Another Depression from off the Queensland Coast

[spwill]

I watched the heavy shower line move in from the top of Mt Roskill . We had just enough day time heating to turn the line Thundery. Some loud thunder and small hail at Mt Roskill . Much of the lightning was over south Auckland.

[jamie]

Great photos there spwill.

The thunderstorms today have been very pretty in stucture for NZ standards. Gosh i love spring when we get these types of storms.

[GraemeWi]

Very nice looking storm from the North Shore

[NZstorm]

I was in Manukau when the early afternoon storm came through, there was a good burst of lightning activity there. Heavy rain/pea sized hail. Picture below of the storm approaching, trying to develop a gust front. But we didn't quite get enough warming today.

I like the panorama shot Graeme.

[spwill]

Thats a great photo Graeme.

[David]

I don't get why no recordable rain has fallen here since 2pm yesterday, but the radar has shown showers moving in from the Tasman the whole time? It's like the showers keep disintegrating as they reach the coast.

Metservice's forecast: "showers easing afternoon" - but we have no showers which may ease?

[Manukau heads obs]

that may be the case at your house David, but we have had showers here, 4pm yesterday, and more since 2am this morning

[David]

that may be the case at your house David, but we have had showers here, 4pm yesterday, and more since 2am this morning

Notice I used the word 'coast'. You are quite close to the west coast - and my suburb isn't the only place that had a basically dry night anyway. The forecast isn't just for the far west of Auckland.

There must be some unexpected mechanism causing the showers to do this?

[Manukau heads obs]

the showers are moving in the from the NW, so, yes, I am exposed to them
whereas you have alot of land NW of you, so the showers will be weakening
but also the shower activity gets less and less the more NE you move away from the low center, which you are compared to me
but you should get those shower lines moving across in land more today

note that the auckland forecast is for the greater auckland area, but you need to fine tune it for you own location
(i.e showers more in western areas (especialy at night when the land is colder)), etc
(Ricky puts a forecast up , and he could fine tune things as much as that)

also check out Rick's computer (WXSIM) generated local forecast:
http://www.greylynnweather.net/forecast5day.gif

[Nev]

Missed out on the thunder and hail here yesterday, but did manage a couple of showers, one light and one heavy (total 3.4 mm), with quite a few fine breaks. Overcast with gusty NW'ers this morn (and last night). More exposed Channel Island mean-winds were at least 63 km/h at 6am.

[Razor]

Very nice looking storm from the North Shore

Sensational pic!

[03Stormchaser]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4688868a11.html

Im happy they said "small tornado"

[Nev]

Yes, I think we can probably thank RWood's valiant efforts for that small mercy. Although I now wonder about the credibility of some of these anonymous stories outsourced from the NZPA, particularly in light of last month's Opotiki tornado (waterspouts?) report - seems not even Niwa bothered to check the accuracy of that story. (Btw, any updates there tgsnoopy?)

Mean-winds increased at the Gulf's Channel Island to at least 74 km/h at 9am, with 72 km/h at the Manukau Heads. Showers here.

[tgsnoopy]

Although I now wonder about the credibility of some of these anonymous stories outsourced from the NZPA, particularly in light of last month's Opotiki tornado (waterspouts?) report - seems not even Niwa bothered to check the accuracy of that story. (Btw, any updates there tgsnoopy?)

Sorry, it was hosing with rain when we went through there on Monday to bring the self drive mobile dental unit back to Galatea. I'm not likely to go back down that way again for quite a while. There was plenty of evidence of the twisters, but sadly not sufficient oppourtunity to grab suitable pictures.

[Manukau heads obs]

heavy rain mixed in with hail here just now ....

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Very quiet here on the weather front in Christchurch. Last 3 or so days have been days with low - moderate cloud and a gentle southerly breeze. First time in a while that there hasnt been anything to be watching out for around this part of the country and the outlook seems to be reasonably tame as well. Hopefully some NWesters early next week with warm sunshine would be good

[David]

but you should get those shower lines moving across in land more today

Yes they certainly came alright! It was raining without cessation from 8.40am to 9.10am with some heavier falls, and there was the odd shower up to about 12.30pm. Managed 8mm here.

[Nev]

Cheers for that tgsnoopy. Great report anyway . Maybe next time you'll get the scoop .

Some more info on this morning's New Plymouth 'Twister'...

'Twister tears through Taranaki town (+pics)' - Taranaki Daily News (Stuff)

[jamie]

I see there is another good band of showers to come through well before midnight. They are showing up on the radar as good blobs. Hopefully the are active (i havnt actually looked to see if they are yet) and we get a night time lightning display.

MS have a new page on the site..... weather videos. I thought it was a neat thing making easy access to NZ weather videos instead of having to search them on you tube.

[Storm Struck]

Full credit to the MS for putting a thunderstorm risk up for Inland Canterbury today.
There were some nice looking CU forms around 5pm looking inland, and one CB cloud which could well have been a thunderstorm at the time.
Looks like those showers are still going at the moment too.
Cheers
Jason.

[NZstorm]

Full credit to the MS for putting a thunderstorm risk up for Inland Canterbury today.

No thunderstorms there today but there was a weak Tstorm yesterday inland to the west of Christchurch.
That time of year now, cold upper air equals inland thunder if there is the heating.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

but there was a weak Tstorm yesterday inland to the west of Christchurch.

Interesting. I didn't notice anything???
There were one or 2 uplifts but nothing that would indicate a thunderstorm.
JohnGaul
NZTS

[03Stormchaser]

Full credit to the MS for putting a thunderstorm risk up for Inland Canterbury today.

No thunderstorms there today but there was a weak Tstorm yesterday inland to the west of Christchurch.
That time of year now, cold upper air equals inland thunder if there is the heating.

Yes noticed that this afternoon, this time of year in early spring inland storms arnt uncoming. Possibly a little more heating in land the contributing factor.There was a couple of cbs out there, even one out east off the coast, although only small. Good sign of things to come!

[Manukau heads obs]

i really like the video of the ferry crossing!

[Nev]

Follow-up story this morning about yesterday's New Plymouth 'tornado' ...

'New twister in Tornado Alley' - Taranaki Daily News (Stuff)