the longjohns till next year

We got the wind, but it wasn't that bad.   A few buckets rolling around the back yard and the swing seat is lying on its back yet again. 

Usually by now we have lost 99% of the fruit that is setting on the apricot tree, but (fingers crossed) there is still a large number of fruits on there.  They are beautiful apricots, but we have been here 10 years and never get more than 3 or 4 off the tree. 

It started raining sometime through the night - hasnt stopped been moving from a wee shower to thunderous rain.

We are replacing the roof on the deck at the moment - so over the last couple of fine days we have been removing the old smokey coloured plastic roofing - Ive got some plants that shouldnt get their leaves wet (according to the tags on them) they are the flowering begonias, Ive collected them for a few years now.  Forgot to bring them in off the deck last night - even knowing it was going to rain  :-\  Now they are all over the lounge drying out.  ;D

Our elderly neighbours are celebrating their mumble mumble wedding anniversary (gotta be about 60th I reckon) but every year they go to Te Awamutu for the night  ;D  Last year they had oysters as part of their celebratory meal and he had a really bad accident in bed  :-\  Mrs brought home the sheets, threw them out and provided the motel with 4 new sets of sheets.  Yesterday MrL helped the neighbour Mr get their suitcases down - he came back laughing, they are only going over night and they have a large suitcase each along with a box of shoes - just in case.  ;D

Shoes or sheets?

LOLOLOL  ;D

You wouldn't believe the contrast on opposite sides of the main dividing ranges at the bottom of the North Island this morning. On the Wairarapa side, clear skies with lots of stars, then a lovely sunrise through clouds on the horizon. Through the Rimutaka Tunnel and the Mangaroa Valley was thick fog with visibility being only about ten metres. The Hutt Valley was overcast and Wellington Harbour looked kind of spooky....it was very still, but the hills surrounding it were shrouded in cloud and mist. Back to Wairarapa and it's a brilliant spring day with blue skies and lots of sunshine contrasting with the ever-so-green lush countryside.

 
We've had a dry spell, grass not recovering after being driven over or stood on, although there had been a trace of rain overnight on most days.

since 17.10.09

Overcast, heavy dew with some rain coming along with the southerlies.     

Sunny, but with a few clouds at my place.

The weather is forecast to turn to shit later today, then clear up overnight.

The forecast is looking good for the WWI Armistice Airshow at Hood Aerodrome (http://xtranewscommunity2.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,4240.0.html) tomorrow afternoon.

However, the forecast is for more crap weather on Sunday at the bottom of the North Island. Good one....that should dampen down the drunken bastards at the Toast Martinborough festival....with a bit of luck they'll be better behaved than usual on the trains heading home.

I wouldn't want to be at the Canterbury Show right about now.  The winds have been really nasty.  There are sirens going off all over the place.  My swing seat is lying down again.  It can stay in that position for now.

It's a beautiful day for an airshow (http://xtranewscommunity2.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,4240.0.html) at my place.

The southerly has gone and been replaced by blue skies, sunshine and no wind.

Fingers crossed that the forecast nor'westers don't get up too much this afternoon.

WWI fighter planes don't like high winds, particularly if in the form of gusts.

Early rain, sun
wind rain sun
and another front has just passed through.


I've put the mower away

what's going on up north?  http://www.metservice.co.nz/public/weatherWarnings/warningMap.html



 

Rain storm rain storm rain storm

We had no power all day yesterday from 9am - a planned outage till 3pm, so we went out for a ddrive till about 3pm .. at 8,30 last night we went to bed - only to be woken by the radio about 5 minutes later  ;D Half an hour after they got the power back on the storm hit.  Gale force winds and horizontal rain demolished a couple of the new sheets on the unfinished roof, sending pieces all over the neighbourhood and blew our new flag inside out.  I must say our wind has been stronger than usual over the last couple of months - weve had 2 new flags blow out and that never happens, they usually wear out.  :-\  Rain has gone now, flag is back up.  ;D Ive been out and moved some plants to stop them from drowning!

I needed more water, used too much water blasting the deck  :o and the wind weve had for the last 3 0 4 days is drying the ground (sand) out too fast for the gardens.

Its warm and raining here.   
I think we may be in for a windy summer too Lovelee.

We got some rain yesterday but not the heavy soaking the garden needs.

It pissed down in Wairarapa yesterday morning. The afternoon was overcast, but fine. Wellington was also overcast, but fine when I was there at lunchtime and again late-afternoon/early-evening.

Today is a gorgeous day in both Wairarapa and Wellington with nice warm temperatures, blue skies, sunshine and a gentle breeze.

Current data for Taieri Mouth (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/HappySun.gif)
Saturday, 21 November 2009 9:18:09 a.m.

Temperature (°C):
Current          26.6
Trend (per hour) +1.6
Average today    18.6
Wind chill       26.6
Heat index       26.4
Dew Point        8.7
Rel Humidity     35%

Wind (km/h):
Current Gust     33.1 NW
Average Speed    24.1 WNW

OK, time to batten down the hatches: After a calm balmy brooding morning, the Nor Wester suddenly banged in a moment ago.

