Potential low level snow Mon 13th April

[Orion]

2.4° here at present, and white patches of frozen graupel/sleet on the grass and rooves.

[Karliosis]

Some sleet mixed in the shower currently through Upper Riccarton

[Skywatcher]

10.2mm here so far but nothing since 3am with showers passing to the east. 4.3C with lighter winds in the last hour.

[Nev]

I'm no expert on Sth Island weather but 1 degree in Queenstown at 1pm in mid-April surely must be unheard of!

Queenstown Aero's max-temp of just 3.9C yesterday morning looks to be an April record. The lowest April T-max for Queenstown Aero since records began in 1972 was 5.4C in 1990, and 4.7C in 1958 for the generally warmer Queenstown Gardens site since 'reliable' records began in 1930.

[Skywatcher]

Photos from Darfield webcam at about 210m asl (http://www.darfield-weather.co.nz/) and Methven at ~320m (http://www.andi.co.nz/other_camera_methven.php)

[jamie]

Snow down lower than waiouru thismorning in the central north island.

[Richard]

Using https://koordinates.com/layer/88-nz-hei ... topo-150k/ i worked out the snow line is about 300m around here

[Razor]

Snowflakes in the sleet on my run into Chch City this morning.A week ago it was 28 degrees

[matttbs]

White here this morning with the snow frozen by frost, 1C at present with a -7.4C wind chill. Mountains around here seemed to have collected quite an impressive amount last night all the way from top to bottom. Had snow on and off from about 8pm til 10pm then very heavy snow until midnight. Over night low was -2

[Razor]

Snowline looks to be about 100m or less (settling) on Port Hills in a brief clearance a moment ago. Sleety rain with the odd snowflakes in town (approx. 10m asl)

EDIT 10am: Port Hills now absolutely plastered in heavy snow. I understand its settling on Worsley Spur to 50m asl. Dyers Pass Road is closed to all traffic

[Razor]

Pic...view from the office

[mikestormchaser]

Yes snow level 150-100m on port hills by looking from Lincoln.
Bloody strong wind this morning, no precip here though but yeah definitely snowed lower then expected.

[Skywatcher]

Pano of the Port Hills from Kirk Rd, Templeton.

[tich]

Looks like there's more snow on Port Hills this morning than there was anytime last year.
Only time I recall similar early snow was back in mid April 1999, when I saw flakes for a few minutes in central Chch and snow on the Port Hills as low as Victoria Park. (completely melted a few hours later)

[Razor]

Pano of the Port Hills from Kirk Rd, Templeton.

Great photo!

[mikestormchaser]

checking some of the rain maps, esp the metservice 3 day map the 3pm loop suggests more showers coming back in this arvo before clearing back again at night, although by the time that happens the snow level would have risen as its expected to.

[Thunder]

Cool photo Steven!

Not much snow out here really, sitting at 395m asl. Some last night might've added up to 1cm but is mostly gone now.

[Bradley]

I'm no expert on Sth Island weather but 1 degree in Queenstown at 1pm in mid-April surely must be unheard of!

Queenstown Aero's max-temp of just 3.9C yesterday morning looks to be an April record. The lowest April T-max for Queenstown Aero since records began in 1972 was 5.4C in 1990, and 4.7C in 1958 for the generally warmer Queenstown Gardens site since 'reliable' records began in 1930.

Nev that 3.9C max on Monday must go close to being colder than any day recorded last winter in Queenstown?

[Nev]

Queenstown Aero's max-temp of just 3.9C yesterday morning looks to be an April record. The lowest April T-max for Queenstown Aero since records began in 1972 was 5.4C in 1990, and 4.7C in 1958 for the generally warmer Queenstown Gardens site since 'reliable' records began in 1930.

Nev that 3.9C max on Monday must go close to being colder than any day recorded last winter in Queenstown?

Yes, although last winter was relatively mild and nationally June was the warmest on record. South Island winter-temps were predominately above normal, particularly around Central Otago.

Queenstown Aero had two days last July with lower T-maxs of 3.2C and 3.8C, along with one in May of 3.3C (or two consecutive May calendar-days of 3.3C and 3.8C).

Note that because Monday's T-max of 3.9C occurred just before 9am, the 24-hr T-max to 9am on Tuesday was actually 3.8C.

[Bradley]

Thanks Nev some great information there. Even though it wouldn't have been the coldest day from last winter as well for Queenstown considering how close it got I think we can safely say that cold front was a one in 20 year event!