An active day for storms in many areas of NZ.
For my area the winds are favourable with a NE, dont think it will swing back to the west again today.
Good luck to those who are going to chase
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Note that severe thunderstorms with downpours may affect parts of the North Island and watches for severe thunderstorms will be issued later this morning.
A moist unstable airmass affects the upper and central North Island today but conditions are expected to become drier and more stable from the west this afternoon and evening. For Northland there is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms with downpours, bringing localised rainfall amounts of 25 to 40 mm per hour this morning and into the afternoon. For the east of the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay north of about Napier there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms with heavy rain, 10 to 25 mm per hour this morning, afternoon and evening but for the eastern Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay north of Napier there is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms bringing downpours, 25 to 40 mm per hour this afternoon and evening. For the south of Taumarunui, Taihape and Hawkes Bay from about Napier southwards there is moderate risk of thunderstorms with heavy rain, 10 to 25 mm per hour this afternoon and evening. There is a low risk of thunderstorms over a slightly broader are over the North Island as indicated on the chart.
Cold air at upper levels and a surface front are likely to bring showers to the east of the South Island today. For North Otago, Central Otago and the south of Canterbury there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms this morning and this afternoon. For inland Canterbury and inland Marlborough there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening as indicated on the chart. The storms over the South Island may be accompanied by heavy rain, 10 to 25 mm per hour and small hail. There is a low risk of thunderstorms in a slightly broader area over the South Island as indicated on the chart.
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Nothing here becoming claggy and overcast again after a bit of a clearance this morning, however, it does look interesting just south of Timaru according to the current radar
See what happens ? although I don't think conditions here will see any thunderstorm activity but then you never know.
Had to take daughter into ChCh, entered the Clag at Waipara and left it again around the same area. Sunny here which is helping build over head cloud development, looking promising at the stage.
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Some decent storms starting to fire up just inland from Ashburton currently and moving up the plains quickly.
Possibly might be severe warned soon as there is quite abit of green on the radar too, so some good hail developing.
Has been and still is a moderate NE in the city, with some cloud but sunny intervals also. Currently 20C too.
Interesting this one ?
No thunder or sferics noted but radar showing up some really crucial development as this system moves north?
Fine here earlier but with high cloud and no real warmth to get things going but like yesterday it clagged up from noon becoming more so before the southerly came over. Been easterly up until then.
Sorry to say but aaron and I took a drive out inland and encountered heavy rain and that was it. Nothing torrential at all though. And no lightning or thunder observed. Not sure where the warning has come from? Looks like just a heavy convective band of rain to me.
Their may possibly have been a strike or two along the squall inland to hororata but otherwise nothing exciting
Last edited by mikestormchaser on Tue 26/12/2023 16:50, edited 1 time in total.
I hear on the news that Gisborne has had it's most severe thunderstorm ever.
I wonder it it is fact or just a news story?
I see a STW for the Gisborne area at the moment.
It did seem to ramp up again as it went north, it had enough omph just not enough to keep it going.
Some brief heavy rain here with a welcome 5mm so far, should be some more showers overnight.
Next chance is new years eve, which the last I checked has upper air at about -26C. Quite good for the height of summer.
A couple of photos of storm cells north of Napier yesterday, I didn't chase as cells were moving away to the north.
It was a fine day for Napier yesterday, min19.7C-max 28.9C.
For the upper North Island Friday looks the next day for storm activity.
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