{WATCH Event 2009/1.379}
SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR WAIRARAPA, WELLINGTON, MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS,
OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND
ISSUED BY METSERVICE AT 0915hrs 27-Nov-2009

NORTHWEST GALES MOVING UP COUNTRY TODAY (FRIDAY)

An active front is expected to reach the south of the South Island
around midday today (Friday) and move onto the south of the North
Island during Saturday afternoon.  A very strong, moist northwest
flow should spread over the South Island and lower North Island ahead
of this front.  Northwest winds are expected to rise to gale in many
parts of Southland and Otago by midday, with the possibility of
severe gales in exposed places.  The winds are expected to turn
southwest and ease during the afternoon and evening.

Severe gales are also expected in Canterbury today and people should
refer to the Severe Weather Warning for more details.

Northwesterlies should also rise to gale about the Marlborough Sounds,
Wellington and Wairarapa late (Friday) afternoon or this evening.
There is a possibility that the winds will reach severe gale in some
places this evening then ease during Saturday morning.

People planning outdoor activities in these areas should keep up to
date with the latest forecasts in case this watch is upgraded to a
warning.

This Watch will be reviewed by 9pm Friday 27 November 2009
Forecast prepared by: Allister Gorman

I think its groundhog day again here in Woodville because its that  shiitty rain again  ::)

It's cold, windy and soggy here.

And we have extra teenagers (x3) so that's 6 teenagers.  I don't think we have any dry towels left, and I have a huge number of towels.  Even the sports/ tramping towels that aren't much bigger than a face cloth are damp.

Why can't they all stay when its fine, warm and windy?  Towels dry in about 10 minutes then. >:(

It's been a great day here, been out replanting white strawberries and weeding the barrel gardens, watering them and lawns. Dog rolled in sumpin dead and got bathed in cold water, dripped dry.


Current data for Taieri Mouth Beach Holiday Camp
Saturday, 28 November 2009 9:46:46 p.m.

Temperature (°C):
Max today    17.3
Current          11.1
Trend (per hour) -1.3


Wind (km/h):
Current Gust     6.1 SW
Average Speed    6.1 SW

Rainfall (mm):
Current rate     0.0
Last hour        0.0
Total today      0.0
Total yesterday  2.1
Total this month 68.1


Pressure (hPa):
Current          1004.9
Trend (per hour) +0.6

A pea souper out there over the paddocks at the moment come in off the sea.

Clear here, TGFT
if you are coastal, have you ever noticed that metservice cant tell the difference between fog and rain?

Yes... odd that.   This is definitely fog and it looks glorious right this minute as the sky above is now clear blue and the sun through the fog  is a picture.  It will burn off quick now.

Currently 28c in Napier.

It might warm up later!

Fine, smattering of white cloud, fairly windy.  At least it is no longer raining, misty or foggy.

The weather has been a bit of a mixture at my place lately.

Some nice days and some not so nice days.

However, I'm off to bed shortly (real early start tomorrow morning).

When I wake up in the morning (during the wee hours), it will be SUMMERTIME!!  8)  ;D


(I might have to get my shit together tomorrow or sometime this week and upload some weather photographs covering the period from the end of October until the end of November, then post them into this thread)

So how is the first day of summer shaping up at your place?


It's a bit wet at my place. Definitely not summer-like weather at all!  :(

Well about an hour ago someone was trying to steal the sand dunes

It has been hot and muggy all day and fine all afternoon.

Here's some weather photographs from the end of October that I never got around to posting.

All were taken in either Wairarapa or on the other side of the ranges at Wellington, apart from the last (sunset colours) photograph which was taken at Waimate in South Canterbury on the last day of October.

Hold your cursor over each photograph in turn to reveal more details.

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04350-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04357-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04361-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04366-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04369-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04370-LVL1L-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04379-LVLL-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04381-LVLL-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04386-700px.jpg)

I'll post some weather photographs from throughout November later.

It was beautiful spring weather at the bottom of the North Island on Friday 6th November....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04392-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04393-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04394-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04397-700px.jpg)

Eleven days later and it was another beautiful day as thousands of motorcycles were parked up on the walkway into Wellington Stadium while the owners marched off to Parliament grounds and chanted, “bullshit ... bullshit ... bullshit ... bullshit ...” at ACC Minister Nick Smith.

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04471-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04472-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04474-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04475-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04476-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04477-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04478-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04479-700px.jpg)

Wellington weather on Sunday night and Monday morning just over a week ago, as viewed from above Featherston Street....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04486-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04489-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04496-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04503-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04505-700px.jpg)

Wairarapa weather on Wednesday last week....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04507-CR-700px.jpg)

---

Wellington and Wairarapa weather on Thursday last week....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04514-LVLL-CR-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04515-700px.jpg)

---

The weather last Sunday morning in the Mangaroa Valley near Upper Hutt....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04516-700px.jpg)

---

The final sunrise of Spring early on Monday morning....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04517-700px.jpg)

The first day of summer was fairly crappy at the bottom of the North Island. You couldn't even see Matiu-Somes Island through the murk across Wellington Harbour this morning. Wairarapa was grey and wet, although at least it wasn't cold. Late afternoon, the weather started to clear and by sunset there was plenty of blue sky, but with clouds all around on the horizon.

