Meteorological Society of Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 1

ISSN 0111-1736

Meteorological Society Of New Zealand (Inc.)

NEWSLETTER 126 SEPTEMBER 2011

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 2 Meteorological Society Of New Zealand (Inc.) NEWSLETTER 126 SEPTEMBER 2011 PO Box 6523, Marion Square, 6141, New Zealand Please forward contributions to Bob McDavitt, [email protected]

CONTENTS Page AGM + other notices 3 Weather Watchers 4-7 Avondale Tornado 7-8 Winter 2011 (NIWA + Ben Tichborne) 9-18 Autumn – in the media 19-47 Your Committee until the AGM President Andrew Tait [email protected] Immediate Past President Kim Dirks k.dirks@.ac.nz Auckland VP Jennifer Salmond [email protected] Wellington VP James Renwick [email protected] VP Colin Simpson VP vacant Secretary Sam Dean [email protected] Treasurer Alan Porteous [email protected] Circulation Manager Sylvia Nichol [email protected] Journal Editor Brian Giles [email protected] Newsletter Editor Bob McDavitt [email protected] Wed Editor Peter Knudsen Hydrological Soc Liaison Charles Pearson [email protected] General Committee [email protected] Mike Revell [email protected] Katrina Richards kr@geography..ac.nz Gareth Renowden [email protected] Duncan Ackerley Views and endorsements expressed in this newsletter are those of the contributors and advertisers, and not necessarily those of the Meteorological Society of New Zealand. The mention of specific companies or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the Society.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 3

OFFICIAL NOTICE of Met Society 2011 AGM You are invited to attend our 32nd Annual General Meeting This is planned for 5:30pm at the end of the first day of our Annual Conference at Trailways Hotel, Nelson on Monday 14 Nov 2011. All financial members are allowed to attend. Apologies may be emailed to [email protected] Agenda 1. Attendance 2. Apologies 3. Confirmation of minutes of previous AGM 4. Matters Arising: 5. President’s Report 6. Treasurer’s Report 7. Appointment of Auditor 8. Subscription Rate 9. Election of Officers 10. Other Matters

36 speakers (including three international) plus 11 posters. May also get two round-the- world cyclists showing up. They are cycling to raise money for AIDS research and change awareness. For more information see http://metsoc.science.org.nz/MetSocActivities/Conferences.htm

New website address: The Met Society website URL is now http://metsoc.science.org.nz. The old URL (http://metsoc.rsnz.org) was still working in October but is likely to be decommis- sioned soon.

Report from the Branches- recent meetings: The School of Environment hosted two seminars in Auckland : Differences and sensitivities in potential hydrologic impact of to regional-scale Athabasca and Fraser River Basins, Canadian Rocky Mountains by Professor Thian Y Gan from The University of Alberta, Canada, 5 September 2011 Preparing for White Swans: Climate Change and opportunities for the economy by Dr J. Salinger (University of Auckland and the University of Tasmania), Professor Caroline Saunders (Lincoln University) and Rod Oram (award winning financial and business journalist and Ra- dio New Zealand National/Sunday Star Times commentator), 2 September 2011.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 4 WAIRARAPA WEATHER WATCHERS - 1990-2011 It was a Wellington Weather Watchers (see Appendix 1 picnic at Ian Campbell's Awarua farm on the northern Wairarapa plains in early March 1990 that led to the subsequent formation of Wairarapa Weather Watchers. Barely two months later, on Monday 21 May 1990, nine people attended an evening meeting at the Masterton home of Alex Neale. At that meeting it was de- cided to form an 'interest group', to be known as Wairarapa Weather Watchers, whose aims would primarily be 'to promote a greater understanding of weather and climate, especially as they affect Wairarapa, and to foster the exchange of ideas and observations of local weather conditions'. In addition to the nine who attended, two others who could not come along, had already expressed their support for such a group. These eleven founding members were all from Wairarapa: Brian Cameron, Derek Daniell, Barry Kempton, Alex Neale, Joan Richardson, Alf Richardson, Brenda Wallis, Brian Wallis, Barry Weaver, Wally Wilkins and Merv Wilson. Alex Neale was elected as group leader and Newsletter editor, and finances were looked after by Merv Wilson For much of its existence, the Wairarapa Weather Watchers (henceforth referred to simply as Weather Watchers) produced and distributed to members a Newsletter of six A4 pages con- taining items related to weather events, past and current; such items were adapted from newspaper articles and weather journals or produced locally. There would be six Newsletters yearly at about two-monthly intervals, and there would be six evening meetings annually. As time passed, membership grew steadily – as existing members told friends about the group – from the original eleven to a peak of about forty by 2000; later, as the average age of members increased, meetings in the winter months grew less popular, resulting in less frequent meet- ings and those remaining were confined to the summer, while Newsletters too reduced in fre- quency. Finally, in 2011, the group drew to a close with a membership of twenty-seven: Shane Atkinson, Jim Buchanan, Brian Cameron, Ewen Cameron, Ian Campbell, Colin Coutts, Derek Daniell, Mike Daniell, Hilton Dickens, David and Hilary Drane, Joan Duirs, Rodney Dun- can, Roger Bibbs, Isabel Guscott, Fred Jolly, Bill Lees (Australia), Harry McArthur, Derek and Margaret Milne, John Moriarty, Alex Neale, Glyn Saunders, Margaret Smith, Lorraine Suther- land, John Thompson and Merv Wilson. Evening meetings Frequently meetings were chaired by Alex Neale, who also presented many of the main items discussed; however, from time to time there were talks by guest speakers. 1990: In May, at our inaugural meeting, guest Harry McArthur spoke about his talking weather observations when he worked at Wairongomai farmstead, a climatological station, in one of the most windy sites in the hill country on the western side of Lake Wairarapa – not far from there a railway engine was once blown off the rails at a time when the Wellington- Masterton line travelled 'over the top' before the Rimutaka tunnel was built. . 1991: In November, one of our members, Graeme Elliott, spoke of his wartime experiences in the Met Service when, as a young recruit, he spent time in Gisborne before moving to , and then to Espiritu Santo in what is now . At the end of the war he returned to Gisborne before leaving the Met Service. 1992: In December, Fred Jolly, another of our members, gave a most interesting talk: Weather Reflections, recalling his experiences in the southwest Pacific during the war. Being an enthu- siastic photographer, Fred was soon capturing images of the beautiful tropical skies. His ex- periences of flying in Catalina flyingboats kept the audience enthrawled. 1993: In January, Augie Auer of the New Zealand Meteorological Service, gave a talk entitled Early seekers after Weather Knowledge . This happened to be the first meeting at a new venue - The Masterton Bowling Club - a move from our earlier home at the Wairarapa Power Board having become necessary due to changes in the electricity industry. 1993: In August, Tony Bromley (NIWA) spoke about his experiences in Antarctica and his role in weather watching. 1994: In August, Cameron Coutts, Presentation Forecaster for MetService, described his two one-year tours of duty on Raoul Island, largest - and volcanic – island of the subtropical Ker-

