Drought conditions early 2015

David · Unread post by **David** » Sat 17/01/2015 17:57

Looks like a few parts of NZ are heading for drought, notably Canterbury which arguably is already in drought, though none has been officially declared yet.

NIWA soil moisture deficit for 16 Jan 2015 shows that overall NZ is looking slightly drier than at this time last year.

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sat 17/01/2015 18:19

Thanks David. I was thinking a topic for the drought or drought possibilities may be needed.
If you looked at my pictures I posted up yesterday of the "SW Arch" and the cloud that produced the odd thunderclap, you can see that the property here is quite dry, despite the odd drizzly/rain showers we have had over the past couple of days.
Ohh dear, back to the drying NW winds here from 6pm

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Wed 28/01/2015 12:31

Just did a bit of digging from the NRFA website and it seems the current drought does appear to be particularly bad so early. The drought code key can be found at the link above.

All dates taken are from January 28 as comparison.
1998 (Strong El Niño).

1998.png

1999, severe Canterbury/Otago drought.

1999.png

2008, worst Waikato drought in over a quarter of a century began.

2008.png

2013, ugly

2013.png

2014 comparison

2014.png

Today

2015.png

bpo · Unread post by **bpo** » Thu 29/01/2015 14:11

The irrigators down here are going flat-out and non-stop, so must be plenty of water about. Certainly lots of flies, and more mosquitoes than I've ever seen anywhere before in my life: It's like getting a reverse blood transfusion.

jamie · Unread post by **jamie** » Thu 29/01/2015 19:44

Damn it's getting incredibly dry north of Huntly and south of Huntly is quickly heading the same way (about two weeks better off).

Not a blade of green grass (except weeds) on the hills. Notably the flats are browning off very fast now and are now browner than they ever got in last years drought.

I'm amazed at how quickly things are going backwards in the region.

bpo · Unread post by **bpo** » Sun 08/02/2015 20:02

Those maps are wrong -- Everything's as green as a billiard table down here. Must be all the rain we're not getting that's keeping it all so lush.

Dean. · Unread post by **Dean.** » Sun 08/02/2015 20:19

February snow and droughts
Inland Canterbury near Peel Forest on Friday

Richard · Unread post by **Richard** » Tue 10/02/2015 12:42

This is how its looking in North Canterbury,so different to Southland where i was in the weekend

melja · Unread post by **melja** » Tue 10/02/2015 21:10

Except Culverden were its green green green.

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Tue 10/02/2015 21:35

The only green around here are weeds, and areas that we have watered.
Recent moisture (light rain/dew) has been giving the ground a bit of a relief from a parched sort of look
Our willow trees are still green but the cattle have been eating much of the leaves from it.

melja · Unread post by **melja** » Wed 11/02/2015 04:17

Using vast amounts of water on those culverden dairy farms to keep it green.

Nev · Unread post by **Nev** » Thu 12/02/2015 08:26

Looks like a drought will be officially declared for eastern parts of the South Island today.

Manukau heads obs · Sat 14/02/2015 07:25

this high sure is parked up for a while...for the next 2 weeks by the looks....

Richard · Unread post by **Richard** » Sun 15/02/2015 06:58

Having just got back from a trip down south i dont see the need to have added areas south Waitaki River into the drought declaration areas,it maybe dry but at least they have green grass.

Manukau heads obs · Sun 15/02/2015 10:23

whats a drought for one area can be normal for another area though

David · Unread post by **David** » Mon 23/02/2015 13:26

Our kitchen door has become very hard to shut again. It's not fitting into the frame properly at the bottom. Had this same problem in the 2013 drought.

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