South Island Storms 10th - 15th January

[Storm Struck]

Abit of a pain that low cloud today, however it is clearing now peeling away from the NE with clear skies looking that way.
Some CU inland along the foothills, really is going to be a wait and see really as it could be simular to last night where cells were still going around south canterbury even at around 11pm.
High cloud isnt too bad rather scrappy but still plenty of big blue patches, i was going to head out from work go inland but couldnt see much with the low cloud.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

From here, there looked to be some 'things going up' about 3pm but nothing much to continue on with and everything seeming to be dropping away, ie no backup establishment, cloud lacking pregnancy.
No sferics. Quite boring really but then it's La Nina, so what do you expect?
...but then

[mikestormchaser]

Yes John unfortunately the cloud cover i think has something to do with it, acting as a cap.
Tomorrow sits a small risk but not as good as some of the days this week.
So i saved day off from work for another time thank goodness!

[NZstorm]

Yes John unfortunately the cloud cover i think has something to do with it, acting as a cap.

We have had 2 or 3 days like this over the NI this summer. Just a reminder that cloud cover is an instability killer.
The region was capped at the start of the day, the stratus is a sign of the cap thats there.

Looks to have been a couple of storms over central Otago.

I notice Oamarama got to 30C yesterday but just 25C today.

[spwill]

Some isolated activity there this evening but yes we have seen big instability numbers in the model over the NorthIsland this Summer produce very little storm activity due to cloud cover.

Quite boring really but then it's La Nina,

But it looks more like El Nino over the next few days, some very cold air reaching the SouthIsland, usually means thunder this time of year

[Storm Struck]

Beaut cell to the North moving down be around NW of Waipara going by the radar, quite intense with hail likly i would say.
Possibly the best storm cell for the day, contemplating on a chase
Right im heading out those buggers are coming down on the radar

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

That cell is moving down directly towards Christchurch at the moment. Lets hope it doesnt weaken!

[MoorfNZ]

Hearing thunder and in-cloud ligthning here nr Sheffield.... no rain yet

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Hearing thunder and in-cloud ligthning here nr Sheffield.... no rain yet

Yes 2 cells, looks good for your area!

[MoorfNZ]

It's all go here now - torrential rain, LOUD thunder overhead and bright flashes of lightning...

Haven't heard thunder this loud in a LONG time.. made me jump off seat!

[melja]

Rain here in rangiora, with a bit of thunder in the distance.

[Lacertae]

Fast moving cells by the way ...

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Just heard a clap to the west from here. Can't see low cloud cover. another clap just now

[melja]

not as fast as that

[Razor]

Just had significant thunder from down under. Between 4.7 and 5.0 I reckon. Does that count?
EDIT 4.6

[mikestormchaser]

hmm im guna head out and try catch up with this cell moving west to east not far from rakia! be back! this is guna be touch and go!

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

hmm im guna head out and try catch up with this cell moving west to east not far from rakia! be back! this is guna be touch and go!

too much low cloud cover. just enjoy the thunder.

[03Stormchaser]

This cel has been hitting 60dbz!

[Chris Raine]

Where is it now Storm chaser ?

[Storm Struck]

Bugger, went north to Waikari township and headed slightly west where the skies were clear from the crud low cloud.
There was some CU congestus going up around there with some large drops of rain, but nothing too exciting.
But geeze ive never seen such an intense area of storms move south so quick and it came across from the N-NE all the way down to Rakaia where its sitting now within possibly an hour and a half.
That kind of movement could signal perhaps a tornado touch down somewhere, very significant hail indicated on the radars too.
Mike is sitting in Rakaia at the moment said theres some hail stones falling, but its just moving too fast for me to follow southwards could be offshore by the time i get there.
A few photos from this evening anyway.

Waikari 001.jpg

Waikari 002.jpg

Waikari 003.jpg

[03Stormchaser]

Where is it now Storm chaser ?

Just off the coast south of rakaia mouth, latest scan is showing a nice (possible) hook. New cell now just west of th city.

[Chris Raine]

It looks to be tracking my way on radar . Maybe be something to stay up for

[MoorfNZ]

My parents in Kirwee had a decent hail shower

[Tornado Tim]

That isnt a hook to my knowledge, if there was going to be a hook it would be to the NE of the cell (well a meso hook anyway)
That absence of echos in the side of a storm usually indicates the uprdraft within the storm, but since this a composite reflectivity image I am not so sure about that being the case.

[mikestormchaser]

Hmm well that was interesting.. got to rolleston and the cloud cover over there was gone and replaced with that unstable feature of cloud.
Got to dunsandle and it was starting to get interesting, saw a few flashes, and a couple of CGs and heard one good "dump thunder" im wondering if i hadnt of stopped to check out the cell in dunsandle and pondering whether i should keep going or not, i might of been able to get right under it! dammit!
I drove to rakia and sat there for awhile.. big puddles there, so obviously had been through that way.
Unfortunately i wasnt able to keep up with the thing! she was fair motoring!!
Aaron seems to think, strong upper level shear was the cause of them moving so fast! and with the unusual accourence of the storms moving north to south?? that doesnt happen very often hmm