What's the Weather like at your place?

[Alicat]

We've had a chilly few nights but what stunning sunny days have followed the frost.

I have all the doors and windows open here this morning - let some fresh air in

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Yeah, well....the first two days of winter + being in the Deep South of ENZED =



Yesterday's weather, as viewed from the top of one of the tallest structures in Invercargill (not normally accessible to the public)....









Today's weather in the Deep South....

[dragontamer]

Cold at night, hot during the day.  Windless too.   Spot of lovely weather to make up for the rubbish we've all been dealing with.

Mind, last week it rained at night but woke to a glorious day with no frost.  Leaving for work there were spots of water on my windscreen, but not too bad.  I backed out the drive way and started down the street, then turned on the wipers and promptly had a whiteout. lol  Luckily my street is very quiet so I just stopped and cranked up the heater and waited.  Gave me a bit of a fright though.  Never had that happen before.  Must be from moving 10 minutes south from where we were.  Different micro climate. hahaha

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

It's a beautiful, fine day in Invercargill, although rather chilly (I can still see heaps of snow on the Takatimu mountains).

However the sun has only just popped into view (at about 8:30am). Sunrise is obviously bloody late in the Deep South during winter.

Typical that the weather only comes right on the day I am leaving (flying out just before lunchtime).

Anyway, my head hurts....a group of us went out to a really great restaurant last night and we drunk waaaay too many bottles of wine.

[nitpicker1]

However the sun has only just popped into view (at about 8:30am). Sunrise is obviously bloody late in the Deep South during winter. and bloody early in daylight saving mode!

Typical that the weather only comes right on the day I am leaving (flying out just before lunchtime).


 
we've had the whole long weekend of perfect autumn weather, with no rain for the last 5 days and a pretty good forecast for the next four days too, so look for us as you fly over us      

http://www.weathercity.com/nz/taieri_mouth/

[nitpicker1]

Kiwis treated to warmer climes this winter


Tamara McLean, NZ Newswire

June 4, 2014, 4:05 am

..."It's important to remember that we're talking very big picture here," Mr Brandolino told NZ Newswire.

"It doesn't mean that there won't be really cold days. It's just like when you're predicting a good year on the stockmarket. You could still easily have a bad week or even a bad month," he said. ...

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/24118329/kiwis-treated-to-warmer-climes-this-winter/

in other words Mr Brandolino means "I don't know, but since you asked I'll take a stab at saying nothing." 

-3.9c here this morning, sun arrived at the pre-ordained time.

I turned the heatpump on at 6am tgft

It's going to be a beautiful day again.

[Calliope]

Very wet, very windy and we've had two short power outages in the past hour or so.

[guest49]

As quiet a night as I have known.  No wind, no rain, clear and crisp.

[nitpicker1]

As quiet a night as I have known.  No wind, no rain, clear and crisp.

you musta been in Dunedin?

BTW, atm metsevice's rain radar has No images available. They must have been wiped off the map? 

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

It's a grotty day in Wairarapa, and also across the ranges in Wellington.

It isn't cold though....just grotty.

[ssweetpea]

Lots of banging and crashing with the wind last night.

Our house excaped damage. Only a few fronds off the silver fern.

The porch outside my office in Highbury however was another story - the wind must of blown into it and lifted the roof off the side smashing the biggest pane of glass. It took me an hour to clear up most of the glass (two bucket loads) from the carpark and another half an hour for someone else to clear the frame and glass still on the porch (half a wheel barrow load).

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

NZ experiencing winter without bite

The Dominion Post | 11:18AM - Friday, 20 June 2014

NEW ZEALAND is basking in a winter without bite.

While many will relish the unusually warm start to the coldest season, it is bad news for North Island skiers with Mount Ruapehu temperatures on average 2.6 degrees Celsius higher than they would normally be at this point in June.

NIWA figures — which reach up to between June 16th and 18th — showed that Wellington was easily "well above" average, forecaster Chris Brandolino said.

A lack of southerlies was the major cause.

Kelburn had an average temperature so far in June this year of 11.8°C (2.1°C above normal).

Wellington Airport was 11.9°C on average this June (1.4°C higher than normal).

Nearly all of New Zealand was "well above" average with places that were simply "above" average  "the exception, not the rule", Brandolino said.

