Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Archive of NZ Weather and Climate
Forum rules
These topics are a read-only archive and may be subject to out-of-date information.

For today's weather discussion head to: New Zealand Weather & Climate
User avatar
NZstorm
Posts: 11333
Joined: Mon 10/03/2003 19:38
Location: Grey Lynn, Auckland
Has thanked: 342 times
Been thanked: 361 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by NZstorm »

Nev wrote: Mon 18/11/2019 15:15 Great rotational video on TVNZ...

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zea ... 5246484001
Probably a misocyclone rather than a mesocyclone.
NZ Thunderstorm Soc
Posts: 18488
Joined: Wed 12/03/2003 22:08
Location: Raukapuka Geraldine
Has thanked: 1769 times
Been thanked: 1412 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by NZ Thunderstorm Soc »

Apparently a lightning strike caused a house fire in Palmerston (South) today.
JohnGaul
NZThS
User avatar
Storm Struck
Posts: 4859
Joined: Wed 17/11/2004 21:25
Location: Belfast Christchurch
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 373 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Storm Struck »

Amazing footage and photos guys =D> , was there two tornados? Ive recieved photos from parklands area of trees down in a narrow channel. They reported it as a very quick sucession of big gale winds and a train sound, often described with tornados. This was parklands horseshoe lake area.
Not quite as dramatic up here in nelson, but we did have a heavy shower around 2pm with one peel of thunder.
Canterbury, home of good rugby and severe storms
Chris W
Posts: 1444
Joined: Tue 04/11/2014 18:13
Location: Lyttelton
Has thanked: 947 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Chris W »

Smaller showers continuing to sneak up through mid-Canty, a much lesser deal at the moment however.
tornado
Posts: 1660
Joined: Sat 02/03/2019 21:58
Location: flat bush,botany,auckland
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 93 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by tornado »

the tornado apparently threw a van 15 metres across a carpark.



https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/ ... -15-metres
Classicford
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue 25/05/2010 16:51
Location: Waimate
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 112 times
Contact:

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Classicford »

The auto shop that lost its roof is DJ Auto. We do all the import checks on his cars.
Cheers,
Brendon.
Waimate, South Canterbury.
NZ Thunderstorm Soc
Posts: 18488
Joined: Wed 12/03/2003 22:08
Location: Raukapuka Geraldine
Has thanked: 1769 times
Been thanked: 1412 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by NZ Thunderstorm Soc »

Chris W wrote: Mon 18/11/2019 17:15 Smaller showers continuing to sneak up through mid-Canty, a much lesser deal at the moment however.
Becoming weaker as skies slowly clear.
Quite a cool NE to Easterly blowing through here keeping temperatures in the low teens.
JohnGaul
NZThS
Chris W
Posts: 1444
Joined: Tue 04/11/2014 18:13
Location: Lyttelton
Has thanked: 947 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Chris W »

NIWA are talking up Wednesday for Christchurch. In the meantime the action is further south in terms of the coastal South Island tomorrow.
Razor
Moderator
Posts: 5121
Joined: Fri 10/02/2006 15:14
Location: Halswell, Christchurch
Has thanked: 717 times
Been thanked: 923 times

Re: General November Weather

Unread post by Razor »

Razor wrote: Mon 18/11/2019 12:55 20191118_125309.jpgStarting to look tasty from Hagley Park. Wonder if I'll finish my run dry?
To quote myself, well that escalated quickly! On reflection I'm struggling to remember a more impressive storm. It really had everything. I managed to take shelter at the new library and shot up to the 4th floor to watch it all roll in. Didnt know I was less than 1km from a damaging tornado! The hail was impressive, the gust front, the lightning that flashed right over the Cathedral with simultaneous thunder, reminiscent of some incredible storms I've experienced over the years while tramping in the Southern Alps.

I'm still buzzing! What a memorable day
Christchurch Rocks
Thunder
Posts: 2068
Joined: Wed 12/03/2003 19:47
Location: Mt Somers
Has thanked: 19 times
Been thanked: 41 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Thunder »

I tried my darnedest to chase this storm. Followed it from it's inception near Rakaia and up to Chch. Once it went over Chch though it became much to difficult to chase with all the traffic so the best I could do was go around the city (John's Rd, lol John Gaul). I figured keeping on the western side of the storm would lead to better picture opportunities but I was mostly out of luck. Wish the storm did something interesting before it got to Chch but oh well.

