Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

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Paul Mallinson
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Paul Mallinson »

Yes, we had a few strikes from a couple of cells about mid afternoon. One between Taupo and Hamilton and the other coastal Waitomo. Generally through Bay of Plenty and Waikato, there were a number of cells with local heavy rain and tops up 10-12kms!!

I think it was again, a case of a fair bit of cloud around and the vigor of daytime heating being quite reduced compared to Dec, Jan, Feb. All a bit tricky.

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Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by jamie »

Possible tornado just N of me. Big spout and looks to be over half way down. Classic stove pipe!
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Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by jamie »

That was incredible. Gone now. Was there about 5 mins. I would place it around Orini. If it didn't touch down it would have been close to it.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Paul Mallinson »

Interesting. Since there is no significant shear in the environment, this must have been one of those convergence line funnels - good surface convergence and bouyancy. These are usually short lived as you observed.

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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by jamie »

It was really hard to photograph. When i first saw it i was 1 min away from home. I pulled over and took these photos while it was still just developing. It was only little when i took these pictures.
IMG_0121.JPG
IMG_0122.JPG
But then a continued home where i could get on a hill for a better view. While heading there it was back-lit by the sun and it was spectacular. It was of the size you expect in USA. It was a big fat stove pipe that went well over half way down.

By the time i got to the hill, it had moved away from good lighting and so my phone camera just couldnt pick it up. Ive tried manipulating the grainy photos i got to bring it out but i cant get anything.

Thats just the 3rd funnel cloud i have ever seen in New Zealand... not sure why but that makes 2 funnel clouds in 1 week i have seen. This one is by far the best one!
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by NZstorm »

I think the lack of a strong shortwave was a missing factor today. That set up we had last week had a more vigorous 500mb shortwave and generated better storms with far less instability than occurred today.

Good capture there Jamie. Always good to see funnel clouds, we are due for one around Auckland.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Paul Mallinson »

Yes, I would agree. There was nothing going on aloft. However in the absence of forcing aloft, if surface convergence and heating is strong enough, deep convection can still ensue and in this respect the cloud and time of year were unfavourable.

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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Manukau heads obs »

Good one jamie
I did see the top of the cb over mangatawhiri way at one stage
Very tall tower...glaciated
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by David »

I see Hamilton Airport has had 11mm rain today.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by NZstorm »

Some lightning was detected over the Kaimai ranges this evening.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by tgsnoopy »

NZstorm wrote:Some lightning was detected over the Kaimai ranges this evening.
Agreed, have observed a few lightning flashes this evening. Was a couple of hours ago though.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by spwill »

Some isolated storm activity west of Hamilton last hr, on going showers down that way.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Tornado Tim »

A good storm just east of here, rumbling away. Thunder woke me up...
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by NZstorm »

Looked like a good burst of early morning thunderstorm activity from Taranaki to Waikato! The convection was elevated and lifting from about 850mb. The change to a NE will have triggered it.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by spwill »

The overnight thunderstorm activity shows up here

http://wwlln.net/WWLLN_movies/Movie_of_ ... an_BIG.gif

Another warm night, minimum 18C at Greylynn
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by NZstorm »

The overnight gfs looks pretty much the same as what the Met Service are showing for storms today but the gfs also develops a cb over western Northland.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Nev »

I see MS have upgraded today's central N.I. areas to high-risk this morn…
MetService - Thunderstorm Outlook

Valid to: Midnight Thursday 10 Apr 2014
Issued at: 8:11am Thursday 10 Apr 2014

The atmosphere remains relatively unstable over the North Island. Daytime heating, low level moisture and wind convergence is expected to produce convective showers over the central and upper North Island today.

There is a high risk that some of these could be thundery in Waikato, Waitomo,Taranaki, inland Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, the Gisborne ranges, the Hawkes Bay ranges, Taupo, Taumarunui and the far north of Taihape. These storms could be accompanied by rainfall rates of 10 to 25mm per hour.

The strongest convergence is expected to extend from Taupo to Taumarunui, the south of Waitomo and Taranaki. In this area there is a low risk that one or two of the storms could be accompanied by downpours, 25 to 35 mm/per hour. Rainfall of this intensity can trigger slips, flash flooding and make driving conditions hazardous.

There is a low risk of thunderstorms over a broader area as indicated on the map.

Elsewhere, no thunderstorms expected.
MetService T-Storm Outlook Map to midnight Apr 10.png
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by NZstorm »

There is a better looking shortwave coming from the north today so that will help storms to fire.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by David »

Not such a moist week at all for some of us in the end haha. Some reasonable rain showing up in the models around the 13th and 14th though.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Justout »

We had a big thunderstorm around midnight last night, constant flashes and some pretty loud thunder for about an hour. Friends house up the road got struck by lightning took out phone and power so the electricians are pretty busy there this morning.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Tornado Tim »

Justout wrote:We had a big thunderstorm around midnight last night, constant flashes and some pretty loud thunder for about an hour. Friends house up the road got struck by lightning took out phone and power so the electricians are pretty busy there this morning.
It appears the storms were on the same line as they went past Raglan as well. Power was cut at sometime in the morning, I suspect a transformer blew.
Will check with a friend to find out.....
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by NZstorm »

Working at Omaha today, looking more unstable today than previous days this week up this way.
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Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by jamie »

Just had a very heavy shower in pukekohe.
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by Manukau heads obs »

Good shower pukekohe
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Re: Moist week with possible thunder, 7-Apr to 13-Apr

Unread post by spwill »

Photo of shower cloud over South Auckland from here.
Has stayed dry here for the past week, could do with some rain, hit and miss showers last week managed to mostly miss here
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