The final onslaught of an icy week

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Wed 25/08/2004 22:02

Looks like this prolonged spell of icy southerlies will die out during the weekend. But later tomorow and on Friday, it appears that the bitterly cold winds and wintry showers will strengthen for a time again behind another cold front. I can't see freezing levels rising at all before the weekend (and GASP has a small blob of 524 thickness over Canterbury on Friday), so could be more snow to low levels in the east coast of the South Island, though probably, (unless GASP proves correct) nothing as intense as what Dunedin got on Monday and Tuesday. I'll be heading over to Banks Peninsula later on Friday, and I expect the thick coating to still be there, and extra white stuff will quite probably be falling, though hopefully the highway stays open like it has been, even through recent snowstorms.

Manukau heads obs · Thu 26/08/2004 07:41

sure is cold for this time of year
it was only 3.8oC here this morning with a 15 knot SE wind
brrrr! (for the near winterless north!)

Andy · Unread post by **Andy** » Thu 26/08/2004 07:48

Beaut late winters frost here

-7.8 degrees

brrrr

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Thu 26/08/2004 17:13

Weather patterns still are in mid winter mode here still without the frequent NW-W-SW changes that should soon start ocurring

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Thu 26/08/2004 17:47

We've had a gradual buildup of high cloud through the day in Chch, but with sunshine this morning, it's certainly a break in the weather. Raining lightly since about an hour ago. I thought there might've been a warm front crossing Canterbury withing the last hour or so (nature of cloud thickening and onset of light rain suggested it), but the temperature has dropped from about 7C - 5C on my thermometer.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Thu 26/08/2004 19:36

Looks that that trough may be intensifing over Canterbury. Another snowfall on the way for Banks Peninsula.

I suspect this August might end up being the coldest for a long time, for many parts of the country.

Manukau heads obs · Thu 26/08/2004 19:42

latest rain radar shows lots or precipation has just gone through the CHCH area

yes, average temperature so far for august here is 1.8oC or so colder than normal
coldest august for 12 years I would say

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Thu 26/08/2004 20:09

Yes, looks interesting for tomorrow. Brian, I had some good rain earlier but can't remember the time exactly. Stopped now but some other falls look likely at certain points through the night.

After this next high comes in and goes the weather following could be interesting. Lots of rain in the West methinks with thunderstorms allways looking good in that type of situation (in the west). Hopefully we get some fine whether before this next Tasman low moves in. I'd like some storms as always when the interesting stuff is close.

The West Coast of the NI looks good for rain to. Thunderstorms I guess have just as much chance. Looking foward to the SW!!!

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Fri 27/08/2004 06:00

Doesnt look over yet with the disturbed southerly flow over the country and 2 celled high north-south in the tasman yet.We had rain too I guess most folks wouldve recieved rain /sleet on the east coast

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Fri 27/08/2004 07:26

Very cold atmosphere over NZ, coldest over central NZ. Thicknesses have persisted around the 5300 mark over central and northern NZ all week.
I don't recall such a persistently cold atmosphere in the north.

Spring sunshine might trigger a couple of hail/thunderstorms over the North Island today.

Alot of shower cloud out to the SE of the South Island moving in. Should be alot of snow over coastal high ground in the east today, particularly Banks Peninsula north.

Manukau heads obs · Fri 27/08/2004 07:35

there was some heavy rain here overnight....
and i can see some old CB's around this morning
very cold, only 6.5oC during that rain....for nearly spring this is unheard of for up this way!

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Fri 27/08/2004 09:11

Auckland feels like Hawaii for me this week after two weeks in Queenstown with the snow and frost.

Shower cloud moving on to the South Island this morning dose not look very active but there is a lot of it. You dont need strong shower cloud though to produce good snow fall.