I did film the waterspout from near Kainga though so something at least. Although it looked more like a condensation funnel that came down then it happened to go over water sort of thing.

Forum.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Image
Aaron Wilkinson
User avatar
TonyT
Moderator
Posts: 2878
Joined: Thu 08/05/2003 11:09
Location: Amberley, North Canterbury
Has thanked: 352 times
Been thanked: 1146 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by TonyT »

Chris W wrote: Mon 18/11/2019 20:03 NIWA are talking up Wednesday for Christchurch. In the meantime the action is further south in terms of the coastal South Island tomorrow.
Wednesday has always looked more potent in model guidance than today did. Doesn't mean it will end up that way on the day though!
mikestormchaser
Posts: 2711
Joined: Sat 03/06/2006 20:11
Location: Rolleston, Canterbury
Has thanked: 355 times
Been thanked: 607 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by mikestormchaser »

TonyT wrote: Mon 18/11/2019 20:42
Chris W wrote: Mon 18/11/2019 20:03 NIWA are talking up Wednesday for Christchurch. In the meantime the action is further south in terms of the coastal South Island tomorrow.
Wednesday has always looked more potent in model guidance than today did. Doesn't mean it will end up that way on the day though!
Wednesday looks simula to today but over a longer duration into the afternoon so perhaps better timing? Also there looks to be more of an E-NE in afternoon to aswel as another strong jet so it looks good but like you say we hope it holds!
Mike
Stormchasers.co.nz
NZ Thunderstorm Soc
Posts: 18488
Joined: Wed 12/03/2003 22:08
Location: Raukapuka Geraldine
Has thanked: 1769 times
Been thanked: 1412 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by NZ Thunderstorm Soc »

Today's thunderstorm in Christchurch sort of reminded me of days gone past when I lived there.
Usual NE punching in before the actual front come through.
Interesting the vortex forming in the Sydenham area and the waterspouts off shore . :-k
Would of been like old times especially in the 1960s when I got interested in thunderstormic weather as a young lad. :smile:
JohnGaul
NZThS
mikestormchaser
Posts: 2711
Joined: Sat 03/06/2006 20:11
Location: Rolleston, Canterbury
Has thanked: 355 times
Been thanked: 607 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by mikestormchaser »

NZ Thunderstorm Soc wrote: Mon 18/11/2019 22:14 Today's thunderstorm in Christchurch sort of reminded me of days gone past when I lived there.
Usual NE punching in before the actual front come through.
Interesting the vortex forming in the Sydenham area and the waterspouts off shore . :-k
Would of been like old times especially in the 1960s when I got interested in thunderstormic weather as a young lad. :smile:
It was one of those days john! The citys turn today. Lets hope on wensday we all get something juicy!! More wide spread 😁 which i can chase after work.
Mike
Stormchasers.co.nz
tornado
Posts: 1660
Joined: Sat 02/03/2019 21:58
Location: flat bush,botany,auckland
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 93 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by tornado »

I like to confirm the tornado as a low end EF1 cause apparently it threw a van 15 metres and lifted a few roofs.
User avatar
Nev
Moderator
Posts: 6216
Joined: Tue 07/03/2006 15:24
Location: Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf
Has thanked: 468 times
Been thanked: 1064 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Nev »

Hmm… I'm no expert, but I actually think the Sydenham vortex looks more like a gustnado than an actual tornado? The van or light truck reportedly 'thrown' 15-20 metres across a parking area in Richmond (presume the handbrake was on) is also at least 2 km north of the Sydenham vortex's apparently more west-east damage trail. There were also reports of some roof damage in New Brighton. So maybe multiple gustnado's with that gust front?
tornado
Posts: 1660
Joined: Sat 02/03/2019 21:58
Location: flat bush,botany,auckland
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 93 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by tornado »

well in the vids taken I could see the vortex rotating clockwise which is how our tornadoes spin. and besides tornadoes dont have to have a funnel to be a tornado. as long as they have a debris cloud which was visible.

there was a waterspout reported at new brighton so maybe that was what caused the roof damage there?
Last edited by tornado on Thu 19/12/2019 19:03, edited 2 times in total.
Awhituobs
Posts: 2256
Joined: Tue 10/09/2019 07:20
Location: Waiuku
Has thanked: 706 times
Been thanked: 556 times
Contact:

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Awhituobs »

