'Bomb' low crossing North Island Saturday 3 March

[jamie]

going to be fun to watch.

Its getting a lot of media attention which is a good thing if it eventuates but i can already see attacking of the forecasters and media if it isnt what it is hyped up to be.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Its getting a lot of media attention which is a good thing if it eventuates but i can already see attacking of the forecasters and media if it isnt what it is hyped up to be.

Thats what I'm thinking but if there are any deaths or serious injuries occured from this storm and the reason being that "We didn't know anything about the on coming storm, because we weren't aware about it" I would be quite annoyed. The Media and MetService are doing a good job to alert people to this situation

[Michael]

The metservice guy on Campbell live tonight was pretty impressive,anyone else watch him about the storm and the summer.

[Tornado Tim]

The metservice guy on Campbell live tonight was pretty impressive,anyone else watch him about the storm and the summer.

Yup I did, Dan explained it very well, he is pretty much the replacement for Bob.

It will be very interesting to see when the wind starts to increase..... I would say around 2-3 AM tomorrow morning.

[NZstorm]

Looks like the there should be a cricket game at Eden Park tomorrow. The airmass dries out during the afternoon.

[Tornado Tim]

Pressure has dropped 1.3 hpa just in the last hour!

[Razor]

Looks like the there should be a cricket game at Eden Park tomorrow. The airmass dries out during the afternoon.

Like. Although Jesse Ryder might not.

[Manukau heads obs]

temperature has dropped here as the barometer has dropped but the dew point has been rising at the same time
rain getting heavier here now
barometer dropping nicely
will be interesting to see the low center on the rain radar once its closer
will be easier to pin point it
but it is showing better on the sat image now
Met Service have now included auckland and coromandel in the severe gales

[spwill]

Should see a temperature and dewpoint rise shortly to around 19C but cool conditions by day break.
Currently 16C dp15C.

[spwill]

The metservice guy on Campbell live tonight was pretty impressive,anyone else watch him about the storm and the summer.

Yes he did a very good job, gave a good answer to the poor Summer question.

[David]

It really is the calm before the storm, max gusts here at the moment only 5 km/h

[Aucklandstorm]

I'm not sleeping tonight so I can watch this baby, then work and redbull at 6am!

[Manukau heads obs]

I know what you mean
I am expecting a change to strong NNW wind here around 1am ....

[Tornado Tim]

The upper level jet and associated high cloud is making a bit of mask for the low and makes it rather hard to see.

It has just become visible more so in the last few hours with some cloud around the center of the low.
Sat Image courtesy fo Weatherzone AU

Pressure still dropping quite nicely, at 1000.4 hPa and dropping at 1.2hPa/hr atm, a steady amount of rain is falling around 3.0mm/hr with 5.6mm in the guage so far.

Temp is rather cool around 14.3°C and with a steady to light NE.

[Manukau heads obs]

I dont see much ESE movement yet...I only see east movement...so that means a closer pass for the upper NI at this stage...

[JETNZ]

Radar shows rain not far off now. Winds still light. Pressure 1018hPa. What's the chances that flights will run CHCH to AKL at midday Saturday? I have family flying on AirNZ.

[Manukau heads obs]

The only time I know of auckland airport being closed was just after a flight I was on landed from napier...one of those propeller jobs
they closed it to domestic flights for an hour or so
it was averaging 55 knots at the time
was an exciting landing
you had to really hold on tight as you got off the plane (just open stairs)
and then the walk way had iron being blown off the roof !

that was a low that deepened over hawkes bay...was in February too...this is like 9 years ago now or so

[TonyT]

I was once on the last F27 flight into Wellington before the airport was closed due to severe NW gales. The pilot made three approaches, finally got it down half sideways. People were throwing up all over the plane. As you say Brian, the walk from the plane to the terminal was quite dangerous. I went straight to the bar and ordered a brandy.

[Manukau heads obs]

baro now at 999.9hpa here
thats a 10hpa drop in 12 hours here now
Wind starting to pick up here now too, ahead of a rapidly intensifying rain band...

[Tornado Tim]

I am down to 999.3 hPa now, man its dropping fast....
Update: Just checked last hour or so of data coming in, it has dropped 2hPa in the last hour.

[jamie]

Hmmm I'm 998.3. Maybe I need to chage settings slightly?

Getting heavy bursts of rain here now. Up to 7mm. That rain band on the north side of the low sure is developing quickly.

[Manukau heads obs]

dropping at -1.8hpa/hr here now!

[Manukau heads obs]

-2.3hpa/hr dropping here now, so its accelerating now , the pressure drop!
so the rapid deepening is really cranking up now!
yeahah!

[David]

-2.3hpa/hr dropping here now, so its accelerating now , the pressure drop!
so the rapid deepening is really cranking up now!
yeahah!

wow, only dropping at 1.2 hPa/hr here

[Manukau heads obs]

I reckon the satellite image shows this thing is heading E and not ESE
i.e its going to cross north Taranaki, instead of south Taranaki
what do others think?