South Island Snowstorm - June 18-19

[Bradley]

The snowline is just before Kirwee at present (150m) with around 2-3cm on the ground in the town

[matttbs]

Would have to be the biggest flakes ive seen,starting to settle now

You pick up a bit of rain before the snow Richard?

[Richard]

Looking at about 150kms out from the Canterbury radar i reckon it has become less effective at picking up the precipitation rate as the snow level has come down,certainly this way anyway.

[Richard]

Would have to be the biggest flakes ive seen,starting to settle now

You pick up a bit of rain before the snow Richard?

Yep 10mm

[NZstorm]

A clip from the NZ herald site from Wanaka. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/national/news ... _id=151490

[Bradley]

WeatherWatch now forecasting snow to 100m and a 'flurry in the city'. Good to see they've caught up with everyone else now lol.

[melja]

Temp not really dropping anymore in Chch or other coastal areas with it being stuck on 1.7C here.

[snowchaser01]

Temp not really dropping anymore in Chch or other coastal areas with it being stuck on 1.7C here.

i personally think if its not snowing in chch by 1opm... it wont at all

[Dean.]

Back to sleety rain for the past hour or so.Temp only 0.6 though.Approx 1-2 cm of snow on ground.

[03Stormchaser]

Temp not really dropping anymore in Chch or other coastal areas with it being stuck on 1.7C here.

i personally think if its not snowing in chch by 1opm... it wont at all

Not long ago you were saying we would get 10cm in chch lol

[tich]

Temp not really dropping anymore in Chch or other coastal areas with it being stuck on 1.7C here.

i personally think if its not snowing in chch by 1opm... it wont at all

Temperature now doesn't have to drop much - 2.3C at Jeff's Hoon Hay station.
Sleety rain in St Albans.

[petem8nz]

Does our "mate" who set up the Canterbury snow watch Facebook page, still grace the forum with his presence?

[Storm Struck]

Its very borderline here in Rolleston a good mix of sleet and rain now, almost at that lighter drifting stage.
I wonder if it will get past that layer as it seems to be stuck on what we have now, but the temperature is hovering around 2C so if it drops to even 1.5C it should be all on.

[Bradley]

Does our "mate" who set up the Canterbury snow watch Facebook page, still grace the forum with his presence?

Wow, where did that come from? Talbotm has been posting on here slot today for your info

[melja]

Gone to 1.2C here but still rain.

[Paul Mallinson]

Its very borderline here in Rolleston a good mix of sleet and rain now, almost at that lighter drifting stage.
I wonder if it will get past that layer as it seems to be stuck on what we have now, but the temperature is hovering around 2C so if it drops to even 1.5C it should be all on.

It all depends upon whether the precip rate increases. Heavier precip will lower the snow level by lowering the isothermal layer - that is the melting snow aloft robs the environment of heat and so an isothermal layer following the zero degree isotherm builds down lowering the snow. I see the winds are westerly at CHCH, Ashburton and Timaru. This will likely keep the temps down over the land. Le Bons bay is blowing southerly and on the CH radar you can see precip elements moving from the southeast towards the land. There is possibly a wind convergence zone offshore. Perhaps the westerly is there because a low is forming about the coast further south (I'm at home this evening).
Paul

[Bradley]

Its very borderline here in Rolleston a good mix of sleet and rain now, almost at that lighter drifting stage.
I wonder if it will get past that layer as it seems to be stuck on what we have now, but the temperature is hovering around 2C so if it drops to even 1.5C it should be all on.

I wouldn't count on it, 1.1C here only 5kms up the road in West Melton and hardly any sleet even

[Razor]

Been out running for past 2 hours. Light rain, no sign of snow and not really even sleet.

[Richard]

Snow quickly accumulating now,temp now getting close to zero

[matttbs]

Still bucketing down here, up to 22cm now and no signs of letting up. -1.2 degrees now

[MoorfNZ]

Still coming down as hard as ever here... radar looks full on, too, for what it's worth

[mikestormchaser]

2.1C is cold but not cold enough!!! Like paul says the precipitation needs to get heavier to lower the freezing level. " evaporative cooling" its called if im correct.
Iv always been on the fence with this, infact in honesty probably more on the side of no snow to sea level IN CHCH so we shall see overnight.

[Bradley]

Any idea why 1.0C isn't cold enough either Mike?

[snowchaser01]

Paul, thanks for your input! In a nutshell, what do you think the chances are of decent snow in chch overnight? i would think flurries here and there are likely?

[bpo]

Right on cue, the usual outraged meathead drama queens are weeping like girlies in the media (ODT, etc) about how "...the Met Service failed to predict this event, and/or warn us, and/or tuck me in bed, and/or chew my food for me!"