---

Wairarapa weather this morning at the Waiohine River, then in my street just before 2:00pm this afternoon....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04522-LVL2L-700px.jpg)

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo227/Kiwithrottlejockey/Scenic%20and%20Weather%20Pix%2001/DSCH3-04524-700px.jpg)

Well I am still waiting for the thunder which was promised for Tuesday

A tad damp right now...

Watching for tornadoes!


 ;D

The hills are falling down....  SH18 is blocked and SH1 is blocked (but should be for too long) ....  and the sky's are getting darker.

Oh YAY to real weather!

Now - where's all the thunder and lighting?!

 ;D

grumble grumble grumble f***ing rain grumble grumble f***ing humidity grumble f***ing headache.

SH1 north of Jafaland is open again.
 ;)

Current data for Taieri Mouth Beach Holiday Camp
Saturday, 5 December 2009 8:51:59 a.m.

Temperature (°C):
Current          16.1
Trend (per hour) +3.5
Average today    7.5
Wind chill       16.1
Heat index       16.1
Dew Point        10.0
Rel Humidity     68%

Wind (km/h):
Current Gust     7.2 SSE
Average Speed    7.2 SSE

Rainfall (mm):
Current rate     0.0
Last hour        0.0
Total today      0.0
Total yesterday  0.0
Total this month 0.3

Watering the lawns again, no rain today 'cos there's dew on the grass Things are getting desperately dry down here,

Coromandel cut off by floods

Some parts of the Coromandel Peninsula are still cut off by flooding following torrential downpours over parts of the North Island.

Hahei and the Hot Water Beach area were cut off by flooding on Hot Water Beach Rd 200m from State Highway 25.

Roading crews were trying to reopen the road but there was not time frame for reopening.

Some areas of State Highway 25a, by Hikuai and Duck Creek, were presently unpassable due to flooding, police said.

Tairua was accessible from the north but not from the south.

Onemana state 25 by Opoutere is blocked due to flooding.

Fire Service northern communications centre shift manager Jaron Phillips said the flooding also required one family in Waikawau, northwest of Thames, to abandon their house in waist-deep water. They drove to higher ground to wait for the water to recede.

Several residents of the town of Kuaotunu were also trapped by rising floodwaters. Mr Phillips said firefighters went door to door to ensure residents were OK.

Meanwhile, Mr Phillips said the Fire Service responded to several weather-related incidents in the Auckland region between 9pm and 4am,

Four homes were flooded in Stanmore Bay on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, north of metropolitan Auckland, forcing the occupants to evacuate. The basement of another home was flooded and pumped out by firefighters. A garage was also flooded in Torbay on the North Shore.

In Auckland City, a woman became trapped in her car by rising floodwaters underneath a motorway overpass in Ellerslie.

Mr Phillips said the woman was rescued by firefighters and her vehicle towed to safety.

Another driver was trapped by flood water in Remuera, while homes were flooded in Remuera, Orakei, Ellerslie and Mt Wellington. Commercial premises were flooded in St Johns and Penrose. Three properties in Mission Bay were impacted by an overflowing stream.

Residents in one Meadowbank house also had the unfortunate experience of having their home flooded by raw sewage "erupting" back through their toilet cistern, Mr Phillips said.

Five St Heliers homes were flooded by rain or raw sewage, while residents in another St Heliers home watched water rising through their floorboards.

Further east, the entire street of Vida Place in Howick was flooded, while homes and garages were flooded in nearby O' Halloran Rd and Juliet Ave.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3129851/Coromandel-cut-off-by-floods

Overcast but fine at my place.

The sun was shining at Upper Hutt this morning when I headed over to Wellington and back, but it was overcast in Wellington.

The temperature hasn't exactly been too shit-hot the past couple of days.

So much for the start of summer, eh?  (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/12emdgust.gif)

Welcome to the redesigned metsrvice.com
 http://metservice.com/national/


I think I like it

It's beautiful here if you can ignore the wind.

Daughter decided she wanted to go kayaking.  Fine load up the kayak and gears and head up into the gorge because it's more sheltered.  But the Waimak is running bank to bank up there - there must have been some serious rain up in those hills.

So off to Kaiapoi and the Cam.  Not as sheltered, but less prone to flood and mayhem.

What a scream.  She had me crying I was laughing so hard.  You could see the wind gusts coming and she was like a flamin' alarm siren as it got closer and closer.  She stayed dry though.  Unlike that son of mine who insisted that he could do it better and promptly rolled when the first gust hit him which had me in total stitches with tears streaming down my face.   Poor bugger but it was so damned funny.