madec Island group that is located midway between Auckland and Tonga. 1994: In September, Augie Auer (MetService, Kelburn) gave a highly entertaining account of his experiences while participating in weather research while in Wyoming, USA. 1995: In January, at our normal evening meeting, we hosted some members of the Wairarapa gliding fraternity who had been at the recent World Gliding Championships in Omarama, inland Otago. They recounted some of their experiences whilst there. 1996: In September, Alf Richardson (one of our members) gave an illustrated talk on the many ways in which the ocean and its worldwide circulations influence the world's weather and climate. 1998: In August, Paul Walker, Civil Defence Masterton, along with other Wairarapa Civil De- fence Officers Mike Daniell (Masterton, and one of our members), and Bill Gibson (South Wairarapa) spoke about 'Civil Defence and the Weather', and how weather affects their ap- proach to their Civil Defence role. 2001: In June, Glyn Saunders, one of our members, gave a talk describing the climate and geo- graphical factors affecting our southern alpine region, and how they influence the waterways as regards marine life, and rivers. 2002: In November, Alan Porteous of NIWA gave an informative talk about agriculture and cli- mate which initiated earger questioning by the audience. Special events 1991: In March, twenty of our members visited the Meteorological Office in Wellington for an evening arranged in conjunction with Wellington Weather Watchers. We were entertained to a talk by Eric Brenstrum, meteorologist in the Training Section in Kelburn. 1992: The Meteorological Sociery (of NZ) arranged an amateur day in March at the Met Office in Kelburn. Five of our members travelled to Wellington in the early afternoon, to become part of a group of some thirty people who heard talks by several MetService meteorologists, including Augie Auer. In the evening the group, now down to twenty, were entertained with more weather talk at the home of Jim and Carla Salinger. 1993: In March, Wellington and Wairarapa Weather Watchers held a combined picnic day at Awarua, Ian Campbell's farm north of Masterton. On a sunny day about twenty people enjoyed talking about the weather or climbing nearby hills to enjoy the panoramic view. 1995: In mid-year, structural work on the Masterton Bowling Club's building forced anouther change of venue, this time to the Ranfurly Club where thereafter we continued to meet and where we were well looked after by Ranfurly Club and Weather Watcher members: first Veda Groves and latterly Isabel Guscott.. 1997: In March, a picnic was held for Weather Watchers at the pleasant country home of Dora and Glyn Saunders (both members) just east of Masterton. Those who attended enjoyed a bar- BQ lunch, a tour of Dora and Glyn's hydroponic lettuce-houses, followed by a most informative talk by Augie Auer on the Met Office's involvement with the summer's tropical cyclones, Fer- gus and Drena , as they approached and traversed New Zealand. 1998: In March, about twenty Weather Watchers from both the Wairarapa and Wellington groups, along with some friends, attended a picnic day hosted by the Jury Hill Gliding Club, lo- cated east of Greytown. Club member Peter Knudson explained how weather conditions affect gliding activities at Jury Hill, including how their gliders are launched by winch up to an alti- tude of about 1500 feet (450m); then, after releasing the glider, a small parachute attached to the top of the launch cable lets the cable return groundward while the winch winds the cable in ready for the next launch. Afterwards, most visitors who wanted to experience flight in a glider, went aloft. 1999: In February, our normal evening meeting was hosted at Masterton's Civil Defence Head- quarters by Paul Walker. Following the screening of excerpts of a video on the impact of tropi- cal cyclone Iniki on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai in 1992, there was a tour of Civil Defence Headquarters and their new communication equipment available in cases of an emergency. 2001: In January, there occurred an event which was probably the most impressive meteoro- logical spectacle during the time when Weather Watchers existed. A violent evening thunder- Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 6 storm broke over Masterton on the 7th, bombarding the CBD (central buisness district) with hailstones the size of golf balls. Several of our members had noticed the behaviour of growing convective clouds as the afternoon progressed to produce the thunderstorm and hail, and were able to give informative accounts of the event. 2004: In May, following feasibility trials several months earlier, a supplementary page in col- our was added to the Newsletter. It featured the Tower of the Winds in Athens (both an art- ist's impression of the original, and a floodlit picture of the ruins that remain today) and of modern Middle Eastern wind towers in the United Arab Emirates. Following enthusiastic responses from members, a colour page supplement was occasionally added to subsequent Newsletters. There have been a total of 17 colour page supplements. 2005: In July, at the Weather Watchers AGM it was decided to cease meeting on winter eve- nings. Future meetings, instead of the usual six a year, would be only four. . By popular re- quest, the usual six issues per year of the Newsletter would continue. 2009: At the October AGM a decision was made to further reduce the evening meetings to two per year, one in February and the other in October with a reduced annual subscription. Six Newsletters annualy would continue. 2011: The issue in September of Newsletter number 125 brought Weather Watchers to an end. That the group lasted as long as it did was largely due to the enthusiasm of the membership, many of whom enjoyed the evening meetings and/or the Newsletters. - Alex Neale.

Appendix 1 Wellington Weather Watchers In 2000, Phil Dickson (a dedicated member of Wellington Weather Watchers) was persuaded to write a short resumé of that organisation. The following are his recollections. In August 1982, a group of enthusiasts sent out an invitation to known weather observers in the Wellington area. Their list of respondents came mainly from a list of folk who at that time voluntarily made and sent weather records to the Geography Department of Victoria Univer- sity. Keen observers began to compare notes, and a list if aims was drawn up. These included keeping a directory of observations, improving understanding of weather forecasts, and ex- amining local knowledge and folklore. The group also provided a 'window' for the Meteoro- logical Service of views of the general population. Wellington Weather Watchers (WWW) soon numbered about sixty members. The Weather Watchers staged their first social event on 24 th of November 1982 in Stokes Val- ley. Several speakers informally addressed the gathering, including the then Television New Zealand Weather presenter, Veronica Allum. From then on regular meetings were held, fre- quently at members homes, and a number in combination with the Meteorological Society. From the outset a newsletter became the main means of communication with members, many of whom contributed interesting articles from their own experiences together with weather recordings comparing places in and around the district. Meetings took the form of evening gatherings with invited guests. Others were visits and pic- nics. These included 'Do it yourself ' where members gathered at the Na- tional Weather Forecasting Centre in Kelburn, and with some professional help, drew their own weather maps. One Saturday afternoon was spent at Wellington Airport studying flying weather and watching aircraft within the local controlled air space, including visits to the con- trol tower. Another Saturday, in April 1986, was spent in Seatoun, near the fateful capsize of the inter-island ferry Wahine, learning graphically how the Harbour Tug Tapuhi tried getting a line onto the ill-fated ship at the height of Wellington's worst storm on 10 April 1968. This was followed by a visit to the Signal Hill Station which commands a panoramic view of Wel- lington Harbour entrance. Enjoyable rural days included visits to Bob Gyton's farm on the Paekakariki Hill Road in April 1985, and Ian Campbell's farm in Wairarapa in March 1990. During the height of WWW activity, Met Instruments Ltd in Wellington received correspon- dence from an amateur weather organisation in the USA, the Association of American

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 7 Weather Observers (AAWO). Met Instruments passed it on to WWW and as a result, for some time after, the AAWO's tabloid monthly paper, the American Weather Observer, was received by mail. Some of WWW's own writings were published in their newspaper. Since the Meteorological Society aims to cater for both professional meteorologists and ama- teurs alike, why did the WWW form? It is true that some keen amateurs were already Society members anyway, but it is also true that not all of the observers making records for the Uni- versity at the time would ever have joined the Society, but they certainly enjoyed the sociat events. Eventually, the union of both occurred, probably to the detriment of social, more in- formal meetings. Indeed, by late 1985, the WWW Newsletter was being mailed out with the Met Society Newsletter to Wellington regional Society members. The last recorded committee meeting of the WWW occurred in March 1993. - Phil Dickson.

The Avondale Tornado 11 September ‘11

Just after 1pm on Sunday 11 September 2011 a tornado of strength EF0 or at best 1 struck Avondale a suburb in West Auckland. According to reports in the New Zealand Herald and a press release from the Fire Service minor structural damage occurred in six roads. This dam- age was confined to 7 roofs and a couple of trees plus a fence. Some power lines were also brought down. There were no injuries. The Fire Service estimated that the damage path was about a kilometre wide but this is more likely to have been its length. From the photos it seems the width would have been just a few metres. The following track of the tor- nado was constructed from vari- ous press releases. The track shown here is based on the Fire Service incident report and update (Press Release at 1445 on 11 Sep 2011) which poses a number of questions. The updated report included damage in Jaemont Avenue to the north- west of Avondale and concluded that “ the tornado has crossed the Whau River and struck Te Atatu South” . This quadruples the length of the track to between 4 and 5 km. It seems more likely that the Te Atatu damage was due to wind rather than the tor-

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 8 nado because at about this time the wind direction was quite variable. The four nearest meteorological reporting stations are at Henderson, Massey, Grey Lynn and Mount Roskill Marked on map with purple point pins). The pressure and wind data were down loaded (from http://www.wunderground.com) for these four stations and graphs con- structed for the period 1200 to about 1430 on 11 September 2011. Both the Massey and the Grey Lynn graphs show a marked wind shift at approximately 1300 from south easterly to westerly or northwesterly. At Henderson they settle from being very variable before 1300 to more northwesterly after. At Mount Roskill they back from northwest to southwest at about the same time. The direction at Henderson is in the easterly quadrant at first but shifts to west at 1251 and finally settles as a northwest wind about 1356.

