Southwest flow, 14-16 Feb

[Ryan Thomas]

It'd be a dream come true in winter!

[ricky]

Some good pics of a waterspout off the Kapiti coast this afternoon on the TV3 website http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/Story/tabid/2 ... fault.aspx
I think these ones are real

[NZstorm]

A nice collection of photos on that URL. Looking at the NZPP 00Z sounding I would say that is a classic waterspout sounding. There also needs to be a surface boundary to start the spout as these are spin ups from the sea surface unlike tornadoes which spin down from a parent storm. Maybe that Wellington southerly was interacting with the NW on the Kapiti coast.

[NZstorm]

Could be the norths' turn for a waterspout today with the cold unstable air over the warm seas. Bring them on!

[Vertigo]

Valid to: 00:00 am 17 Feb 2008 NZDT
Issued at: 9:08 am 16 Feb 2008 NZDT

A pool of cold air aloft will pass over the upper North Island this afternoon as a major trough crosses the North Island.

With the coldest temperatures aloft and with several identifiable lines of wind convergence passing over Northland and Auckland this afternoon, there is a high risk of a few thunderstorms passing over fairly quickly. These are likely to give brief heavy showers, small hail and local wind gusts to 70 or 80km/hr.

Over Waikato, conditions are not quite as favourable and so the risk there is moderate.

And further south, but north of a line from north Taranaki to Taupo to the Gisborne ranges, there is a low risk of the odd thundery shower.

In the late afternoon and early evening, there is a low risk of one or two thunderstorms embedded in a rainband forecast to swipe southern Wairarapa late afternoon/ early evening.

Elsewhere, no thunderstorms or significant convection is expected.

oh baby

[NZstorm]

The towering cumulus sure are bubbling up this morning. Yes, we may just see a thunderstorm or two with hail pop up over the heated land as that deeper instability crosses this afternoon. Eastern Northland could be the most likely spot for this too happen.

[Cameo1]

Anyone have any idea when this horrible gusty wind will go away?

[Michael]

Here its only Fresh still but then again its still westerly not SW yet

Anyone have any idea when this horrible gusty wind will go away?

[Cameo1]

It seems to have eased in the last half an hour now

[David]

Weather has cleared here and warmed to 23 degrees, I fail to see any distinctive feature on the rain radar at the moment, either it will be later in the day or it won't happen? It's a pity considering the dry is returning for nearly a week after today. No lightning nearby either, sadly.

Interesting what metservice have to say in their severe weather outlook:
"During Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, an anticyclone is expected to move eastwards across New Zealand.
A depression is developing off the Queensland coast, and this is expected to become very deep as it approaches New Zealand later in the week.
Heavy rain and severe northeasterly gales could be affecting parts of New Zealand at the end of the week, but probably not until Friday at the earliest."

[NZstorm]

Ended up with not too bad a day getting upto 23C in Grey Lynn also and just one brief heavy shower.

[Michael]

It actually hasnt gone SW yet,still W and almost died out quite reasonable,the cabbage tree here hasnt been blowing to bits yet or the hedges arnt sideways continuous either

[Vertigo]

spent most of the day on one tree hill - one confirmed Cb around pukekohe area, maybe further south, another large cell which may or may not have been a Cb went up from the waitak's and quickly grew, dumping itself on most of the west and the southern north shore.
a rainband formed on what must have been the trough line, dumped some light rain with strong winds over much of the city. convective activity looks to have ceased beyong this line didnt see a single flash the entire time, so very disappointed!

[Michael]

Winds now Starting to Rise ,Stronger than the last 2 days.20° overcast as