Magoo - you will be seeing a lot of us out your way while she trains for the Kaiapoi Classic in Nov.  Look for the silver double cab with the 'pink panther' kayak on top.   ;D

It was a nice sunny day in Hokitika when I arrived there late this morning.

South of there, the weather forecast wasn't good. I was supposed to fly down to Haast this after noon, but the weather wasn't looking the best, so I went for a ride in two of the old de Havilland aeroplanes around the Hokitika area (got lots of awesome photos), then drove the rental car I had hired down to Haast (I had originally arranged for someone else to drive it to Haast for me). I made it in three hours exactly from Hokitika to Haast in pouring rain, including stopping at Franz Josef to grab a lotto ticket. So now I know exactly how quickly I can get over that road if I'm in a hurry.

However, to my surprise, the vintage aeroplanes made it through to Haast about half-an-hour ago. It would have been an interesting trip. Off up the Waiatoto River in a jetboat early tomorrow morning (following tonight's piss-up) to sort the hangover out.

That sounds like a fun day!
And it strongly reminds me that I'm still stuck in JafaVil...

 :'(


Oh well... my turn soon enough!
 ;D

TJ,
if you got to the wee lake at the head of the Waiatoto,  I hope you got to take a look at the scar where the bit of Mt Aspiring fell into the lake and sent a 200ft wave up the walls on the other side, and down the river, maybe 1978 or '79. I was flown over it the day after it happened. At the end of the whitebait season.  

That was our last season of whitebaiting, the season that set us up for the next seven years as self employed gypsies.

**glares at Mr DT for not letting me grab that camera yesterday meaning I had to use my phone to get this shot........which does NOT do the formation justice.**

(http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/6707/cloudsf.jpg)

??  http://surfermag.com/photos/flash/maui_expedition/

I know lol - that's what was so impressive about the formation, but my poor wee phone just doesn't have the gadgetry to capture the essence of what I was seeing.

That was a truely magnificent cloud bank over the roof of my neighours house.

Thirty-two in DunedinNewstalk ZB
December 25, 2009, 4:37 pm

The official Christmas Day hot spot has been in the south.

WeatherWatch's Philip Duncan says the national high has been recorded in Dunedin, with 32 degrees this afternoon.

He says unofficially it hit 32 in parts of the Waikato.
Also warm today, Timaru and Alexandra, with 28 degrees.

Auckland got to 25.

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/6622293/thirty-two-in-dunedin/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"only" 27c here, from about 10am.  24.5c now - lucky a good part of the day has been cloudy

On Sunday I was out checking the watering needs of the gardens and found the goldfish pond almost empty from evapoartion and also discovered the herb garden dry as a bone.  It happened in 2 days .. the lawns have browned off, plants are wilting.  I head down to the water tanks and find that the dear grandson has not put the hoses into the tanks as they should be meaning the water in the 2 smaller tanks for the gardens has all but drained out!!

So the rain, nah call it drizzle, we have had since yesterday morning has been a blessing, I was starting to think Id loose everything.  Im hoping the heavy rain they have forecast happens.  :(

No wonder it felt so bloody cold last night.

There's snow all over the tops of the Tararua Ranges on the Wairarapa side today. We got our (usual) December snowfall on the penultimate night of the year!

However, in spite of the backdrop of snow-covered ranges, it's a beautiful warm, sunny, but partly cloudy day in Wairarapa. It's not too foul on the Wellington side of the ranges either.

A beautiful, sunny, warm day (although with that bloody wind) yesterday on both sides of the ranges at the bottom of the North Island.

Today in Wairarapa, it's overcast and not so warm, although not cold.

Mighty hailstorm for Invercargill about 2pm, it's associated front arrived here with a good loud thunderstorm and heavy heavy heavy rain about 5pm, just after a neighbour had helped me unblock a kitchen drain... couldn't have timed that job better.

the busiest season is over, TGFT, and only two sets of tenters to get a big thrill with the rain, so lucky not to get the hail that Ingill had!

It has been a nice, fine, partly-cloudy but mostly-sunny day until about fifteen minutes ago.

Then the sky darkened and it pissed down accompanied by hail.

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/pouringwithrain.gif)

The rain was so intense that all the gutters overflowed and there was water all over the footpath and road outside my place.

After about ten minutes, it stopped as quickly as it began. Now the sun is trying to shine through holes in the clouds again.

The temperature also went from warm to cold and back to warm again over the past fifteen minutes.

It's coming ....

I can hear it rumbling in the distance;

It's gradually getting louder ....

The air feels electrified and the first spots are falling on the concrete outside my kitchen window!


It's going to be “all-on” shortly....

            (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/donderwolk.gif)

Your zap catcher catching any zaps yet?

Its perfecto down here (http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/05emsmilep.gif)

It's almost overhead now.

The last couple of blasts have shaken the house.