Henderson pressures seem rather high compared with the other stations. Pressure changes from minute to minute are difficult to discern. From the actual date, however, there is a pres- sure rise at Mt. Roskill of 0.3hPa between 1300 and 1310 followed by an equal fall in the next 10 minutes. At Henderson the pressure rises 0.3hPa between 1251 and 1256 and falls by the same amount between 1301 and 1306. At Massey it rises 0.4hPa between 1245 and 1301 and falls between 1315 and 1330. At Grey Lynn the rise of 1.0hPa is between 1259 and 1304, but immediately begins to fall again from 1304 to 1309 (0.4hPa) and 1309 to 1314 (0.3hPa). These slight variations around 1300 could indicate the passage of the storm. -Brian Giles

The Royal Meteorological Society's subsidiary charity, the Weather Club (www.theWeatherClub.org.uk ) was launched in September 2010. One of the main benefits of the club is the quarterly magazine, theWeather, full of features and news stories about weather and climate around the world. This September a one-off ‘bookazine’ of theWeather is being produced. The bookazine would normally retail at £5.99 (GBP), but we have put in place an agreement with theWeather Club to offer a 50% discount to all members of national meteorological societies. This means that the bookazine is available for only £3 (GBP) including postage and packing. The bookazine will be available through theWeather Club's online shop www.theWeatherClub.org.uk/shop/ books from 1st September 2011. -The Royal Meteorological Society Web Address: www.rmets.org

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 9 Winter 2011 National Climate Summary – Winter 2011: Dry and sunny, with a snowy finish. Precipitation: Overall, it was a relatively dry winter for many regions. But two extreme polar outbreaks produced falls in unusual locations. Sunshine: A sunny winter for most regions. Temperatures: A very warm winter in the north and east of the , as well as Cen- tral Otago and the Lakes District.

Winter arrived late this year – June was exceptionally warm (the 3 rd warmest on record), be- ing characterised by frequent northeasterly winds. Temperatures remained elevated through a stormy, unsettled and extremely windy (westerly) July, until a polar blast on 24-26 July de- livered a bitterly cold air mass over the country. Extremely cold air affected Canterbury, the Kaikoura coast, Nelson, Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki during 25-26 July, and snowfall was heavy and to low levels over Canterbury, the Kaikoura Ranges (both Inland and Seaward), the Richmond Ranges, Tararua and Rimutaka Ranges, the Central Plateau, and around Mt Egmont. Brief dustings of snow were also reported in the ranges of Motueka and Northland on 25 July. August continued with more of the same – a second polar outbreak affected New Zealand on 14-17 August, bringing heavy snow to unusually low levels across eastern and alpine areas of the , as well as Wellington. Snow also fell across the lower North Island, with flurries in unusual locations further north. The long-lived southerly winds between 14 and 17 August again delivered extremely cold air over the coun- try, with numerous low temperature records broken over this period. However, the last week of August was rather sunny, with some unusually ‘spring-like’ temperatures. Overall, winter 2011 was characterised by more southwest winds than usual over New Zea- land, with highs over the Tasman Sea and lows to the southeast of the country. It was gener- ally a sunny and rather dry winter, and was much warmer than usual in the north and east of the North Island, as well as and the Lakes District. Sunshine totals were above normal for many regions, excluding Auckland, the southwest of the North Island, the north- west of the South Island including Hokitika, as well as Southland (where near normal winter sunshine was observed). It was the sunniest winter on record for and Lake Te- kapo. Rainfall was less than half of winter normal for south Canterbury and parts of Otago. For the remainder of the South Island, as well as eastern parts of Northland and north Auckland, rain- fall was generally below normal (between 50 and 79 percent of winter normal). It was the driest winter on record for Alexandra and also Leigh (north Auckland). In contrast, coastal Southland experienced above normal winter rains. Elsewhere in the North Island, as well as for the greater Nelson region, winter rainfall was near normal. Winter mean temperatures were well above average (more than 1.2°C above winter average) across much of the north and east of the North Island, as well as Central Otago and the Lakes District. Below average temperatures (more than 0.5 C below winter average) were observed in inland north Otago, and in parts of the northwest South Island. Elsewhere, winter tempera- tures were near average. The average temperature for winter 2011 was 8.7°C (0.4°C above the 1971–2000 winter average) using NIWA’s seven-station temperature series which begins in 1909.

Further Highlights: The highest winter temperature recorded was 22.4°C at Whitianga on 5 June (a new winter record at this location). The lowest temperature recorded was -10.2°C at Manapouri on 26 July (a new all-time record at this location). The highest 1-day rainfall experienced was 128 mm recorded at Arthurs Pass on 10 July. The highest gust was 189 km/hr observed at Cape Turnagain on 12 July. Of the six main centres in winter 2011, Auckland was the warmest, Christchurch the coldest,

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 10 Hamilton the wettest, Dunedin the driest, and the sunniest. Full report: http://www.niwa.co.nz/sites/default/files/climate_summary_winter2011.pdf For further information, please contact: Ms Georgina Griffiths – Climate Scientist– NIWA Na- tional Climate Centre, Auckland

NOTABLE WEATHER IN NZ - WINTER 2011 A wide variety of weather occurred during this season, ranging from unseasonably warm June to three major winter storms, first being a prolonged period of stormy westerlies, and then two very cold southerly outbreaks with widespread snow to low levels, the second being the most significant for probably half a century with snowfalls reaching most parts of NZ.

JUNE 1st - Unusually warm overnight in coastal Otago and Southland. Record high June minimums of 12C recorded in Dunedin and 11C at Tiwai Point. 3rd - Northeasterly gales in Northland. (gusts reach 165 km/ph at Cape Reinga) 4th - Heavy rain in many northern and western areas of both islands, e.g. 122mm recorded at Milford Sound. Fohn northeasterly gives an unseasonably high 17C maximum at Puysegur Point. 5th - Unseasonably warm in northern and central NZ, thanks to a northerly flow bringing air from sub-tropics. Both minimum and maximum temperatures well above normal. Highest re- corded overnight minimum of 15C in Whakatane. Maximums reach into low 20s in places, with new June records broken in Whitianga (22C), Whangaparaoa (21C), Port Taharoa (20C), and St Arnaud. (16C) 7th/8th - Some heavy falls of rain in north of South Island, and north and west of North Island. 23mm recorded in one hour in Inglewood. Some flooding in by early on the 8th, while flooding and slips block SH3 northeast of city for a time. By contrast, the mild northwesterly flow pushes the maximums up to 20C in Napier and Gisborne. 9th - Heavy fog in Auckland disrupts airport operations and slows motorway traffic. 10th - Only 4C maximums in Gore and due to cloud cover following heavy frosts. Snow reported down to about 700m in Mackenzie Country/Mt Cook Village. Heavy rain in some northern and western parts of North Island, including a downpour with some surface flooding in New Plymouth. 11th - Some thunderstorms in north and west of North Island. Heavy evening fog in and around Christchurch. 15th - Heavy rain (resulting from front in southwesterly flow), causes some flooding in Inver- cargill, where there is a related power-cut to some homes. 17th-20th - Low pressure system brings stormy weather, including deadly rainstorm in Wha- katane and tornadoes in New Plymouth. (see details below) 26th - Thunderstorms and hail north of Auckland. Fresh snow in central North Island down as low as Desert Road, bringing welcome falls to Ruapehu ski-fields. 28th - Cold southerly over South Island delivers snow down to about 500m in Canterbury, but very little snow falls on Central Otago ski-fields. 29th - Heavy overnight rain causes some flooding in Napier, while a slip disrupts traffic on Napier-Taupo highway near Tarawera. Snow showers on high country of both islands, includ- ing Desert Road and Arthurs Pass. (slowing traffic on these roads) JULY 1st - Cold in inland South Island, e.g. -7C minimum at Pukaki. Fog in Central Otago suppresses maximum temperatures, e.g. only 1C in Alexandra. Still only 1C in Wanaka at noon. 5th - Heavy rain causes flooding about Gisborne, causing problems with stormwater and sew- erage systems in the city, while slips and flooding affect roads in the area. 6th-15th - Prolonged spell of stormy westerlies over NZ. (see details below) 16th - Frosty in areas sheltered from a southwesterly flow, e.g. -6C minimum in Waiouru. 17th-19th - Widespread frosts, severe in places. -5C minimum in Waiouru on 18th, and -3C at

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 11 Takapau on 19th. Fog disrupts Christchurch Airport on 18th. 21st-26th - Low bringing heavy rain to north and east of North Island, followed by very cold southerly outbreak with widespread snow to low levels. (see details below) 27th-29th - Milder westerly flow over NZ, with temperatures much warmer than earlier in week. West to southwest gales in Southland and South Otago (117 kph gust at Tiwai Point) on 27th, and westerly gales in Wairarapa on 29th. (145 kph gust at Castlepoint) 30th - Light snow on some high country areas, as a colder southerly flow covers NZ. 31st - Widespread frosts in wake of departing southerly, e.g. -7C minimum at Pukaki.

