Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

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These topics are a read-only archive and may be subject to out-of-date information.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
Storm Struck
Posts: 4859
Joined: Wed 17/11/2004 21:25
Location: Belfast Christchurch
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 373 times

Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Storm Struck »

Quite possibly one of the more fruitful set ups of the season so far for tomorrow, so I thought its definitely worth a new topic.
High cloud in the morning should clear off as the ridge opens up, this will allow much lighter winds south of Christchurch in the afternoon.
Whether they are NE or lighter Northerly shouldn't be too much of an issue given all the other strong ingredients there.
Upper air is favourable and high Cape values near 900 with - 5c LIs.
The SW looks like a slow mover and might actually converge over the city in the evening, but I'm picking most of the action to be in the usual spots coastal Ashburton down to rangitata is where id have a high risk and 20+mm hail.
Worth a chase I feel.
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: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Chris W »

Yes looks possibly like a high risk, low risk severe setup for reasons I and others detailed in the general Dec thread already.

MS going moderate from north of Dunedin to south of Chch at the moment, I'd have thought Chch would be moderate as well with possible NE vs SW/S.

https://www.metservice.com/warnings/thu ... rm-outlook
mikestormchaser
Posts: 2711
Joined: Sat 03/06/2006 20:11
Location: Rolleston, Canterbury
Has thanked: 355 times
Been thanked: 607 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by mikestormchaser »

It looks like our best set up to date. A bit more coastal then it looked in the middle of the week.

The rangitata/ ashburton area would be a good place to set up. So i think ill talk to aaron and jase about heading down that way about lunch time. Id think a Moderate risk from north otago up coastal Canterbury plains with a low risk of severe hail.
Mike
Stormchasers.co.nz
mikestormchaser
Posts: 2711
Joined: Sat 03/06/2006 20:11
Location: Rolleston, Canterbury
Has thanked: 355 times
Been thanked: 607 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by mikestormchaser »

1pm surface wind map showing possible NE sea breeze before the SW.

That might play well in our hands and enhance moisture before the change. Something to keep eye on for tomorrow. As it will put us up to a high risk if there is An onshore breeze 🤞
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Mike
Stormchasers.co.nz
mikestormchaser
Posts: 2711
Joined: Sat 03/06/2006 20:11
Location: Rolleston, Canterbury
Has thanked: 355 times
Been thanked: 607 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by mikestormchaser »

Jase, aaron, andrew and i will head south today and see what happens. I was reminded that the ashburton santa parade was on today so we will need avoid the township. Last thing we need is to be stuck in a Santa parade while chasing storms 🤦‍♂️
Mike
Stormchasers.co.nz
Orion
Posts: 3994
Joined: Sun 08/08/2010 16:49
Location: Ashburton, Mid-Canterbury, 110m asl.
Has thanked: 1367 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Orion »

Wind still NW, and unpleasantly gusty over the past half an hour; raindrops splattering down from somewhere aloft.

18.0°C
NZ Thunderstorm Soc
Posts: 18488
Joined: Wed 12/03/2003 22:08
Location: Raukapuka Geraldine
Has thanked: 1769 times
Been thanked: 1412 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by NZ Thunderstorm Soc »

I noticed a few lightning hits along the Alps according to the Blitz later this morning.
Looks quite thunderstormic between Grey and Westport at the moment.
JohnGaul
NZThS
Chris W
Posts: 1444
Joined: Tue 04/11/2014 18:13
Location: Lyttelton
Has thanked: 947 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Chris W »

MS have extended the moderate risk to Chch, guessing they feel heating will return after the initial trough passes over shortly, or convergence will develop otherwise. Cloudy right now over Lyttelton, a little windy.
JP.
Posts: 344
Joined: Mon 12/06/2006 15:16
Location: Christchurch
Has thanked: 30 times
Been thanked: 99 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by JP. »

Just started raining lightly in the CBD. Still very warm
Orion
Posts: 3994
Joined: Sun 08/08/2010 16:49
Location: Ashburton, Mid-Canterbury, 110m asl.
Has thanked: 1367 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Orion »