Yet there's still only a few spots of rain.

beautiful sunny auckland..........hot girls and cold beer..........blue skies and short skirts........i love it ;D

All ive got is thunder and rain a few blonds that go baaaa and lots of old cows  ::)

40 degrees here with no air con.
Cooking BBQ for Australia day and salad(not cooking that).

Hopefully in the next couple of weeks will have a air con. 
ery very very very very very hot

The lightning and thunder has gone.


But the rain has set in....:(

I am very sorry I lied, it is 42

42 Thats much too hot for me .

the rain is here but so far no lightning or thunder as promised.

A lovely, warm summer day at my place today.

I worked an early shift and it was a lovely day on the other side of the ranges too.

Apart from the sea fog at Wellington. The Hutt Valley was beautiful this morning, then I departed Petone and ran into the fog. However, it was starting to lift by the time I was heading out of Wellington back to Wairarapa.

---

Fog blankets Wellington — again

The Dominion Post | 8:25AM - Wednesday, 27 January 2010

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix%202010/3265259s-27Jan10.jpg)

LAYERED LOOK: A Picton ferry emerges from sea fog on Wellington Harbour after fog rolled in yesterday afternoon,
blanketing the eastern suburbs through to Eastbourne. — PHIL REID/The Dominion Post.

Heavy fog smothered Wellington this morning in what seems to have become a recurring feature of the capital's summer.

Fog also rolled over parts of the city yesterday afternoon, blanketing the eastern suburbs through to Eastbourne.

The phenomenon occurred when a warm, moist northeasterly air flow blew down the Wairarapa coast and met cooler sea surface temperatures out in Cook Strait.

MetService forecaster Matthew Ford said the weather mixture resulted in water vapour condensation and fog.

"The northerly also hooked around the bottom of the North Island and converted into a slight southerly. Hence we had fog making its way into the harbour and other parts of the city."

A spokeswoman for Wellington Airport said the fog did not disrupt flights yesterday.

Isolated patches of fog remained in the harbour last night.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3264587/Fog-blankets-Wellington-again (http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3264587/Fog-blankets-Wellington-again)

Sea fog ‘soup’ rolls into Wellington

The Dominion Post | 8:22AM - Thursday, 28 January 2010

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/News%20Story%20Pix%202010/3269806s-28Jan10.jpg)

SOUPED-UP: Rowers on Wellington Harbour during yesterday's foggy period. — KENT BLECHYNDEN/The Dominion Post.

Sea fog poured into Wellington Harbour again and flooded up Ngauranga Gorge, leaving morning motorists to navigate through the "soup".

Though sea fog rolls into Wellington only about six times a year, the phenomenon appeared around the eastern suburbs on Tuesday afternoon and again yesterday morning. The fog is caused by warm, moist air blowing down the Wairarapa coast and mixing with much colder temperatures in Cook Strait. A southerly wind then blows it back toward Wellington.

MetService forecaster Paul Ngamanu was driving to work down Ngauranga Gorge about 8.30am yesterday when his car became engulfed in the fog. "I couldn't see anything, I was in a soup." The fog rose up about 3am but was clearing by 9am.

Mr Ngamanu said more fog was expected to form out at sea today but the northerly would probably push it away from the capital.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3269115/Sea-fog-soup-rolls-into-Wellington (http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3269115/Sea-fog-soup-rolls-into-Wellington)

It was a beautiful sunny day, but the afternoon thunderstorm has suddenly arrived.

Outside, it was bright and sunny, then it got real dark over a period of about two minutes, then the rain hit, followed a minute later by the lightning and thunder. It's ALL-ON now!

It's still bloody warm though.

              (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/donderwolk.gif)

Here comes the hail as well....:P

Woo...hoo......what an AWESOME storm! (https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/afro.gif)

Far Out!

Less than five minutes of EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN and the gutters outside are overflowing already and the entire road is under water.

Yee Ha.....I luuuuurve a real good storm!!  8)

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Rimutakas - it's sunny and hot in the Hutt. It's 29.7oC in the house even with all of the doors and windows open.

It's a sunny day again here too!


But I can hear the rumblings of another approaching thunderstorm way, way off in the distance....(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww32/XtraNewsCommunity2/MSN%20emoticons/05emsmilep.gif)

It's not coming from here!

Hosing down!

We had a tropical shower here today with raindrops the size of saucers but it only lasted about 3 minutes.  The 3 minutes I was walking across the carpark and got soaked through.   Being semi tropics here my clothes were dry by the time I got home.   ;)

I hope its fine in Wellington as my grandson drove down there from Ak yesterday to go to AC/DC.
His car broke down on the Desert Road during the electrical storm.  Just as well he's with AA !   My daughter was in a bit of a panic but they made it to Wellington ok. 

We heard thunder in the distance but only got the odd spit.

It all passed over south of us.

Yes it did, and it landed on me  ;D

It has been a fabulous day in Wellington - blue skies and lots of sunshine.

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Cartoons%202010/2823LightningStrikes30Jan10.jpg)

No thunderstorms here yesterday or today.