AUGUST 1st - Frosty morning in many areas, e.g. -7C minimum at Molesworth. However, temperature rising to a mild 17C maximum in Dunedin. 2nd - Mild 18C maximum in Oamaru. 7th - Cold south to southwest change sweeps over NZ, preceded by westerly gales in southern Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa. (167 kph gust recorded at Cape Turnagain)Change brings snow showers to near sea-level in Otago and Southland, about 200m in Canterbury, and on the southern hills and central high country of the North Island. Two trucks were trapped by snow and ice on Napier-Taupo highway in evening. Front also brings early morning thunderstorm to Invercargill and hail in Wellington. (where southerly arrives with gusts up to 50 knots) 8th - Frosty start to the day in wake of departing cold outbreak of day before, e.g. -4C mini- mum at Christchurch Airport. However, rising to 18C there (also in Kaikoura, Ashburton, and ) as milder westerlies develop over South Island. 11th - Thunderstorms in north of North Island, continuing until early hours of 12th. Reported tornado north of Kaitaia. 12th - Fog causes disruption at Dunedin Airport. 13th - Heavy fog disrupts operations at Auckland Airport. 13-20th - Exceptionally cold southerly outbreak with widespread snow in both islands. (see details below) 21st - Severe morning frosts in many areas, e.g. -9C minimum in Waiouru and -2C in Martin- borough. 22nd - Frosty morning, but mild afternoon in east of South Island, e.g. 19C maximum in Ti- maru. 24th - Maximums rise to over 20C in many eastern places, e.g. 22C in Timaru. (rising from -2C in morning) Conditions are in sharp contrast to the bitter cold of the week before. Westerly gales for a time in Wairarapa, e.g. 148 kph gust recorded at Castlepoint. 26th - Heavy rain in Fiordland, e.g. 76mm recorded at Milford Sound. Mild 19C maximums re- corded in Alexandra and Dunedin. 27th - Warm 20C maximums in Blenheim and Motueka. 30th - Unusually warm in Northland, with record August maximums recorded in Whangarei (22C), Kerikeri (21C), Kaikohe and Leigh. (both 20C) Kawerau with also unseasonably warm, with 21C maximum. 31st - Snow down to about 500m in Fiordland, with a maximum of only 6C at Milford Sound.

MAJOR EVENTS 17th-20th June - Low pressure system brings stormy weather, including deadly rainstorm in Whakatane and tornadoes in New Plymouth A deep low moved onto NZ during this period, with a period of stormy weather in many north- ern and central areas, the worst outcomes being a deadly downpour about Whakatane and tornadoes in New Plymouth.

The low deepened in the Tasman Sea during the 17th, with a northeasterly airstream devel- oping over the country. Heavy rain set in over Northland later in the day as a front moved onto the area.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 12 During the 18th, the low (now with a centre as low as 976 hPa) remained slow-moving in the Tasman, and frontal systems swept onto North Island in a strong northeasterly flow with heavy rain bearing thunderstorms in northern areas. One particularly heavy downpour drenched Whakatane (31mm recorded in one hour) and environs, causing a slip which came down onto a house and killed a young man at Ohope.

The low weakened a bit as it moved onto the north of the South Island on the 19th, and the flow tended northwesterly over the North Island. The weather remained unsettled though, with more heavy falls of rain in thunderstorms over northern and western areas of the island. In the early morning, three tornadoes struck New Plymouth, causing significant damage.

The low pressure system had split in two by the 20th, with a cool southerly flow over the lower North Island, and the northern low moving onto the north of the island.

Mean sea-level analyses for midday NZST 17th and 18 June are shown here.

6th-15th July - Prolonged spell of stormy westerlies over NZ In sharp contrast to the weather patterns prevailing over the country previously, a prolonged spell of strong westerly airflow affected the country during this period. This brought stormy weather to most areas, with gales, heavy rain and snow causing extensive disruption.

A deep low pressure system, which developed the day before to the south of the Tasman Sea, moved into the seas well to the south of the South Island during the 6th. Pressures remained very low in that area, right through to the 15th.

Western areas and the south of the South Island were consistently unsettled throughout the whole period, with frequent, squally showers, containing thunder and hail. The cold fronts brought the heaviest rain, resulting in flooding and slips disrupting transport and damaging properties. The heaviest rain recorded was 128mm at Arthurs Pass on the 10th.

Gales lashed many areas in both the west and east of both islands. A tornado ripped through Peka Peka Beach on the Kapiti Coast on the 9th, downing trees, power-lines, and damaging buildings. Two people received minor injuries.

Aeroplanes were struck by lightning after take-off in Auckland on the 8th and 12th, having to land again for safety checks. Lightning strikes also caused power outages near Wanganui on the 10th, Northland early the next day, and New Plymouth on the 12th. Eastern areas were largely sheltered from all but the wind, but a brief thunderstorm swept over southern parts of Banks Peninsula on the 12th, with lightning starting a fire in the Hinewai Reserve near Akaroa and striking two cyclists (who weren’t injured but were shaken) on the Little River

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 13 Rail Trail near Birdlings Flat.

In the lower South Island, the air was very cold at times; resulting in heavy snow showers fal- ling to low levels in areas exposed the west and southwest. This was very welcome for the ski- fields, which had been starved of snow during the mild winter weather prior to this event, even though the stormy weather meant that the fields had to be closed during the storm. Else- where, the snow disrupted roads, with the Milford Road being closed through the period. Fur- ther north, snow affected the alpine passes, and also the Nelson Lakes/ southern Nelson high country areas on the 13th. (downing power-lines) In the central North Island, the heavy snow was largely confined to alpine areas and not low enough to affect any highways, but was wel- come on the ski-fields.

During the 14th and the flow tended southwesterly and moderated on the 15th. Snow to low levels caused some further problems in Southland and South Otago on the 14th, but the weather gradually eased over the country during these days.

Mean sea-level analyses for midday NZST 7th July to midday NZST 15th July in 24 hour steps are shown here.

21st-26th July - Low brings heavy rain to north and east of North Island, followed by a very cold southerly outbreak with widespread snow to low levels A deep low pressure system to the north of the North Island with cyclonic easterlies on its southern flank resulted in heavy falls of rain causing disruption to northern and eastern parts of the North Island from the 21st-24th. As it moved away to the east on the 24th, a very cold southerly swept up over NZ on the 24th and 25th. This brought snow to low levels in many

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 14 parts of both islands, resulting in much disruption.

The low, which had been developing in the western Tasman Sea from the 18th, set up an in- creasing northeasterly flow over the North Island on the 21st, with heavy rain developing in the far north by evening.

On the 22nd, the low moved to just northwest of Northland, with the airflow tending easterly over the North Island. Heavy rain developed in the east of the island with slips and flooding in places, especially Napier. A slow moving front brought more heavy rain in downpours to Northland and northern parts of Auckland. A tornado damaged some property at Waipu. In the lee of the main North Island ranges gales lashed many areas, with the Horowhenua and Kapiti areas receiving the worst damage. (trucks overturned and power-lines downed) Taupo recorded a gust of 85 kph. Conditions eased only a little on the 23rd, as the low stayed put.

At the same time, a weak ridge brought more settled weather to much of the South Island (except the far north), but it was cold, with severe frosts in Central Otago. (-7C minimum in Ranfurly and -5C in Alexandra on the 23rd)

The settled weather over the South Island came to end when a cold front moved onto the is- land later in the day, heralding the beginning of a polar southerly outbreak. The first front and southerly change was relatively weak, with only a few showers in the south, but the sec- ond was more active. It hit the far south in the early hours of the 24th and reached the lower North Island (where the low had moved away to the east, leaving a light southerly flow) later that day. Very cold air swept north in its wake, with snow showers lowering to sea-level in Southland, Otago, and Canterbury. Only brief flurries affected low-lying parts of Canterbury until later in the day, but heavier snow set in about and north of Banks Peninsula in the eve- ning. Snow showers also fell to or near sea-level about parts of Westland, Buller and Nelson (especially around Motueka) for a time in afternoon and evening.