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Fri 27/08/2004 10:11

Rain has just set in now in Chch. (lighter falls for about the last 3/4 hour)About 4C with a strong, gusty southerly. The change from the 6AM to the 9AM radars shows that the preciptitation is moving in from the south/southeast rather than the southwest that is more usual in southerly fronts.

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Fri 27/08/2004 10:24

Yes Ben. I've also noted the rain coming in although it does seem to of lifted a little. Won't be long before it rains again, or snows?

Hopefully it starts snowing soon as I'm going to the What Now studio soon and I'll get less wet if I'm in snow rather than rain. But, no rain is good to. After I'm done, let the rain and snow come in droves!

Also, slightly off topic. But you know that flood in Kaikora in 1995 (I think), how was that caused exactly? Was it that the sea level was high or something? Becasue Kaikora doesn't seem to be in any type of basin to allow water to fill up in it. Was it more that water was coming off the hills in torrential torrents from the heavy rain they had?

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Fri 27/08/2004 10:41

Yes Ben. I've also noted the rain coming in although it does seem to of lifted a little. Won't be long before it rains again, or snows?

Yes the rain ceased not long after my last post. It's often hard to tell when you're in a major shower if it's the start of prolonged rain, if you can't see any easing in the direction it came from. Dark cloud is building up to the south and it's starting to hail a bit.

Manukau heads obs · Fri 27/08/2004 10:55

what now
do you have something to do with that aron?

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Fri 27/08/2004 11:27

Hi Brian

Ah, makes me sound all special

. No I'm not really

. I've got an electric scooter and electric bike of mine appearing on the show this Sunday. I'm not sure if they're using them as props or they're actually riding them. The presenter people have rehersals on Friday (today) so I'm going down to take some photos of them on the scooters etc. I'll post a small pic up once I get back.

Yes that dark cloud to the south has hit Ben and we've got snow / rain at the moment. Sleet I guess. It should turn to full on snow if it keeps up, I hope!!

I'm off!

Manukau heads obs · Fri 27/08/2004 11:32

and i thought we had a real star in our midst!!
LOL

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Fri 27/08/2004 11:45

Yes that dark cloud to the south has hit Ben and we've got snow / rain at the moment. Sleet I guess. It should turn to full on snow if it keeps up, I hope!!

Rain and sleet in central Chch as well; temp down to about 3C. Looks like the central North Island's gonna feel the icy blast tonight and tomorow, with snow to low levels about the high country.

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Fri 27/08/2004 12:16

Snow began falling heavily in central Chch about 1/2 hour ago, but not settling. Back to lighter sleet now. This is the 5th day with snow falling in Chch this month - could be a new record. Heavier snow obviously fell in August 1992, but I don't think it fell on as many days.

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Fri 27/08/2004 12:47

Just give me time Brian!!

I'll be a star soon!

That snow went back to sleet as Ben said and now it's back to rain with the odd flake. When the cloud clears at times you can see more snow on the Port Hills. Hopefully some more snow for Chch soon!

So people. Get up at 8am this Sunday morning and watch What Now on TV 2, my scooters will be the first thing on the show!

Here's the pic I just took:

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Fri 27/08/2004 13:56

Been mostly sleety showers all morning here but now small hail (graupel ?) with snow flurries as the temperature drops below 2C.

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Fri 27/08/2004 14:17

Just sleety showers in Chch, but I could see a fresh dusting of white above about 300 metres on the Port Hills a short time ago. I read in another forum that snow was falling and starting to settle at West Melton (just to the west of Chch) just before 2PM

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Fri 27/08/2004 14:50

Didn't last long here and a big break in the cloud allowed me to take a few pics of glaciated wintry Cbs.

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Fri 27/08/2004 14:56

Nice Pics there Steven G.

From my point of view I can't see the sky like that, quite impressive shots!

It's quite dark to the east but it has brightened over me. I can actually see a snow swathe on the Port Hills now though and things look like they'll get wintry again at some point with the next three hours.

Are you using a filter for that first shot? and if so what kind? Thanks.