Under NIWA guidelines, temperatures between 0.5°C and 1.19°C above average were described as "above average", while places reaching 1.2°C-plus higher than average was "well above".

Of particular note was Palmerston North, which was 2.8°C higher than average, Napier at 1.9°C more than normal, Matamata at 2.3°C more, and Whakatane which was 2.2°C warmer than average.

Mount Ruapehu, which was measured near the Chateau at the bottom of the road to Whakapapa ski field, so far averaged 6.2°C this winter — 2.6°C more than average.

This year's warm start to winter comes after last year's warmest winter on record. Last year was the third warmest since records began more than a century ago.

Earlier this month, NIWA predicted a warm winter for the lower North Island as easterly winds and mild ocean temperatures combined.

International guidance indicated El Nino was now the most likely outcome for winter.

Brandolino said if El Nino developed as expected in late winter and early spring, the country could expect a windy, wet spring and summer in the west, with drought conditions in the east.

He today warned that while winter was expected to be warm there would still be cold snaps.

True to form for this winter, MetService is forecasting a fine day in Wellington today with a 12°C high.

Tomorrow should have rain and wind but the temperature should reach 15°C and Sunday would clear for a 13°C high.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10181911/NZ-experiencing-winter-without-bite


Our winter of content

The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Saturday, 21 June 2014

THE DAYS are already getting longer and winter is yet to bite.

Today is the shortest day of the year, and while many will relish the unusually warm start to the coldest season, it means ski fields on Ruapehu are still waiting for a big dump of snow.

The warm winter so far has been great for Matthew Affleck, 2, and brother Thomas, of Crofton Downs, who hit Oriental Bay in Wellington yesterday for icecreams, bike riding, and a play on the sand. They didn't actually swim but went in the sea to collect water, mother Bridget Affleck said. "Their trousers were pretty wet when we left."

Figures from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research showed Wellington was "well above" average for June so far, forecaster Chris Brandolino said.

A lack of southerlies was the major cause. Kelburn has had an average temperature so far this month of 11.8 degrees Celsius — 2.1°C above normal.

Wellington Airport has had an average of 11.9°C, or 1.4°C higher than normal.

Nearly all of New Zealand was "well above" average, with places that were simply "above" average being the exception, Brandolino said.

Under NIWA guidelines, temperatures between 0.5°C and 1.19°C above average were described as "above average" and 1.2°C-plus was "well above".

Of particular note in the lower North Island were Palmerston North, which was 2.8°C higher than average, and Napier at 1.9°C more than normal.

Mount Ruapehu, whose temperature is measured near the Chateau, at the bottom of the road to Whakapapa ski field, so far averaged 6.2°C this winter — 2.6°C more than average. Mount Ruapehu spokeswoman Annah Dowsett said the beginner slopes at Turoa and Whakapapa were on track to open next weekend, as it was cold enough to make snow.

There was similar warm weather last winter, then the June storms, which caused extensive damage in Wellington, blew through dumping snow on the mountain. There was already some natural snow on the fields, with more forecast. On the mountain, higher than the Niwa station, it was dropping below freezing level at night, she said.

Today is the southern hemisphere winter solstice — the year's longest night and shortest day. In Wellington, the Sun will rise at 7.47am, and set at 4.58pm.

This year's warm start to winter comes after last year's warmest winter on record. The whole of 2013 was the third warmest since records began more than a century ago.

May was unusually dry and warm, with a mean temperature of 12.4°C being 0.7°C above average, and rainfall was only 66 percent of average May levels.

Earlier this month, NIWA was predicting a warm winter for the lower North Island as easterly winds and mild ocean temperatures combined for a balmier than usual season.

International guidance indicated El Nino was now the most likely outcome for winter.

Brandolino said that, if El Nino developed as expected in late winter and early spring, the country could expect a windy, wet spring and summer in the west, with drought conditions in the east. He warned yesterday that, while winter was expected to be generally warm, there would still be cold snaps.

MetService is forecasting a rainy, windy, but warm day today, with a 15°C high.

Tomorrow would clear for a 13°C high.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington-weather/10184632/Our-winter-of-content

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Yeeha....HUGE hailstorm at my place.

And it is just hail....no rain with it.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[nitpicker1]

It's been a beautifilled winter down this way, but I see wee clouds developing into solid overcast as I write.