I was hoping it would piss down with rain today (on the Wellington side of the ranges).

Nothing like a bit of heavy rain to dampen down the drunks at the Trentham Racecourse and moderate their behaviour on the trains going home.

Unfortunately, I hear it's a sunny day and I've got to drive a train over there in a couple of hours or so and pick up a few hundred of them and transport them to Waterloo, Petone and Wellington. I hope their behaviour isn't the same as last year, when drunken brawls broke out on just about every train from Trentham. A bit of rain WOULD have been nice.

Happiness is DEFINITELY NOT a locomotive cab that has about the same inside temperature as an oven cooking a roast, because your workmate who was last in that cab late this morning closed all the windows up and left the cab shut up like a bank vault on a stinking hot day!!

GRRRRRRRR!!!  (https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/tickedoff.gif)

Yet more low cloud today in Wairarapa.

It has been like it for four days on the eastern side North Island's dividing ranges.

I was talking to a mate from Gisborne on the phone last night and he reckon's it's just as bad up there.

I was hoping today would be fine and sunny, seeing as I've finally got a day off from work after doing the maximum number of shifts allowed in a row.

But no change....the weather is the same as yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that.

We've had a quarter of our annual rainfall in Wairarapa during January, according to a report in the Wairarapa Times-Age the other day.

Maybe next summer will be better?  :-\

Its cloudy, but thats gonna burn off.  We got the boat ready, off across the other side for a couple of hours this morning, check out Ocean Beach see whats been left on the beach by last winters storms  ;D

We had 36 yesterday, no wind.  Humid as.  Ive got the house sussed for a breeze, open one side, shut the other.  The curtains are drawn about 3pm to keep the heat out  >:(

It is 10pm and 21 degrees.....that doesn't sound too bad does it.

However the dew point is 20 degrees and the humidity is 94%.



This is not one of Auckland's good points >:(

Cyclone prolongs hot humid nights
By Michael Dickison 8:43 AM Wednesday Feb 17, 2010 

Muggy nights of up to 100 per cent humidity have swamped the north of the country since the weekend and look set to continue for a couple more days - or longer, if Cyclone Rene tracks back towards New Zealand.

Metservice forecaster Andy Downs said the particularly humid spell had begun in the north of the North Island at the weekend.

Auckland is experiencing 98 per cent humidity, Northland's Kerikeri 100 per cent, Hamilton 97 per cent, Tauranga 98 per cent and Gisborne 99 per cent.

Their temperature highs are between 25 degrees Celsius and 27C.

"With temperatures over 20 degrees and 100 per cent humidity overnight - it's not an exception for the end of summer but it's way up there," Mr Downs said.

A humidity of 100 per cent means the air is completely saturated and sweat cannot evaporate from skin.

Mr Downs said Cyclone Rene was looking like it would veer off to the east and miss New Zealand, bringing cooler, dryer air on Friday.

But the cyclone, which was downgraded to a category one cyclone overnight and could lose its tropical cyclone status today, could still affect the northeast, including Gisborne, prolonging the muggy weather, he said.

WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan said humid days and nights would continue all week as a low resulting from Cyclone Rene would come very close to Northland.

"It's going to be hot, sticky and damp for the next few days as Rene passes by - especially in Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty."

Humidity levels would peak tomorrow in most northern regions at between 80 and 100 per cent humidity, Mr Duncan said.

Cyclone Rene is also expected to generate a small perk for surfers - swells of up to 2 metres along the east coast between the Bay of Plenty and the Far North for the next few days.

The main cause of the muggy weather was rising sea temperatures at the end of summer and early autumn, which evaporated more water into the air, Mr Downs said.

The lower North Island and South Island are not expected to be affected
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10626700 (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10626700)

Arrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhh!!!!!

24°C Feels Like 26°C


Partly Cloudy
 
Wind
From North North East at 16 kmph

Humidity   83%

Pressure  1,014.9 mb

Dew Point  21°C

Visibility  10 km
Last Updated: 11:00 17 Feb (local time), 22:00 GMT
Observation Station: Auckland http://uk.weather.com/weather/today-North-Shore-City-NZXX0028 (http://uk.weather.com/weather/today-North-Shore-City-NZXX0028)

It's warm at my place.

In fact, it's very, very warm! (http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/HotandSweating.gif)

Both yesterday and today have been a beautiful end to a disappointing summer.

Very warm in Wairarapa with clear blue skies, no clouds and lots of sunshine.

Ditto in Wellington.

Currently 30°C inside my place, with all the windows open and fans going in every room.

It is absolutely pissing down at my place (it started about fifteen minutes ago).

I'm talking total cloudburst intensity of rain!

