Tornadoes in New Zealand

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

....and the Ruapuna Tornado, near Mayfield, where Bob Crowder turned right instead of left and missed it.
Forgotten the date. Orion may know ?

JohnGaul
NZThS

[Orion]

...and this one mentions the "Ruapuna Tornado" - I've been racking my brains to remember when it happened:
http://weatherforum.org.nz/phpBB3/viewt ... 3&start=50
- maybe someone here remembers better than I? - guessing between 10 - 15 years ago?

Think it was March 11, 1999.

Orion couldn't remember the exact date and was grateful for the above help...

[03Stormchaser]

http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/03Na ... s-docs.pdf

Three significant tornado events have been recorded in the Christchurch area in the last 36 years - in 1962
(Christchurch), 1975 (Governors Bay) and 1983(Halswell). A mini tornado in August 1999 tore through
Avonside, causing damage to some houses. Electrical storms tend to occur between September
and March but are relatively infrequent with, on average, thunder five days a year on the Canterbury Plains. In January 2002 lightning strikes occurred, one hitting a man walking along Pines Beach; and another damaging a tree in Avonhead

That statement that we get 5 thunder days is categorically 100% wrong.

[Manukau heads obs]

That statement that we get 5 thunder days is categorically 100% wrong.

yeah , its 4 instead

[NZstorm]

I think the best forecast tool for predicting tornadoes in NZ is pattern recognition. Recognising the synoptic patterns conducive to tornadoes as they occur.

The limiting factor for tornado development in the winter season is the lack of instability rather than shear. We see a lot of set ups with quite good shear but don't quite make it with the instability. Its just getting that overlap.

[Paul Mallinson]

Yes, agreed.

Paul

[spwill]

A few more damaging tornado events for the Auckland region.

Ardmore June 05
http://www.weatherforum.org.nz/phpBB3/v ... iew=unread
Warkworth May 09
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-n ... -Warkworth
Central Auckland, Oct 05
http://www.weatherforum.org.nz/phpBB3/v ... f=8&t=1532

[NZstorm]

Also an F1 tornado at Penrose, Auckland on 22 December 2004. In 2004 spring lasted right up to Xmas with a cool wet December.

Also on July 4 2007 there was an FO at Botany Downs, Auckland that lifted roofing tiles. F1 tornadoes where recorded at New Plymouth and Tauranga on the same day.

[David]

Also on July 4 2007 there was an FO at Botany Downs

Yes, that was the one that went along my grandparents street, and proceeded up their driveway!

[NZstorm]

I came across this link with a couple of pics of a waterspout over Lake Taupo back in Feb 2007. Not sure whether this spout got the attention of this forum or not. It seems a bit odd to have convection over an inland lake in this country because they are normally very cold, but Lake Taupo must warm up in summer.

http://www.davegeeblog.com/2007/02/torn ... po_06.html

[Orion]

That would have been a bit startling!

[NZstorm]

I checked back the weather on the day, it got to 26C at Taupo but there was a cool SE change in the evening when the waterspout occurred. So cool airmass over relatively warm lake.

[Michael]

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wp ... ISO-8859-1

Some old ones in Auckland here.Copy and paste all.

[03Stormchaser]

Thanks for the link Michael!

[David]

Yes, thanks Michael. I see there was one in Bucklands Beach April 1968. That's just a couple of km from here.

[Lacertae]

Should I mention the very short lived one I caught near Waddington on the 14th of December 2009 ?

[Skywatcher]

There have also been a few waterspouts on Lake Ellesmere including the two on 2nd Feb 2007.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKefclGp64I

[NZstorm]

I have been doing a bit of research on tornadoes in NZ in recent years. I am defining a tornado as atleast F0 damage recorded.

The numbers of tornado days for the last 10 years by province. A tornado day may have more than 1 tornado occurance. This list is not complete.

Northland 3
Auckland 11
Bay of Plenty 7
Waikato 7
Taranaki 14
Kapiti Coast 4
Nelson 1
Westland 5
Canterbury 3
Otago 1

[03Stormchaser]

So waterspouts arnt included?

[jamie]

and these are only recorded ones. i wouldnt mind betting taranaki and west cost are actually much higher than auckland

[Manukau heads obs]

Water spouts must be actually realatively quite common
I usually spot one off the coast here at least every year!

[NZstorm]

I havn't included the waterspouts unless they have made landfall and become a damaging tornado.

[tich]

I've read that many go unreported in remote and less populated areas. A tornado could hardly be missed in Auckland, but not many would see one in Fiordland.

[Tornado Tim]

I've read that many go unreported in remote and less populated areas. A tornado could hardly be missed in Auckland, but not many would see one in Fiordland.

I agree, Same thing goes for the Waikato....

[Nev]

Harrowing account in this morn's NZ Herald recalling the tornado near Whakatane on Nov 3, 2001...

'Photo Recall: Life-saving scream in whirlwind of terror'

See also original story ... 'Dash for life as tornado strikes'


Here's a few other (unconfirmed?) historical reports from the area...

Dec 28, 2001 - 'Overnight tornado leaves destruction in Whakatane'
(Note earlier Opotiki 'tornado' mentioned probably a microburst, see ... 'Wind gust guts shopfront').

Nov 14, 2005 - 'Mini-tornado hits Whakatane'
Nov 14, 2005 - 'Tornado hits Whakatane'

But probably the most memorable in recent times was this one...

March 26, 2005 - 'Tornado's trail of terror'