Skies now mostly clear above, sunny, 20.7°C.
User avatar
snowstormwatcher
Posts: 1643
Joined: Wed 23/09/2009 09:45
Location: South Canterbury. 20km inland from Timaru.
Has thanked: 188 times
Been thanked: 138 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by snowstormwatcher »

Heavy shower with thunder here now
trickytiger
Posts: 334
Joined: Sat 05/07/2008 10:36
Location: Timaru, New Zealand. 13m asl
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 27 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by trickytiger »

Constant thunder in temuka right now
JP.
Posts: 344
Joined: Mon 12/06/2006 15:16
Location: Christchurch
Has thanked: 30 times
Been thanked: 99 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by JP. »

No rain not much wind in the CBD now and lovely 21c
Chris W
Posts: 1444
Joined: Tue 04/11/2014 18:13
Location: Lyttelton
Has thanked: 947 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Chris W »

Clouds billowing up in the distance west of town, not really sure how far away. I'm in St.Martins at the moment and the sun is out with patches of high cloud around.
User avatar
Richard
Posts: 8369
Joined: Tue 14/07/2009 07:32
Location: Medbury, Inland North Canterbury
Has thanked: 1656 times
Been thanked: 800 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Richard »

Getting quite a heavy shower here at the moment
Chris W
Posts: 1444
Joined: Tue 04/11/2014 18:13
Location: Lyttelton
Has thanked: 947 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Chris W »

Building quickly over there
20201205_155901.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
NZ Thunderstorm Soc
Posts: 18488
Joined: Wed 12/03/2003 22:08
Location: Raukapuka Geraldine
Has thanked: 1769 times
Been thanked: 1412 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by NZ Thunderstorm Soc »

Just come back from a 'storm chase' observed from around Geraldine. Photos later.
Thunderstorm moving east observed, as reported by TT and SSW in the posts above.
Sadly, wind gone back to a breezy West to NW now.
JohnGaul
NZThS
Orion
Posts: 3994
Joined: Sun 08/08/2010 16:49
Location: Ashburton, Mid-Canterbury, 110m asl.
Has thanked: 1367 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Orion »

Hearing thunder \:D/
Chris W
Posts: 1444
Joined: Tue 04/11/2014 18:13
Location: Lyttelton
Has thanked: 947 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Chris W »

Home now, can see the top of that Ashburton/Rakaia storm.
20201205_164921.jpg
Not sure if I'm hearing rumbles from it, but it looks wet under there! I am seeing flashes though \:D/
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Chris W on Sat 05/12/2020 17:03, edited 1 time in total.
dogmelon
Posts: 417
Joined: Wed 22/09/2004 13:24
Location: Chch.
Has thanked: 88 times
Been thanked: 48 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by dogmelon »

Ashburton is once again thunderstorm alley.
Chris W
Posts: 1444
Joined: Tue 04/11/2014 18:13
Location: Lyttelton
Has thanked: 947 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Chris W »

Ooh, deep rolling thunder! CG lightning. This is a good show 8)
20201205_170843.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Chris W on Sat 05/12/2020 17:09, edited 1 time in total.
Orion
Posts: 3994
Joined: Sun 08/08/2010 16:49
Location: Ashburton, Mid-Canterbury, 110m asl.
Has thanked: 1367 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Orion »

Thunder and rain here. Has become quite dark.
Orion
Posts: 3994
Joined: Sun 08/08/2010 16:49
Location: Ashburton, Mid-Canterbury, 110m asl.
Has thanked: 1367 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Orion »

Three seconds from that flash to the thunder...

15.9°C.
Chris W
Posts: 1444
Joined: Tue 04/11/2014 18:13
Location: Lyttelton
Has thanked: 947 times
Been thanked: 362 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Chris W »

Looks to be building on it's northern flank, could be heading for me. Thunder now quite regular.
Last edited by Chris W on Sat 05/12/2020 17:31, edited 1 time in total.
Orion
Posts: 3994
Joined: Sun 08/08/2010 16:49
Location: Ashburton, Mid-Canterbury, 110m asl.
Has thanked: 1367 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Thunderstorms Eastern SI 5/12/20

Unread post by Orion »

Some hail the size of peas in amongst the heavy rain for a couple of minutes.

14.4°C.
Locked