As the front and very cold change reached Wellington late afternoon, and the northern North Island by morning of the 25th, with snow falling to very low levels in southern and central ar- eas. Flurries were reported in downtown Wellington and the Kapiti Coast, while heavier snow settled in the upper and Wairarapa. A large part of inland Taranaki was blanketed (even Hawera was dusted for a time), while the hills around Taupo had a good coating, plus a brief snow shower in the town. Further north parts of the Kaimai Range was covered down to as low as 300m, while sleet was reported on the Waitakere Ranges and hail affected Auckland. Some of Northland’s higher peaks even reported light dustings of snow.

Snow showers continued to fall to sea-level about some eastern parts of the South Island, es- pecially Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, causing considerable disruption. In the city, about 20cm settled (heaviest since 1992), disrupting road travel and damaging some trees. Demoli- tion work in the CBD was suspended during the snow, and there were scattered power cuts in the area. In the North Island, roads closed included the Rimutaka Hill Road, highways around the Central Plateau, the Napier-Taupo highway, and SH2 between Wairoa and Gisborne. In Taranaki, several newborn calves had to be rescued and sheltered indoors, while power was cut around Kaponga and Cardiff for a time.

A number of weather stations recorded record low maximums for July during this event. Cas- tlepoint’s 5C was the lowest recorded for any month since the station began in 1972, while Warkworth (8C), Wairoa (7C), Waiouru (0C), and Hanmer Forest (0C) also recorded record low July highs.

Overnight 26th, the southerly died out over most of NZ with the weather clearing. Not surpris-

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 15 ingly, severe frosts quickly developed with record low minimums (for any month) in Leigh (2C), Westport (-1C), LeBons Bay (-1C; recorded late evening 25th), and Manapouri. (-10C)

Mean sea-level analyses for midday NZST 21st July to midday NZST 25th July in 24 hour steps are shown here.

13th-19th August - Exceptionally cold southerly outbreak with widespread snow in both islands This southerly system was even colder and more prolonged than the late July one, with excep- tionally widespread snow throughout both islands.

On the 13th, an area of slack pressure covered most of NZ, with a low moving across the seas just to the north of the North Island. However, in the south-western Tasman Sea, an anticy- clone was pushing a ridge towards Antarctica, allowing cold fronts on its eastern side to drag increasingly icy air up from the frozen continent. The first of these fronts moved on to the far south late in the day and swept over the remainder of NZ overnight and the next morning. Scattered hail showers and snow showers on the high country and southern hills accompanies the southwesterly change behind the front.

However, it was the second front, with the help of lowering pressure to the east, which began

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 16 the onslaught of polar air onto NZ. This front reached the south of the South Island early morning on the 14th and reached the central North Island during the evening. Snow com- menced falling and settling to sea-level throughout much of Otago and Southland and later in Canterbury. (delayed there by slight southwesterly kink in the airflow during the day) As the very cold change reached the lower North Island later in the afternoon, snow began falling to near sea-level there too, with heavy falls in the Wairarapa and Wellington’s hill suburbs.

By the morning of the 15th, this front had cleared the north of the North Island, and excep- tionally cold southerlies (southwesterly in the north of the island) affected the country. Snow- falls fell to very low levels in most areas, with light falls even extending to low-lying parts of the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Auckland. Some of these areas had not experienced snow in living memory. In Whakatane the light flurry was unprecedented in the town’s history, while in Auckland the last time snow was reported falling in the city was in June 1976. Flurries were even reported in hilly parts of Northland, blanketing the Tutamoe Range north of Dargaville Overnight 15th/16th.

Further south, the snow was heavier. Much of Taranaki was blanketed with a thicker coating than in July, with light falls even in New Plymouth, while , southern Hawkes Bay and the Horowhenua/Kapiti Coast were dusted to sea-level. Snow continued falling in Wellington and Wairarapa, including heavy flurries in the Wellington CBD. The snow was ac- companied by hail and thunder in Taranaki and Wellington, causing further disruption. Southwesterly gales caused some disruption and minor damage in Auckland during the morn- ing.

There was no let-up in the South Island, with disturbances in the southerly flow dumping snow to sea-level throughout Canterbury, Otago and Southland, both inland and about the coast. Even Nelson and the West Coast didn’t escape, with a disturbance spreading snow across the Alps, resulting in several centimetres settling inland and brief non-settling flurries in Hokitika, Greymouth, and Nelson.

While providing a visual spectacle, especially in places unused to snow, the storm resulted in much disruption. Many roads were closed, including routes through the central North Island, the Napier-Taupo highway, the Rimutaka Hill Road, SH1 between Kaikoura and Christchurch, and numerous roads throughout Otago. In Christchurch, where snow depths were similar (or in some cases even deeper - more than 20cm in places) to the July dump, schools were closed, CBD work was suspended again, and some small areas lost power for a time. Power was also cut to thousands of homes in South Taranaki, , and the Manawatu.

Not surprisingly, many new record low maximum temperatures were recorded. Record low maximums for any month were recorded in Whitianga (8C), Auckland Airport (8C), Rotorua, (5C), Takapau (2C), Martinborough (3C), Kaikoura (3C), and Arthurs Pass. (-2C) New August record low maximums were recorded in Whangarei (9C), Paeroa (8C), Whakatane (9C), Tau- maranui (6C), Masterton (2C), Palmerston North (6C), Wellington Airport (6C), Nelson (6C), and Le Bons Bay. (3C) only a few stations in the far north recorded anything exceeding 10C. Even some new August record minimums were recorded - Kaikoura dropping to -1C and Cas- tlepoint to 0C - these temperatures being recorded during snow rather than frost.

Low pressure to the east and an anticyclone to the south of the Tasman Sea maintained a very cold southerly flow over most of NZ. Snow showers continued to low levels in lower North Is- land and east of South Island. Wellington’s hill suburbs received another heavy dumping from midafternoon, with flurries again to sea-level. Many roads closed the day before could not yet be reopened. Northern and western areas generally cleared up overnight, resulted in severe frosts and icy conditions. Record low minimums recorded at many stations, including Leigh

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 17 (2C - lowest ever recorded), Rotorua (-5C - equal lowest for any month), New Plymouth (-2C), St Arnaud (-10C), and Blenheim. (-6C)

The southerly flow continued over NZ, only dying away by late on the 20th. While it remained very cold in most areas right to the end of the period, snow levels rose gradually in eastern areas and the central North Island. Record low August maximums were again recorded on the 17th in Hawera (7C) and Waipawa. (5C) the disruption caused by the snow (combined with high winds in many places) eased only gradually. The last Otago highway to be cleared (SH87) reopened on the 18th, while the Rimutaka Hill Road was open by the afternoon of the 17th. Roads remained icy in many areas though, with harsh frosts in areas away from the wind and showers, and (in many places) still blanketed in snow. Arthurs Pass recorded a -8C minimum on the 20th.

Mean sea-level analyses for midday NZST 13th August to midday NZST 18th August in 24 hour steps are shown here.

MONTHLY WEATHER NOTES FOR CHRISTHURCH - WINTER 2011 JUNE The unusually mild conditions which prevailed through May continued into June, with well above normal temperatures and below average rainfall. Frequent on- shore northeasterly winds kept the sunshine below normal, though. There was little snow on the mountains until later in month, when cold southerlies brought snow to the high country on the 26th and 28th/29th.

JULY While much of the month was dry and sunny, there was a notable polar southerly outbreak later in the month, with snow to sea-level in the city. A prolonged pe- riod of stormy westerly quarter airflow affected NZ from the 6th-16th. These

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 18 wind directions sheltered eastern Canterbury from most precipitation, but there was a brief thunderstorm over southern parts of Banks Peninsula (plus some brief hail in parts of Christchurch) with lightning strikes star ting a fire above Akaroa and hitting (without injury) cyclists on Little River Rail Trail on 14th. There were also hail showers on the outer peninsula the next day, with snow as low as about 300m.

A change occurred from the 21st; with low pressure to the north bring onshore airflow onto Canterbury with cloudy, cold conditions. By the 24th, the low pres- sure had moved to the east of NZ, allowing a very cold southerly flow to spread onto the area. During the day, there were some light flurries or sleet or snow in Christchurch, but only a light dusting settled on the Port Hills. However, heavier snow set in during the evening and continued through to the afternoon of the 25th before changing to sleet showers. About 20cm settled in most parts of the city (heaviest since 1992), with heavier falls on the Port Hills. The snow caused significant disruption to roads (closing them on the Port Hills and Banks Penin- sula), as well as earthquake recovery work, which had to be postponed in the central city. The weather cleared up at night, resulting in a severe frost but then a fine day. Daytime temperatures rose quickly to above average as the flow tended westerly during the following few days, gradually melting the snow.

