General December Weather

[ryant1234]

Garbage weather for visiting Christchurch over xmas / new years. Wanted to go for a hike or 2 around the Port hills.

I could deal with the cold, not the rain. Hopefully forecast changes as I don't rely on 3 or 4 days out in NZ

[Storm Struck]

Garbage weather for visiting Christchurch over xmas / new years. Wanted to go for a hike or 2 around the Port hills.

I could deal with the cold, not the rain. Hopefully forecast changes as I don't rely on 3 or 4 days out in NZ

There will be some nice days in-between, think this weekend isn't too bad for Saturday and half of Sunday anyway.
Most of us here are wanting the rain as it's already very dry, despite 30-40mm in the past 10 days.
Hope you enjoy your stay in Otuatahi though.

[Orion]

Thunderstorms happening in Southland at the moment.

[Bradley]

Garbage weather for visiting Christchurch over xmas / new years. Wanted to go for a hike or 2 around the Port hills.

I could deal with the cold, not the rain. Hopefully forecast changes as I don't rely on 3 or 4 days out in NZ

I’m sorry this is happening to you

[ryant1234]

It's good you guys need the rain, but it's a real surprise it's this much rain in summer. I wouldn't be surprised getting this in winter

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Nice day in Te Horo at the moment.
Looks thunder possibilities back home today

[TonyT]

It's good you guys need the rain, but it's a real surprise it's this much rain in summer. I wouldn't be surprised getting this in winter

December has the highest mean monthly rainfall across most of the Plains (not Christchurch though).

[spwill]

It's good you guys need the rain, but it's a real surprise it's this much rain in summer. I wouldn't be surprised getting this in winter

I see you live in Melbourne. Christchurch has an Oceanic climate like Melbourne. Just like Melbourne you could strike a fine dry warm week at this time of year or a week with some cooler temperatures and showers. There are some fine days coming up for Chch

[ryant1234]

I grew up in chch but moved away 15 years ago and visit yearly. Hard to remember the climate

[Cherie]

I went to Melbourne for a week in Feb. First day it was freezing. I had to wear my merino jersey. Last day it was 40C. In between had days in low 20s, except one day of 32C. I knew Melb was like this but it’s still kinda unreal lol.
NZ weather is just patchy. I used to think you’d be pretty safe getting reliably decent weather in Auckland mid-Jan to mid Feb. But then we had the horror show that was Jane/Feb 2023

It's good you guys need the rain, but it's a real surprise it's this much rain in summer. I wouldn't be surprised getting this in winter

I see you live in Melbourne. Christchurch has an Oceanic climate like Melbourne. Just like Melbourne you could strike a fine dry warm week at this time of year or a week with some cooler temperatures and showers. There are some fine days coming up for Chch

[spwill]

More thunderstorms in the models for parts of New Zealand on Monday 30th. A North Island storm chase would be east of Taupo along the Taupo-Napier Road.
See what the models look like tomorrow

[spwill]

Not expecting much for Auckland with the incoming weather system however the upper air is cold so will keep a watch.
For North Island thunderstorms tomorrow, the eastern NI looks the main risk area from southern Bay of Plenty south.

The weather for the Auckland waterfront, 11.59pm, 31 December is fine, fresh southwest wind,18C.

[Orion]

Wind has gone from north-east to ESE in the past few minutes; overcast lowering.
Currently 19.2°C; 69% humidity (has felt slightly humid all morning) 1004.8hPa.
Slight to gentle breeze.

[Orion]

Now rain has begun to fall.

[Richard]

The radar is showing that its raining here, but its not

[TonyT]

The radar is showing that its raining here, but its not

The height anomaly issue again. It happens more often than you might think, some distance away from the radar the horizontal signal reflects back but its far enough above the local surface that the precipitation can evaporate before it reaches local ground level. Always apply discernment when using radar images!

[Nev]

^ Yes, also be wary of what you see on the outskirt overlaps of the composite radar images.
Below is a comparison of the Canterbury 2:42pm 120km image, alongside the similarly cropped 300km composite image.

[Richard]

That really interesting how these radars work, thanks for explaining

[spwill]

There might be some interesting skies here tomorrow morning with a few gusty heavy showers around and an isolated thunderstorm risk, upper level conditions are cold. It is unusual to have the cold upper level air reaching this far north this time of year.

[Storm Struck]

A bit of a funny day today with those showers stalling not moving too far. Had some steady rain earlier after just drizzly stuff all morning.
Will be thunderstorms through the upper south this afternoon/evening, not too often places like the Tasman district get a decent set up.
Will be more welcome rainfall in the east tomorrow possibly heavy, not so for the campers huh

Another potential for thunderstorms Friday afternoon across much of Canterbury.
That's next year so

[dogmelon]

A bit of a funny day today with those showers stalling not moving too far. Had some steady rain earlier after just drizzly stuff all morning.
Will be thunderstorms through the upper south this afternoon/evening, not too often places like the Tasman district get a decent set up.
Will be more welcome rainfall in the east tomorrow possibly heavy, not so for the campers huh

Another potential for thunderstorms Friday afternoon across much of Canterbury.
That's next year so

It's erupting over Marlborough. The hvdc line might get a few extra volts.

[Nev]

Report of a 'possible tornado' in Omarama around 1pm today...

'‘Tornado’ lifts tent two metres into the air with people inside' - Stuff

[TonyT]

It's erupting over Marlborough. The hvdc line might get a few extra volts.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3605362 ... d-end-2024

[Storm Struck]

Not too often you see a strong line of thunderstorms and hail build in the Marlborough and Richmond Ranges, and then go all the way staying strong to the north off Farewell Spit.
Quite a few campers caught out by the heavy hail, hopefully their tents held up ok.
Should be a good day tomorrow up there for some drying out ahead of NYE celebrations.

Heavy rain band moving in just off Banks Peninsula currently, has certainly been much cooler lately although I think I spotted a potential upper 20,s day next Tuesday.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Back to Belmont today. Nothing much to report on the weather today but it is raining tonight. Southerly winds up a bit.