Cold winds though, and wee frosts - **but I haven't been at home so dunno what's happening down there.**

 

[Alicat]

We had a decent hail storm here late morning/early afternoon. I had just been out to the letterbox and back when it started. Luckily I went out and had my blood test earlier. I'm on night shift so had a lie down this afternoon - in the lounge this time with the heater on.

It's a bit nippy here now but not as bad as other places.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

It's been a beautifilled winter down this way, but I see wee clouds developing into solid overcast as I write.

Cold winds though, and wee frosts - **but I haven't been at home so dunno what's happening down there.**

 

You galavanting around again, Nits? Living the "life of Riley" now that you've got plenty of time on your hands? 

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

It was a lovely day on the volcanic plateau in the centre of the North Island today when I took these photographs in the Makatote-National Park area while enroute from Wellington to Auckland on a train....

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Brrrrrrrrrr....it looks like things are going to get rather cold at my place. Currently at Auckland Airport about to head off to the departure lounge and fly down to Wellington. The weather isn't all that good in Auckland today....it's rather chilly and is raining on and off. The wind is up somewhat too.


Snow, hail for lower North Island

The Dominion Post | 12:33PM - Monday, 21 July 2014

THE Rimutaka Hill Road is expected to get up to 18 centimetres of snow today and tomorrow and may be forced to close.

MetService has issued a road snowfall warning for the road, between Wellington and Wairarapa, as snow was expected to fall to 300 metres above sea level around Wellington later today.

Up to 10 centimetres of snow was expected on the summit of the State Highway 2 road today and tonight, with up to 8 centimetres more tomorrow morning.

NZTA spokesman Anthony Frith said crews would be monitoring the road and might close it.

If it remained open people should take extra care, Frith said.

The State Highway 1 Desert Road in the Central Plateau was also in for a dump of snow. Up to 25 centimetres was expected to fall there tonight and tomorrow morning, with some also falling after lunch today.

In Wellington today, MetService is forecasting showers with hail possible this evening.

Today's high was 8 degrees Celcius and the low was 4°C, with strong southerly winds.

Tomorrow there would be strong, cold southerlies. Tomorrow's high was expected to reach 9°C and the low was 5°C.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/10291397/Snow-hail-for-lower-North-Island

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

As expected, the weather was yuck at the bottom of the North Island, as seen here on the approach to Wellington past Kapiti Island, past the Porirua Harbour, then over Wellington Harbour past Petone Beach and Matiu-Somes Island and along Evans Bay, past the former RNZAF Shelly Bay base and Miramar Wharf to the airport....

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

from The Dominion Post....

Wild, windy weekend ahead

By DEIDRE MUSSEN and MICHAEL DALY | 10:41AM - Friday, 01 August 2014

A GRIM FORECAST of gales and heavy rain for the next few days is set to blight people's weekend plans in much of the country.

Periods of heavy rain were expected about the Southern Alps and west of the South Island until tomorrow, and should develop about Mount Taranaki today and the Tararua ranges tomorrow, MetService said in a midmorning severe weather warning.

"Meanwhile, strong to gale northwesterlies are affecting many eastern areas of the South Island, spreading north to Wellington and Wairarapa late tonight," MetService said.

Gusts could reach 130km/h in exposed areas of Southland and Otago, and 150km/h in Canterbury, where the strongest winds were likely about the Mackenzie Country and near the foothills. They were likely to spread to the plains tomorrow afternoon.

Peak gusts could also reach 130km/h in Wellington, 140km/h in Marlborough in the lee of the Kaikoura ranges, and 140km/h in Wairarapa.

Heavy rain was expected in Fiordland, Westland south of Otira, and the headwaters of the Otago and Canterbury lakes and rivers, from about Arthur's Pass south.

In Taranaki sustained heavy rain was expected from this evening through to Sunday morning.

In the 33 hours from 9pm tonight, up to 250 millimetres was expected about the mountain, with up to 400mm possible about the summit. Places near the coast north and west of the mountain could get up to 120mm.

Rain could also be heavy in the Buller Ranges, Marlborough Sounds and Wellington hills tomorrow afternoon and evening. Northwesterly gales could also be severe about Taranaki, Whanganui and Taihape.

"In the areas affected by the heavy rain, rivers could rise rapidly and there is the possibility of slips and surface flooding," MetService said.