AUGUST This month stood out for another very cold southerly outbreak (much longer lasting the July one) with snow to sea-level mid-month, but the rest of the month was generally dry and settled. The only significant other weather event was a brief, cold southerly blast on the 7th which brought a short spell of gales and rain to the city, with snow showers down to about 200m inland and on higher hills of Banks Peninsula.

The first cold front arrived during the early morning of the 14th, with some hail and high level snow about the peninsula and brief hail in New Brighton, but it was fine in the city until the second front ushered in the really cold airmass with a shower of heavy hail and sleet in the city and strong, gusty southerlies. Snow began falling in the evening and continued through to the morning of the 16th, alternating with hail and sleet. The snow blanket was widespread to sea-level throughout Canterbury, including Banks Peninsula. (Where settling snow is rare at sea-level) Snow depths reached similar (and in places higher) thicknesses to the July snowstorm. Rain and sleet showers replaced the snow during the morn- ing of the 16th, but the cold, showery southerly flow lingered through to the end of the 19th. Snow levels gradually rose to the higher hills and upper plains by the end of this period, but conditions were slushy in Christchurch as the snow slowly melted. -Ben Tichborne

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 19 Wet long weekend in store for some Wednesday June 01, 2011 Source: ONE News http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/wet-long-weekend-in-store-some-4202525 A wet weekend is in store for much of the country this Queen's Birthday weekend. MetService says an anticyclone which has brought fine weather to most of New Zealand will move away on Friday or Saturday. "Unsettled conditions" are expected to follow for the next few days, said MetService Weather Ambassador Bob McDavitt.(abridged).

Record-warm May stunts ski season Thu, 02 Jun 2011 TV3 By Tony Field http://www.3news.co.nz/Record-warm-May-stunts-ski-season/ tabid/423/articleID/213677/Default.aspx The unusually warm weather is disrupting the start of the ski season. It has forced Queenstown’s Coronet Peak to post- pone Saturday’s opening. .(abridged).

Caravan, 4wd blown off road during storm By Joseph Aldridge | 4th June 2011 Northern Advo- cate http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/caravan-4wd -blown-off-road-during-storm/3954547/ OVERTURNED: The car and caravan yesterday. Photo / John Stone Strong winds buffeting Northland blew a four-wheel drive and caravan off the road. Power was also cut to about 150 homes in Kaipara yesterday. Winds were forecast to reach 130km/h and Noel Hil- liam, who runs a private weather station southwest of Dargaville, said he had recorded gusts of more than 50 knots (92km/h) at about the time the vehicle was flipped over on SH12. .(abridged).

Downpours take bite out of road system LEIGHTON KEITH Taranaki Daily News 08/06/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5112217/Downpours-take-bite-out-of-road-system ANDY JACKSON/Taranaki Daily News SLIPPING AWAY: The swollen Waitara River undercut its banks near Tarata yesterday, causing 300 cubic metres of soil to crash down, almost cut- ting off the Motukawa Rd. Torrential rain in Taranaki yesterday has left a section of rural road in danger of being washed away. .(abridged).

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 20 Ash cloud disrupts NZ flights NEIL REID AND MICHAEL FIELD Stuff12 Jun 2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5132573/Ash-cloud-disrupts-NZ-flights

EERIE GLOW: A stunning sunset near Gore. Sam Ruddenklau RED SKY: David Frampton snapped this photo of Mount Taranaki on his flight from Welling- ton to Auckland around 7.30 this morning. He described the sky as "looking crazy".

Ash from Chile’s dramatic volcano has entered New Zealand air space, forcing Qantas and Jetstar to cancel flights today. The ash is from the CordonCaulle volcano in southern Chile which erupted on June 4 with initial ash plumes reaching 15,240 metres. Qantas confirmed it has cancelled 22 flights to and from New Zealand and Tasmania. Jetstar has cancelled a number domestic flights between Christchurch and Auckland, Christ- church and Queenstown, and Auckland and Queenstown today. Air New Zealand has not cancelled or delayed any of its flights. Spokeswoman Tracy Mills said the national carrier did not expect any cancellations to its domestic or international services. But the company would adjust flight routes and altitudes to ensure aircraft remained clear of any ash, she said. The Civil Aviation Authority says new guidelines will be issued to airlines and pilots in New Zealand airspace, with the plumes expected to be at cruising levels for both jet and turbo- prop aircraft – 6000m to 10,600m. Air New Zealand says it will adjust flight routes and altitudes as needed, ensuring planes stayed clear of the ash cloud. The MetService confirmed last night it was actively tracking the ash cloud. It will co-ordinate with airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority about the movement of the ash. The MetSer- vice runs one of nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Service centres globally, with its catchment cov- ering a large part of the South Pacific, from the South Pole to the equator, and from halfway across the Tasman Sea to more than halfway to Chile. MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt has written about the "aviation hazard" that volcanic ash poses on the service's website. "Fine, corrosive and abrasive, ash can coat air- craft wings, block speed sensors and air filters, sandblast flight-deck windscreens and air- craft lights, and form glass-like coatings inside engines that damage moving parts and can cause engine failure," McDavitt wrote. "Such potentially serious and expensive damage is best prevented by avoiding flying through ash altogether." (abridged)

Teen killed in Ohope landslide Published: 7:04AM Saturday June 18, 2011 Source: ONE News http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/teen-killed-in-ohope-landslide-4233181

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 21 Emergency services at Ohope house - Source: ONE News A landslide in Ohope near Whakatane has claimed the life of a teenager. Police have confirmed that the body of a 17-year old male has been found earlier this evening and pulled out of the house hit by a slip at 11.55am on Saturday. Roads in Whakatane were flooded after heavy rain earlier in the day, as a front bringing strong gales and heavy rain moves down the country. (abridged)

New Plymouth residents speak of tornado terror Sunday June 19, 2011 Source: ONE News http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/new-plymouth-residents-speak- tornado-terror-4244713 Damage caused by the New Plymouth tornado (photo by Mathew Henderson) - Source: ONE News New Plymouth residents have spoken of their terror after tornadoes ripped through the city, tearing roofs of buildings, shattering windows and cutting power. The Fire Service says it has confirmed there were two tornadoes, and a possible third. They went through the city at about 4:20am. One hit the city centre, causing substantial damage to businesses. The other hit a hotel and St Mary's Church Hall on Vivian St, a few blocks from the CBD, breaking tiles and ripping up a tree. There have been no reports of injuries and no local state of emergency has been declared as a result of the tornadoes. - With Newstalk ZB (abridged)

Damage to a treehouse on Waireka Road East (photo by Andrew Crawshaw) - Source: ONE News

Bus crashes in "tsunami" BELINDA FEEK 20/06/2011 Waikato Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/5165694/Bus-crashes-in-tsunami A bus crashed into the back of a car on State Highway 1 north of Mercer on Saturday in what the driver described as "lake-like" conditions. A passenger on the Auckland to Hamilton bus on Saturday night said there was so much water on the road because of the heavy rain she thought they had been hit by a tsunami. – (abridged)

Cooling effect in 2km-thick ash plumes By Isaac Davison NZ Herald Tuesday Jun 14, 2011 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10732047 Travel board at Auckland International Airport after cancelling some New Zealand Flights due to ash from the Chilean volcanic eruption. 12 June 2011 Photo / Greg Bowker Plumes of volcanic ash blanketing New Zealand's airspace are more than 2km thick and could

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 22 cool the country's climate. Only the tip of the Far North was not covered yes- terday by the ash cloud from the Puyehue- Cordon Caulle volcano. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Re- search (Niwa) physicist Ben Liley found the ash cloud first appeared 8.5km above New Zealand and in a 2km-deep layer. That has since risen to 10km, thickened, and been joined by lower emis- sions of ash. Climate scientist Jim Salinger said if sulphur di- oxide in the plumes mixed with water it could cause some climate cooling in the next two months."It is like putting a curtain around the hemisphere, which reflects the sunlight, and cools the air [below the ash]." Ash cloud details Distance travelled: 9,000km Speed over NZ: 30-60 metres/second Height above NZ: 8.5km - 10km Depth: at least 2km Potential effect on climate: -0.2C Concentration of SO2: 10,000s of tonnes Size of volcanic particles: 50 microns (2 hair widths) (abridged)