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/pouringwithrain.gif)

{WATCH Event 2010/1.69}
SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR CLUTHA AND DUNEDIN REGIONS
ISSUED BY METSERVICE AT 1316hrs 12-Mar-2010

SOUTHWEST GALES EXPECTED AT THE WEEKEND

A strong southwesterly airstream over southern New Zealand will
probably bring a spell of gales to parts of the Clutha and Dunedin
regions over the weekend. Wind gusts could reach 100km/hr and
possibly more at times from mid morning on Saturday until Sunday
night, especially near coastal hills and headlands.

There is the potential for damage to trees, powerlines and insecure
roofs and driving conditions could be hazardous for high sided
vehicles and motorcyclists. People are advised to keep up to date
with weather forecasts and forecasters will maintain a watch in case
a wind warning is necessary.

This Watch will be reviewed by 9pm Friday 12th March
Forecast prepared by: Ian Miller

For further information after 1pm Friday contact Duty Forecaster
Heath Gullery

now that the weather warnings for "a spell of gales to parts of the Clutha and Dunedin regions over the weekend." was lifted this morning after two issues daily for the last 3 days  the wind has subsided at last I gotta go pick up our cabbage tree leaves from about 70m away and pinetree bits from across the road, pump up the moa's flattie and attack the lawns.

Shhheeesh. If that was the beginning of our equinoxial gales I am not wanting another one.

 

Oh sheesh Nitz... you want me to come visit and bring the lawn sweeper?       Those cabbage tree leaves are the bane of my life. 

Wintry blast on the way

By PAUL GORMAN - The Press | 11:16AM - Tuesday, 16 March 2010

(http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Weather%20Gifs/FreezingWind.gif)

A vigorous cold front is preparing to burst its way up the South Island this afternoon, bringing plunging temperatures, squally winds and even hail and thunder in some places.

The front will be similar to the one that brought massive wind gusts and hail to the Marlborough coast and Wellington last Friday, but forecasters believe it will peak further south this time, over coastal mid- and South Canterbury an hour or so either side of 6pm.

On current thinking the cold change should reach Christchurch between 7pm and 8pm, with predicted thunderstorms, temperatures falling to single figures and southerly winds gusting as high as 110km/h.

The Press online wants to hear from you when the cold front passes your place and about what weather it brings.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said it would be a "humdinger" of a change. Thunderstorms were highly likely along the cold front between about Oamaru and Cheviot, with a risk of rainfall rates of up to 20mm an hour, hail between 5mm and 15mm in diameters and gusts to 110km/h.

"This one's going to peak around 4 to 6pm over north Otago and south and central Canterbury, that's the current timing."

"With a good nor'west ahead of it, temperatures should rise in Christchurch to 24 degrees Celsius this afternoon, ease to around 20°C after sunset then drop to single digits with the southerly change."

The nor'wester should arrive in Canterbury in the early afternoon.

While the front was highly active, it was fortunately arriving at a generally quieter time of year around the autumn equinox, he said.

"The other [spring] equinox is when you get the strongest temperature gradients between land and sea which cause the most violent changes."

At 10.30am the front was moving across Stewart Island heading for the Southland coast.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3457350/Wintry-blast-on-the-way (http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3457350/Wintry-blast-on-the-way)

 It just arrived here, temp went from 19.5 to 15.5 in a few minutes.. If I hadn't taken time off for lunch I'd have finished the lawn, but at least it's ready for the next cabbagetree moult

I hope the weather is fine in Christchurch over the weekend.

I'm flying down there at lunchtime on Saturday, then flying out again late Sunday afternoon.

The following weekend I'll be in JAFAville (shudder).

The weekend after that I'll be at Queenstown and Wanaka.

but wait - oh NO!

A westerly flow is expected to strengthen over the far south of the
South Island tonight (Thursday). The westerlies are likely to rise to
gale force in parts of Southland and south Otago overnight Thursday
and Friday morning. It is possible that these winds could gust to
severe gale for a time in exposed places of southeast Southland and
the Clutha District, so a watch for strong winds will be maintained
for these areas.

{SWW Event 2010/22.2}
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST IN:
CANTERBURY OTAGO BULLER NELSON MARLBOROUGH


SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.
ISSUED BY MetService AT 16:44 pm 27-May-2010
MEDIA
HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED TO ABOUT 400 METRES FOR PARTS OF BULLER, NELSON
AND MARLBOROUGH TONIGHT AND OVERNIGHT.
HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED TO ABOUT 400 METRES FOR PARTS OF CANTERBURY AND
NORTH OTAGO OVERNIGHT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MORNING.

Snow is now falling to about 300 metres in places over the upper
South Island.
Heavy snow is now forecast for some inland parts of Buller, Nelson
and Marlborough this evening and overnight tonight.  10 to 15cm is
possible down to near 400 metres, with lesser amounts to 300 metres.

Snow showers are expected to around 300 metres over eastern parts of
the South Island today in a strong cold southerly flow.  Heavy snow
is now forecast for inland parts of Canterbury and North Otago
overnight Thursday and Friday morning as another area of low pressure
passes to the east.  The largest snow accumulations of 20 to 40cm are
expected above 600 metres in these areas,with 10 to 20cm possible
down to near 400 metres, and lesser amounts to 300 metres.