Met Service confirmed it was a Tornado (which would have backed up what they saw from doplar radar etc)
User avatar
Nev
Moderator
Posts: 6216
Joined: Tue 07/03/2006 15:24
Location: Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf
Has thanked: 468 times
Been thanked: 1064 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Nev »

Sounds to me like MS simply based their opinion on videos they'd seen. Gustnadoes look so remarkably similar to tornadoes (minus the condensation funnel connecting it to a parent cloud), that they're often mistaken as such, even by the experts. And MS have been known to change their minds before. Just say'n… :-k
Razor
Moderator
Posts: 5121
Joined: Fri 10/02/2006 15:14
Location: Halswell, Christchurch
Has thanked: 717 times
Been thanked: 923 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Razor »

Having watched multiple videos of this thing, I am of the view this was a tornado for sure. Funny thing is watching the storm approach I got a message from a work colleague who mentioned the storm was "tornado warned" in the Metservice severe warning. And within minutes there was such action just a handful of blocks from where I stood.
Christchurch Rocks
User avatar
Nev
Moderator
Posts: 6216
Joined: Tue 07/03/2006 15:24
Location: Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf
Has thanked: 468 times
Been thanked: 1064 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Nev »

Correlation does not imply causation.
Happy to be corrected if someone could explain why the Sydenham event wasn't a gustnado? … :-)
User avatar
03Stormchaser
Moderator
Posts: 4428
Joined: Tue 09/12/2003 12:11
Location: Prebbleton
Has thanked: 104 times
Been thanked: 184 times
Contact:

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by 03Stormchaser »

Funny we mention a gustnado as earlier i notice dust being kicked up and spun around out near the Christchurch Hospital that was higher than the hospital itself. At that time it definitively look like similar gustnados I have seen. So when I heard about a tornado I didn't think much of it at first. Still between two minds, but that TV1 video looking up at the rotation in the clouds is making me lean toward a weak landspout over gust front.

NZ Largest Storm Chasing Facebook Pagehttp://www.facebook.com/nzstormchasers
NZ Largest Storm Chase Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/NZStormchasersGroup
NZ Stormchasers TV https://www.youtube.com/@NZStormchasers
User avatar
03Stormchaser
Moderator
Posts: 4428
Joined: Tue 09/12/2003 12:11
Location: Prebbleton
Has thanked: 104 times
Been thanked: 184 times
Contact:

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by 03Stormchaser »

Nev wrote: Tue 19/11/2019 09:27 Correlation does not imply causation.
Happy to be corrected if someone could explain why the Sydenham event wasn't a gustnado? … :-)
I hope MS put out a detailed blog post about this event
NZ Largest Storm Chasing Facebook Pagehttp://www.facebook.com/nzstormchasers
NZ Largest Storm Chase Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/NZStormchasersGroup
NZ Stormchasers TV https://www.youtube.com/@NZStormchasers
Razor
Moderator
Posts: 5121
Joined: Fri 10/02/2006 15:14
Location: Halswell, Christchurch
Has thanked: 717 times
Been thanked: 923 times

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by Razor »

Nev wrote: Tue 19/11/2019 09:27 Correlation does not imply causation.
Happy to be corrected if someone could explain why the Sydenham event wasn't a gustnado? … :-)
I'm happy to run with the Metservice view as per the statements they made in this article. Convince me otherways naysayers

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/ ... ch-tornado
Christchurch Rocks
User avatar
03Stormchaser
Moderator
Posts: 4428
Joined: Tue 09/12/2003 12:11
Location: Prebbleton
Has thanked: 104 times
Been thanked: 184 times
Contact:

Re: Severe Thunderstorms, hail, tornado - South Island, November 18th

Unread post by 03Stormchaser »

Razor wrote: Tue 19/11/2019 09:35
Nev wrote: Tue 19/11/2019 09:27 Correlation does not imply causation.
Happy to be corrected if someone could explain why the Sydenham event wasn't a gustnado? … :-)
I'm happy to run with the Metservice view as per the statements they made in this article. Convince me otherways naysayers

https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/ ... ch-tornado
"A thunderstorm "spawned" a 15-minute tornado that caused widespread destruction over Christchurch city, but it was a relatively mild weather event"
:-k
NZ Largest Storm Chasing Facebook Pagehttp://www.facebook.com/nzstormchasers
NZ Largest Storm Chase Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/NZStormchasersGroup
NZ Stormchasers TV https://www.youtube.com/@NZStormchasers
Locked