Wild weather wreaks havoc By Frances Morton, Celeste Gorrell Anstiss, Abby Gillies and Kathryn Powley Sunday Jun 19, 2011 NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/metservice/news/article.cfm?o_id=112&objectid=10733175 Cohl Carrington and Finn Jefferies make their way down a flooded street in Whakatane. Photo / Troy Baker A tornado, floods and king tides wreaked havoc across the country yesterday. A tornado ripped through South Auckland, smashing glass, damaging roofs and tossing re- cycling bins around. Fisher & Paykel Appliances in East Tamaki was worst hit when the tornado struck about 9.30am. Elsewhere in Auckland, king tides and heavy rain threatened to cause flooding on the stretch of Northwestern Motorway between Pt Chevalier and Te Atatu. Niwa scientist Rob Bell said higher-than-usual tides happened several times a year because the moon did not orbit Earth in a circular pattern. Low atmospheric pressure meant tides had crept up a further 40cm, and heavy rain compounded the risk. Blocked drains caused 20 flooding incidents in Epsom, Grey Lynn, Mt Eden and Ponsonby when heavy rain hit yesterday morning. Heavy rain drenched the country in the 24 hours to 6pm last night. Whakatane: 75.8mm Kerikeri: 64mm Kaikohe: 42mm Auckland: 43.2mm Tauranga: 30.2mm Nelson: 23mm Source: MetService (Abridged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 23

All clear for flights - for now Published: Monday June 20, 2011 Source: ONE News http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/all-clear-flights-now-4247413 Source: ONE News Airlines are working through a week's worth of backlog as regular schedules resume around New Zealand today. Ash cloud from a Chilean volcano has disruipted travel across South America, Australia and New Zealand following its eruption on June 4, stranding thousands of travellers. Both Air New Zealand and Jetstar will resume all flights after days of continued cancellations. There is no ash cloud affecting anywhere in New zealand at the moment. But the Civil Aviation Authority warns two plumes to the south and west of Australia could cause fur- ther delays in the coming week.

Taranaki tornados: 'I curled up into a ball screaming' 20/06/2011 Stuff/ Taranaki Daily News http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5165151/Taranaki-tornados-I-curled-up-into-a-ball-screaming JONATHAN CAMERON/Taranaki Daily News ROOF: Lemon Street, New Ply- mouth after a tornado hit on June 19, 2011. Chenae Hughes survived the tornado that tore a hole in her bedroom wall but has no idea where all her belongings have gone. With the deafening sound of a jet engine, the twister hit the house in Ridge Lane New Ply- mouth about 4am yesterday, shattering the large window just a metre from the 17-year- old's bed. "I curled up into a ball, scream- ing," Chenae said. The swarm of tornadoes wreaked havoc in North Taranaki, cutting random swaths of destruction through New Ply- mouth city, Bell Block and Omata. The worst damage resulted from the tornado that came ashore during a fierce rainstorm about 4am. Later in the morning three other tornadoes hit houses in Bell Block and the Maida Vale Retirement Village, and yet another turned the New Plymouth Clay Target Club rooms near Back Beach at Omata to matchsticks. In New Plymouth, one tornado made landfall near the city centre, exploding the big plate glass windows of the New Plymouth Motorcycle Centre in Leach St, causing at least $50,000 dam- age. It sucked roofs from houses in Pendarves and Lemon streets and wrecked others in Ridge Lane, missing the home of New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young by metres. (Abridged)

Queenstown feeling the pinch as snow stays away Wednesday June 22, 2011 Source: ONE News http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/queenstown-feeling-pinch-snow-stays-away-4254320

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 24 Organisers of the Queenstown Winter Festi- val are already counting the cost of a lack of snow two days out from the annual party. Some festivities are being canned because of the conditions, and the forecast is not getting any better. Frustration is growing among members of the ski industry as officials wait for enough snow to fall to open the fields. And in Queenstown hundreds of food parcels are being handed out to help staff cope. Scientists say it is very unusual and it looks like the country could be following a record warm May with a near record high June. "The last time we had a couple of months in a row that were actual all time records for the day was back in the 1930s," Niwa scien- tist James Renwick said. (adbridged)

Thousands still stranded by ash cloud Friday June 24, 2011 Source: ONE News/ Newstalk ZB http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/thousands-still-stranded- ash-cloud-4260683 Jetstar is grounding flights again as the vol- canic ash cloud continues its second circuit of the globe and into New Zealand airspace. (Abridged)

Weird Weather: Why plants are flowering in middle of winter Anne-Marie Emerson | 25th June 2011 Wanganui Chronicle http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/have-your-say/news/weird-weather-why-plants-are-flowering-in-middle- o/3957098/ BOTANICAL CONFUSION: In Kowhai Park, mild winter temperatures have encouraged spring flowers to bloom, while the autumn leaves have not yet finished falling. Photo / Anne-Marie Emerson 240611wcaedaffs Spring flowers in bloom, a delayed ski sea- son, above average temperatures - all results of an unusually warm start to winter. With just under a week of June remaining, figures from MetService show that Wan- ganui's average temperature for the month so far is 11.7C, a whole degree warmer than the June average. Bob McDavitt from MetService said the mild weather is the result of fewer southerlies reaching New Zealand. However, that is ex- pected to change this weekend with cool tem- peratures, rain or showers, and southerly winds forecast. (Abridged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 25 Hailstones and heavy rain causes chaos Sandra Conchie | 25th June 2011 Bay of Plenty Times http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/local/news/hailstones-and-heavy-rain -causes-chaos/3957148/

Judith Bell takes a moment to enjoy the aftermath of Fri- day nights storm. Photo / Katie Cox. Torrential rain, a hail storm, lightning strikes - yester- day we had it all. Power went out for a big part of Tauranga and people were trapped in their cars as the sky darkened and a low pressure system positioned itself over the city. Metser- vice weather forecaster John Crouch said a large low pressure system rotated across the Western Bay as it moved down over the Mount and Tauranga Harbour and across Tauranga City about 5.30pm. It then moved east- ward and at 7.30pm was lying between Te Puke and Matata, he said. Rain was likely to have been between 20mm and 30mm in half an hour. Hail stones were estimated at 10mm in diameter. (Abridged)

Polar blast to blow skifield gates open By Isaac Davison NZ Herald Monday Jun 27, 2011 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10734740

Mt Ruapehu is expected to receive large amounts of fresh snow around the middle of this week. Photo / Alex Roberston A bitterly cold southerly from the Antarctic will sweep up the country this week, bringing snow to all skifields and single-digit temperatures to Auckland. After an unsettled week- end of weather in which heavy downpours hit Tauranga and large hailstones fell in Helens- ville, temperatures are expected to drop further on Wednesday in the North Island. The warmest temperature across New Zealand yesterday was 13C in Cape Reinga, while mo- torists on the Desert Road were forced to slow down due to flurries of snow. Metservice forecaster Heath Gullery said a strong, cold wind from the Southern Ocean will spread over all of New Zealand from tomorrow: "It is pretty much a cold week for most of the country ... and it will stay that way until Friday." The drop in temperature has allowed Mount Hutt skifield's beginner and intermediate slopes to open today. The Canterbury resort is the first major skifield to open since a warmer-than- usual May and June prevented natural snowfall on both islands. (Abridged) By Isaac Davison | Email Isaac

For decades tornados have battered Taranaki HELEN HARVEY and ROBERT CHARLES Taranaki Daily News27/06/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/life-style/5197220/For-decades-tornados-have-battered-Taranaki

