Thunderstorms possible 24th Feb Canterbury!!

[Richard]

Change of thoughts, now looking like its heading my way,should get some photos to show the northern fella's how its looking,then unplug the computer and TV.

[Richard]

Looking SW toward Oxford were going by the radar and checking at NZ storm trackers most of the activity is coming from at present

[joecam]

Lightning has struck a hedge in Hororata fire service currently putting it out.
Steady rain in Halswell but nothing outstanding.

[Orion]

Great photo, Richard!

[Richard]

It is hey Orion,closing in fast here,heard no rumbles yet though

[TonyT]

Started raining here in the last ten minutes after looking threatening for the last 2 hours. Some good meaty rumbles of thunder since rain started but cloud too heavy to see flashes till it gets darker.

[TonyT]

Flashes coming thick and fast now

[snowstormwatcher]

Thunder here now from a cell just south of here.

[TonyT]

Thunder rumbles every 20-30 secs at present, a few CG flashes seen. Only raining very lightly.

[snowstormwatcher]

Very heavy rain with thunder and lightning here.

[snowstormwatcher]

All over now with blue sky coming in from the south.
But that was the best storm ive ever seen here, Heaps of lightning really close and thunder the loudest ive ever heard.

8mm of rain in 10mins. Dropped down to 7 degrees now.

[Storm Struck]

Headed to ruapuna area where i seen one flash but too messy to figure out wea the storms were so no photos etc bit of a bust really one of the storms kinda jumped the city.
Went around mandeville hopn to see any of the inland stuff but too much low stuff.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Yes. not a very pictureque storm with low cloud moving in hindering observation of anything. Didn't hear much thunder either from here. The radio was really firing with sferics though. Not one of the best storms I have experienced.

[Richard]

A few flashes seen but over all not as active as further south by the sounds of it.

Did manage to get some great photos of some nasty looking sky before it hit

[03Stormchaser]

Sounds like aaron may have got a couple lightning photos. I couldn't chase as had prior commitments, but did sit down springston before 5pm watching the developing cb to the south

[Thunder]

I had work from 8pm and looking at the progress of the southerly coming through on the radar I couldn't really go to far south and had to stay relatively close to Christchurch, I really wish I didn't have to work this evening otherwise I would've chased it from Mayfield north. Still I tried my best and encountered it as it was near or just inland from Darfield moving north. Thanks to Steven Graham for giving me his old lightning trigger, I managed a few day time lightning photos! Nothing majorly great but still pretty cool, I literally only had about 10 minutes at this spot I was in before I had to race back to Christchurch to get to work. I had no time really to get into a better spot or anything, it was all very quick then had to go again...... The pain......!

It was quite mean looking and I'm sure there would've been some good hail and torrential rain in it's core, I was just outside of it to the east. Thank goodness for the frequent radars, made this chase alot easier. I thought you knew how to look at the radars on your phone Jase? This was a pretty darn good job by the Metservice in how it tracked inland like it did then moved north. There was some loud thunder where I was to and quite a few other close bolts just as I set up!!

Here's a video, be warned it's got swearing in it so don't watch and listen if you don't like swearing. Apologies about it I was just a bit excited, and yes I realise I sound like a try hard when I say I got a Cg on camera "yes!" etc..... it sounds lame I know, well I can see that now! lol. But anyway, enjoy:

Click "here" to download. 44.8 Mb, 720 x 410

Cheers
Aaron

[Richard]

Well done Aaron getting photos of the lightning bolts,i tried but wasn't fast enough.

[snowstormwatcher]

Great photos Richard and Aaron
I also tried to get lightning photos too but didnt want to go outside in the torrential rain.

Intresting how the first main line of storms missed here but then we got a second cell come in much later which only affected this area.
Also surprising was that we a had a dry northwesterly before the change with dewpoints around 2-3 all afternoon.

[spwill]

Well done on the above photos and clip. I should post a clip from last week, some bad language also

[Michael]

Ok to have bad language to some degree,they do all it on radio and tv.

[Storm Struck]

Well done Aaron i am glad someone got some footage etc, it just wasnt very photogenic so as you can see in your videos the lower crap made it hard to see where the cells were.
There was two cells when it passed near Christchurch one inland closer to the foothills and the other kinda just started getting active as it passed over the city but flared up heading offshore into pegasus bay.
There were some mean towering clouds when i was driving back north to get inland up Tram Road but no place to stop and get photos too many trees and lots of traffic no side roads.
I need to get a better phone for internet usage does anyone have any suggestions? i was using the radars but it was taking up to 5 minutes to load the thing if it didnt freeze up and it chews the battery life too.
So the radars really were no use to me, i use a Samsung GT 1550 3T touch screen so perhaps maybe an iphone maybe the better way to go for future storms.

[Michael]

Next thursday if the models stay the same on the back of a NE a good chance for canterbury.

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[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Yes, Michael, I was looking at that.
If it does eventuate, I hope lower cloud dosen't hinder observation when the southerly, well proper southerly with the lightning and it's sound comes through.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Good video and nice swearing, Aaron
Filmed in real NZThS fashion.
Shame you had to leave to go to work.
Obviously the lowcloud there had some gaps to be able to see and film the lightning that you got on tape. Some good shots and noticed you had the radio on the AM band for the sfericals. Sounded good although shame about the wind noise at times over the microphone at times. It's nuisance that can't be helped but nevermind.
Good stuff

[Orion]

Ok to have bad language to some degree,they do all it on radio and tv.

I respectfully disagree: there's no point in deliberately causing offence.