General May Weather

[matttbs]

Metservice updated their TS outlook;

Chart Updated at 2:20pm Unstable northwesterlies are bringing bands of heavy showers and hail to central and northern New Zealand this afternoon, with a low risk of a few thunderstorms as depicted on the chart. However, the risk is considered moderate this afternoon over eastern parts of Bay of Plenty, and in the west from Waikato to Waitomo. These thunderstorms may produce localised heavy rain and hail, also strong wind gusts of 100 km/h in the eastern Bay of Plenty. In addition, an active southerly change is pushing northwards through mid and north Canterbury this afternoon, and there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms in these places. These thunderstorms may produce localised heavy rain, hail of 5 to 15mm diameter, and strong wind gusts of 90 km/h. No thunderstorms expected over the remainder of New Zealand.

[David]

Large hail in ChCh CBD. That one crept up, looked quite minor til it arrived!

Some welcome birthday weather action

Happy birthday. Nice birthday surprise too by the sounds of it

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Much colder now with this southerly burst after a pleasant morning. It\s a shame that lower stratus from the SW hindered the view of the developing thunderstorm cloud.
Good rain here with the southerly and a nice flash along the cloud of the lightning, just to the SW of here.

[melja]

Good thunderstorm Here in Rangiora for the last 20mins with a good hail strom.
Got a great view of the growing storms coming back from culverden with very large towering clouds and a very impressive gust front stretched right across the horizon.

[Skywatcher]

This was all I managed to capture. A photo of towering cumulus before it was obscured by low cloud and then developed into the storm that passed over the city.

[Richard]

Just a wind change here and thats all.
Friday is starting to look like finally some good rain for North Canterbury

[matttbs]

It also looks like mt hutt could get a season starting dump of snow this week. Around 40cm

[melja]

Wont hold up to well against any Nwer systems tho

[03Stormchaser]

Found these online from Palmerston North from yesterday (Taken by Josh Dobson).
TBH i have no idea what the weather there was yesterday so cant verify these.

[Razor]

Loving this elongated westerly pattern in ChCh. Warm sunny days right through May so far (mainly)

[harleyb]

Found these online from Palmerston North from yesterday (Taken by Josh Dobson).
TBH i have no idea what the weather there was yesterday so cant verify these.

I saw that on my way home after work at around 5.15 or so. We'd had some very strong convectional showers throughout the afternoon and that cell looked like it was building up to something interesting too, though I didn't notice any rotation going on.

[Richard]

Received only 3mm from that last weather system,all eye looking ahead to the next system to break the drought

[Storm Struck]

About the same here Richard, got more rain from Tuesdays brief spell.
It looks like a less mild week ahead but relatively settled until next weekend with a potential low and eastern rain maker on the cards.
A warm May but I am not putting on any bets for what winter will be like, because at the end of the day weather will be the decider not pen fiddlers who sit around a desk and wack a estimate on what 4 seasons in one winter will hit.

[Bradley]

Models are in agreement that a very cold but not overly moisture-laden cold front will sweep through the South Island next Saturday - snow around the 300-400m mark looks likely in Canterbury but unfortunately at the moment only a few centimetres look likely for inland areas

[matttbs]

Models are in agreement that a very cold but not overly moisture-laden cold front will sweep through the South Island next Saturday - snow around the 300-400m mark looks likely in Canterbury but unfortunately at the moment only a few centimetres look likely for inland areas

Don't you mean fortunately.. I don't want any of the White stuff until after the 2nd of June when the season ends then it may do whatever the [expletive deleted] it wants. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a decent snow storm but not until it won't affect work

[Bradley]

I would have thought Matt farmers in Canterbury and especially south Canterbury would be willing to put up with the inconvenience of say a 10cm dump of snow if it meant some good moisture once the snow melts?

[matttbs]

Nope, had enough moisture here it's north canty that needs it. At this time of year when it's only going to get colder it will do no good as the soil temp will drop below the grass growth threshold and make a muddy mess when it melts which is the last thing you want when your drying cows off. Saying that people up north that are still in drought may think differently as it is getting pretty desperate. Send it up there I say!

[Razor]

The generally dry and relatively balmy May continues for Christchurch, temps in the low 20's as I type, look to be pushing up further yet too.

So far year to date we are sitting on approx. 150mm of rain for the YTD, compared to over 500mm same point last year. What a contrast, last year it was all about floods.

[RichyDunedin]

Had thundery showers here at 3.30 and just before 6pm today. Hopefully more tonight.

[melja]

Budget was kind to Metservice

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/budget- ... wellington

[jamie]

Awesome. Otago radar is well overdue!!!! Wonder when that will be put in place? Is that finding for this financial year or the year starting 2016?

[melja]

16 million over the next 4 years.

[Aucklandstorm]

Looks like a storm out west of Auckland coming in?

[Manukau heads obs]

doesnt seem to be lightning active....

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Awesome. Otago radar is well overdue!!!! Wonder when that will be put in place? Is that finding for this financial year or the year starting 2016?

Interesting they quoted Central Otago, with it's mountains would make Doppler rain recording harder to locate?
I thought that the Otago Peninsula area would enhance the Southland and Canterbury ones?
...but there is Queenstown?
32 million would pay for a rain radar at a higher location?