Polar blast lines up for spring

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sthguy
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by sthguy »

Last edited by sthguy on Fri 03/09/2010 11:33, edited 1 time in total.
Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by sthguy »

Much of the snow arrived in August , May to July had just about no snow for those Aussie fields. Only in the last few weeks have we been seeing the deep southerlies on the weather charts for our region. Dunedin and Invercargill have had a lack of the usual sleet and snow events over winter.
Yes indeed, I agree, the problem I have with the way that article is written is that it says.....
The southern annular mode (Sam), which measures the strength of the vortex, has been at record highs in the past month, meaning the polar air has been locked around Antarctica.
....when it is clear that for our neighbours across the ditch, it hasn't been locked up, as you note when you mention deep southerlies. It might have been locked up so far as NZ is concerned but the article infers much more than this.

I think it is clear that the Sam might be at records highs but it doesn't preclude polar air moving north.
Like the El Nino and La Nina events, it means certain weather patterns are more or less likely to occur, but never means there isn't a chance of exactly the opposite happening to what is meant to happen.
Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

Just back from Darfield where it was raining with a cold wind...

Here in Waddington it's only just begun spitting with rain...
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

Raining hard and, to my eye, doesn't look far off snowing. Bitterly cold wind. Temp 5degs.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by David »

NZstorm wrote:Looks to be a low thunder/hail risk for Auckland with that front tonight. While instability is weak the 500mb temperature will be -25C.
I hope the forecast squally showers eventuate, I love squalls :D
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by Michael »

David wrote:
I hope the forecast squally showers eventuate, I love squalls :D
I dont really because they always come from the SW and fill the gutters up with crap.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by Razor »

Just did my 10km round Hagley Park, some moderate rain and a steady breeze but certainly nothing to write home about as yet.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

It's trying to snow here - some large flakes mixed with rain - seems to be struggling to make a full-blown snow shower.

It's snowing hard up at Mt Shut...
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

Here we go... snowing hard in Waddington now :) Huge flakes, coming down fast... \:D/
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

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Rain radar suggests it'll be clearing in the next half hour or so

Maybe look out for the coastal "chain showers" later
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

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Settling very fast... lawn already white.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by Richard »

Hit here at 2.00pm now lots of pea sized hailing

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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

2.25pm - about 5 mins after the snow started...

It's now 3degs

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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by Lukemyster »

Feels like windchill down to -4 now. 0C morning, went up to 13. Now only 3!
Anyone seen any flakes or snow around the Christchurch area? Only was as far out as the Hornby area today. But that was only when the rain started.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

A friend living on Cashmere Hill had sleet about 20 mins ago, but mostly rain.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

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Looking good MoorfNZ,it would be wet snow at that temp ??
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

Very wet snow - I went out take a few snaps and had to change when I came in as so wet..

So much whiter here now than when I took that picture.. will taken another (this time from indoors!)

Satellite reception has just gone so I assume my dish is filling up!
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

Friend on Clifton Hill now reporting sleet - rain on flat.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by Storm Struck »

Lucky i finished work early today just at 2pm, as i left it was full on sleet coming onto snow at 240m asl.
But surprisingly moderate rain here back in kaiapoi with sleet too now, temperature down to 4C and dropping quick.
Canterbury, home of good rugby and severe storms
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by MoorfNZ »

Short vid to give you an idea of the snow fall rate and size of flakes....

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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by snowstormwatcher »

Great photo there moorfnz. Southerly hit here at 11.30am with heavy hail and sleet brief snow showers but nothing settled mostly fine now.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

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So, is that it? It's stopped.. :-k
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by CHCH Weather Chaser »

What a fun ride home from westport. Rained all the way to the Hanmer Springs turn off, constant and heavy! Snow throughout the ranges past springs junction and also towards the top of the lewis pass as i went through at midday. Videos to follow! Sunshine in Culverden, however, did have a rumble of thunder just a little to the south of the area.
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by Michael »

No wind while snowing is it always like that? or get blizzards ever like on tv/
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Re: Polar blast lines up for spring

Unread post by David »

Can see that band of (hopefully squally :mrgreen: ) showers approaching the western NI now
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