"Wind gusts of 130kmh or stronger have the potential to damage trees and powerlines and create difficult driving conditions."

After temperatures in Christchurch yesterday nudged the city's July 2012 record of 22.4 degrees Celsius, the region is set for another fine, but blustery, day with a high of 19 degrees Celcius today and tomorrow.

Average wind speed was expected to peak at 44km/h midafternoon tomorrow before falling away quickly as wind direction switched to the southwest and the temperatures dropped.

The cool change could bring a much-needed dumping of snow to South Island skifields.

Snow could lower tomorrow to 500 metres in Fiordland and to 1,500m at Arthur's Pass. In the North Island snow could lower to 1,300m about Egmont and Tongariro National Parks on Sunday, and to 1,000m in the south.

While the north of the country gets off comparatively lightly, Auckland was expected to have fresh northerlies tomorrow, along with occasional light rain or drizzle.

Sunday also looked likely to be wet, easing to a few showers with a southwest change.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/10335151/Wild-windy-weekend-ahead

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

from The Dominion Post....

NIWA: Sweet spring expected

By DEIDRE MUSSEN | 10:50AM - Friday, 01 August 2014


SPRINGING AHEAD: Taranaki's Hudson Simons, 22 months, checks out the daffodils already
growing at the bottom of Marsland Hill in New Plymouth. — ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ.

A WARMER than usual spring is predicted for eastern New Zealand with average or above average temperatures likely for the rest of the country, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Chances of an El Niño weather pattern developing over spring was decreasing, which typically caused drier conditions in eastern areas and more rain in western areas of the country, it said in its latest seasonal climate outlook report.

“The behaviour of the atmosphere over the next month or two will be critical to whether an El Niño event initiates or not.”

El Niño events typically reached their peak during summer in New Zealand and were related to stronger or more frequent westerly winds over the country.

“It is not uncommon for El Niño events to start late in the year (after June), but those that do tend to be weaker.”

NIWA's regional predictions included:

Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty were likely to have average to warmer than average temperatures and normal to above normal rainfall.

Central North Island, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu and Wellington were likely to have average or above average temperatures and average to below average rainfall.

Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa were most likely to have warmer than normal temperatures and were likely to have normal to above normal rainfall.

Nelson, Marlborough and Buller were likely to have average to warmer than average temperatures and normal to below normal rainfall.

West Coast, Southern Alps and foothills, inland Otago, Southland, coastal Canterbury and east Otago were likely to have average to warmer than average temperatures and normal rainfall levels.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/10336928/Niwa-Sweet-spring-expected

[nitpicker1]

here it comes again:

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.
ISSUED BY MetService AT 2:52pm 02-Aug-2014
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST IN: Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington,
Wairarapa, Taihape, Westland, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Wanganui, Otago

HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES FOR MANY SOUTH ISLAND AREAS AND PARTS OF
THE CENTRAL AND LOWER NORTH ISLAND.
A front is expected to move slowly northeast over the South Island
today and the North Island on Sunday. A strong moist northwesterly
flow ahead of this front is expected to bring heavy rain and severe
gales to many areas.
Heavy rain affecting Westland and Canterbury headwaters, is easing
today. Heavy rain is also expected for the Tararua Range, Mt Taranaki
and the west of the central North Island high country including
Tongariro National Park until late Sunday morning. Meanwhile severe
northwest gales are expected to affect exposed parts of inland
Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa and Taihape. The winds
should ease today in the South Island but remain strong over the
North Island places until Sunday morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BTW
Current extremes

High 19.3°C
Hastings
 
Low 5.5°C
Alexandra
 
Wettest 2.6mm
Hokitika
 
Windiest 43km/h
Masterton

see sidebar http://metservice.com/national/home

[ssweetpea]

What happened to winter?

We haven't lit the fire in a week and it is currently 21 degrees in our living room. We are all in short sleeves.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

It's warm in Wairarapa, although blowing like forty-bastards, with plenty of passing heavy showers.

I've just driven a passenger train over to Wellington and return earlier this evening and the weather is pretty diabolical on the other side of the ranges. I must be really pissing down in the Tararuas, because the Waingawa, Waiohine and Tauherenikau rivers are all in full flood, running bank to bank and have risen to not far below the spans of the railway bridges crossing them. On the other side of the ranges, the Hutt River is carrying a big flood flow too.