Southerly gales and steady rain are also expected about coastal parts
of Canterbury and North Otago during this time, with the heaviest
snowfalls on the coastal hills, such as Banks Peninsula and the Port
Hills, likely to be above 500 metres.

Many high level roads are likely to be affected by snow, especially
the Main Alpine Passes, such as Porter Pass, and motorists are
advised to check road conditions before travelling.  Also likely to
be affected tonight are many inland roads of Buller, Nelson and
Marlborough.  The combination of cold temperatures,snow and strong
winds are likely to produce sub zero wind chills in exposed places.
These conditions are likely to be stressful for stock and farmers may
wish to move them to sheltered locations.

The snow level is forecast to rise above 600 metres in Otago and
Canterbury during Friday, with further heavy snow becoming confined
to higher elevations than covered by our warning criteria.  Further
rain is expected for parts of North Otago and Canterbury during the
remainder of Friday and also on Saturday and there is a possibility
of significant rainfall amounts, hence a watch for heavy rain will be
maintained for these areas.

FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO
http://metservice.com

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS
FOLLOWS:

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
From my patio an hour or so back.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/Ash01/snow10.jpg)

I can do it it one Yak.   Cold.  So far so good at our place.   

My weather station lost sensor contact at about 9 pm when I encouraged a tap to run then filled the lecky jug so I'd be able to have a cuppa in the morning.

the old indoor outdoor sensor poked through a window says -4.5      my ranchslider is stuck shut

I have a dinky wee LV electric pad for warming/propogating seedlings.

I wish someone would invent heated keyboards

You could make a tent under the blankets and set up your lappy Nitz.    Geez 4.5 is a bit rough and I suppose you won't be going anywhere till the door opens.   Poor animals.  Not sure what it was here.

My animals don't seem to mind, now that it's daylight.

I didn't expect the heatpump to work, should have turned it on earlier. It is helping the indoor temp anyway.  Perhaps I should leave the doors open to warm up the outside? 
 

(I belted the frame of the ranchsliderwith the heel of a shoe, got out and went to check the pumpshed.  Nearly lost my footing on a slope, so gave up and checked facilities taps. Frozen.)

But it gets worse,

sky cloudy,

no wind,

looks like rain.

I noted the forecast for your neck of the woods wasn't too flash today.   Maybe you need a big of sacking or summat to wrap around the outside taps.   The sun is out here and a reasonable forecast but still too much frost out there for my liking.     I shall use one of my Gold coast photos for a desktop wallpaper today.. ;D

Today looks great through the CCTV.  Bright sun, dear wee fluffy cloudlets, gentle breeze occassionally disturbiing the trees.


temp 5.8c. 

crap

A bit of watery sun out there just now but colder than a frogs d....  ::) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i83/VinegarBits/Smilies/Frogrollyeyes.gif)

The sun is shining at my place at the moment (lots of blue sky visible, but also lots of clouds), but it isn't forecast to last.

We've already had one front go over (it pissed down and the temperature dropped dramatically), but it's forecast to deteriorate during the afternoon, with snow down to 400 metres at the bottom of the North Island, possibly closing SH2 between Featherston and Upper Hutt (the Rimutaka Hill Road). And although it's sunny at the moment, it definitely isn't warm. There is a distinct chill in the air.

I've got to go to work later....I guess I'll get to see all the shitty weather close-up while driving a train over to Wellington and back this evening. And if it's high tide, then the journey from Petone to Ngauranga will be spectacular with waves crashing over the tracks.

The forecast is for it to clear up here tomorrow, then turn to crap again on Tuesday.

Well....the CRAP has hit in the last twenty minutes or so.

Rain, hail & sleet....and I reckon the temperature has dropped down close to zero outside (I've just been out down the road).

Brrrrrr....I reckon it is probably snowing in the hills to the east as well as in the ranges and hills to the west.

The countryside around here might be pretty tomorrow when it clears up (well, it's forecasted to clear by tomorrow).



I'm going to wear a “700 loft” hooded down jacket to work. The outer fabric layer is wiindproof and waterproof, so I don't need to worry about getting the down wet. You can never dress too warmly when the weather is like this!

The sun is out here.....

hail woke me at some unearthly hour this morning, I am surprised it isn't still lying around. 

Crunchy grass, everything coated in frost, overcast, minus 3 and supposed to go into decline as the day progresses with snow to low levels and gale force southerlies. 

Is it just me or is global warming cold Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Errrrrrrr.....haven't you noticed it is now WINTER?  (https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/crazy2.gif)

 ::)
(http://www.ssqq.com/stories/images/mud%20volleyball%202002%20wind%20god.jpg)
(http://www.ssqq.com/stories/images/mud%20volleyball%202002%20sungod.jpg)

and it's time this group got it's nice warm winter skin, like we had last winter. Even my eyes get cold with this blue grey one (https://cdn.smfboards.com/Smileys/smf/coolsmiley.gif)