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 26 Those affected by tornados in the past few years can blame El Nino. Tornados are one weather event that can't be blamed on climate change, but there is growing evidence overseas that the El Nino weather pattern could be the cause of the increase in twisters. The problem with researching tornados in New Zealand is that there are probably quite a few that don't get counted be- cause they come ashore along a bush-covered coastline, so no-one knows about them. Of the recorded tornados, the most lethal was one that struck Frankton in Hamilton on August 25, 1948. Three peo- ple were killed, 80 injured and 163 homes damaged. It regis- tered F2 on the F0 to F5 Fujita scale. The strongest tornado ever recorded in New Zealand was an F3. It hit Waitara in August 2004. Rosina Wikohika, from Levin, who was visiting her daughter and grandchildren, died when the twister wiped out the Motunui house. Her grandson, Garry, 10, died later in hospital. Two other family members were seriously injured. The family was asleep when the tornado hit about 6am and wrenched the house from its foundations. Possessions were scat- tered across paddocks for a kilometre. At the time, firefighters estimated the twister cut a path 20 metres wide and up to 10km long. In 2003, a tornado ripped through within 80m of the path the killer wind would take a year later. Last Sunday's tornado went through about 100m to the east of the path taken by the July 2007 twister, a weather expert from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) says. The northwest coast of Taranaki gets a lot more tornados than other parts of the province, Niwa research meteorologist Richard Turner says. Thunderstorms form out to sea and tornados seem to track in a northwesterly direction, so will often miss land at South Taranaki, but, if travelling further north in the same northwest- erly path will come ashore in North Taranaki, he says. But in 1973, a tornado came across farmland in South Taranaki with deadly consequences. At 8.20am on Sunday, April 22, a twister smashed its way across 16km of coastal Taranaki, leav- ing devastation in its wake. Coming in from the sea, the tornado made landfall near Arawhata Rd, on the north side of Opunake, travelling in a semicircle across paddocks before going back out to sea. When the tornado went through the Martins' house, Mrs Martin, her young daughter and Mr Furness were in the hallway. Mr Furness died. "He must have taken the full force when the door was blown into the passage," brother-in-law Bryan Martin told the Taranaki Daily News at the time. The tornado was like a giant vacuum cleaner and came across the paddocks about two or three storeys high, a witness told the newspaper. "It was a tall funnel of whirling debris. It paused over the Martins' house, then when it moved on, the house was gone." The occupants were found tangled up in the debris. Another visiting brother-in-law, Greg Furness, climbed under his bed. He came to rolled up in carpet 4.5 metres from where the bedroom had been. Altogether, nine people were injured, including Mrs I Winter and her six-year-old son, whose Skeet Rd house, worth $24,000, was partly demolished. Four houses were severely damaged and four others lost roofs. The tornado caused about $100,000 of damage. Egmont County councillor and historian J Stronge told the Taranaki Herald he knew of no other "whirlwinds" that had caused so much damage in the province.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 27 His records showed a cyclone came off Mt Taranaki on August 29, 1937, and damaged a house and cowsheds in the Te Kiri area. A newly married couple, Mr and Mrs R Gatenby, had their new house demolished around them and suffered shock, cuts and bruises. Roofs had been strengthened four years earlier because of a previous cyclone. At Christmas, 1949 or 1950, farm buildings and shelter belts were damaged and about 1970, a dairy-factory roof near Opunake was damaged by a small whirlwind, Mr Stronge said. Taranaki gets more than its fair share of whirlwinds. The province gets 13 per cent of all tor- nados in New Zealand, which, considering the size of Taranaki, is a lot, Dr Turner says. The strongest tornado recorded in New Zealand isn't the only twister-related record Taranaki holds. July 2007 was the first time a swarm of at least seven or more damaging tornados had been recorded in New Zealand within a 24-hour period. But multiple tornados on one day just count as one. So on Sunday, although four hit New Ply- mouth, Niwa records for June 19 show one tornado. Between 1951 and 2007, 20 tornados were recorded in New Plymouth and 44 hit the north- west coast from Okato and Urenui. There are big variations between the decades, Dr Turner says. Between 1950 and 1975 there was a lot of activity, with up to five a year in some years, and in a number of years there were two or three. Between 1961 and 1975 there were 30. In contrast, from 1975 through to the 1990s there was not even one a year, and there were none in Taranaki between 1983 and 1988. From 1987 to 2000, 10 were recorded. In the past 10 years, there has been about 17, an average of two a year. The tornados of July 2007 will stand out as the most destructive. Amazingly, no-one was killed and there were no reports of serious injury. But the damage was extensive and there was a seven-day state of emergency. Oakura resembled a war zone, with streets strewn with wreckage. Between 40 and 50 houses in the seaside town suffered up to 80 per cent damage. Tarpaulins were brought in from around the country to cover roofless homes in Oakura, Stratford, Rahotu, Hawera and north of Waitara. In 2007, the Insurance Council estimated the damage to be $2 million in New Plymouth and $5m in the rest of Taranaki. - Taranaki

Skifields look to the heavens FLEUR COGLE 30/06/2011 Timaru Herald http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/5210081/Skifields-look-to-the-heavens JOHN BISSET/ The Timaru Herald SNOW MAN: Ohau Snow Fields manager Craig Ov- enden checks a snow- making lance. The field's automated snow-making system has been able to produce enough snow to open tomorrow. Warm weather in May and June kept snow at bay on the area's slopes and ski- field operators have an anxious wait as most aim to open on July 9. - The Timaru Herald (Abridged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 28 Ski resorts begin their 2011 winter season af- ter extended delays

1 July 2011 Better.com http://blogs.bettor.com/New-Zealand-ski-resorts- begin-their-2011-winter-season-after-extended-delays- a79669 After weeks of disappointment, the people seeking some skiing action in New Zealand can rejoice as the ski resorts are finally open- ing their gates and operating their chair-lifts for winter season. (Abridged)

Health fears as rain swamps Gisborne sewer- age system Tuesday July 05, 2011 Source: ONE News http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/health-fears-rain-swamps-gisborne-sewerage-system- 4284304 Gisborne Girls High School - Source: ONE News There are health fears in Gisborne after tor- rential rain bucketed down over the East Cape, overloading the sewerage system. MetService said the forecasted amount was quite high for the region and that a severe weather watch was in force. (Abridged)

Tide floods New Brighton 06/07/2011 The Press http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5241957/ Tide-floods-New-Brighton/

David Hallett Efforts are made to pump water off New Brighton Rd after the Avon River burst its banks. An earthquake-hit Christchurch road is bat- tling with half a metre of flooding after last night's exceptionally high tide. Parts of New Brighton Rd have been closed because of flooding and earthquake repairs today. Met- Service said the low pressure had caused the tide to rise 450 millimetres higher than ex- pected at Lyttelton. (Abridged)

Haumoana bach flooded by waves MARTY SHARPE 07/07/2011 Dominion Post http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5246065/Haumoanabach-flooded-by-waves RENE FISCH UNWELCOME INTRUSION: The sea crashes over a wall and on to a house in Haumoana.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 29 Four-metre-high waves in Hawke's Bay caused spectacular scenes and flooded a bach at Hau- moana yesterday. Yesterday MetService issued a se- vere weather warning because of large waves expected to hit the North Island's west coast from Waitotara to Otaki. Waves more than 4m were possible tonight, and high waves should continue for the rest of the week. - The Dominion Post (Abridged)

Family escapes death as trees topple on rural property NEIL REID Sunday Star Times 10/07/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/5261907/Family-escapes-death-as-trees- topple-on-rural-property

KEVIN STENT TWISTER ATTACK: Firefighters cut a woman free from this wrecked caravan. She was taken to Wellington Hospital with moderate to serious injuries. METSERVICE: Wellington weather radar at the time of the Waikanae tornado. A family has cheated death after a tornado tore a path of destruction through Waikanae, north of Wellington, at about 4pm yesterday. It is believed several trees toppled on to a rural property, trapping a woman in a caravan and up to seven people in a house and flattening two cars in its driveway. The woman was cut free from the caravan by firefighters and taken to Wellington Hospital with moderate to serious injuries. Firefighters then battled to free inhabitants of the adjoining house in a rural section of Huia St. - (Abridged)

Wild weather to continue By Frances Morton, Bevan Hurley NZPA NZ herald Sunday Jul 10 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10737577 Two cars and a caravan were hit by a tornado that swept through Waikanae on the Kapiti coast. Photo / Mark Coote Wild weather will continue to lash much of the country over coming People and cars were thrown into the air yesterday when a tornado smashed its way across a

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 30 highway in Kapiti and ripped through coastal settle- ments "like a 737 roaring past". The tornado swept in from the Tasman Sea and crossed the Peka Peka coast near Waikanae shortly after 4pm, smashing into cars on State Highway 1. Plumber David Kitchingham was taken to Hutt Hospi- tal with glass embedded in his skin, but he was aston- ished to be alive. Kitchingham pulled over on State Highway 1 about 2km north of Waikanae when heavy hail and poor visibility made it impossible to drive. "I could see sheets of iron and debris, trees, just flash- ing past," he said. "There is a huge rumble, the van's shaking, then the next thing I know the van got picked up and tossed into a paddock 20 to 30 metres from where I pulled over. "I remember going round and round, but whether I was going round and round in the air or round and round on the ground I'm not absolutely sure." The van was deposited on its side in a paddock on the other side of the double carriageway. Former Fair Go host Kevin Milne lives a few kilome- tres south of the tornado's path but he said his house was struck by a "terrific hail storm". "I've never seen hail stones that size before ... I was worried that they were going to smash through some of the glass here." By Frances Morton, Bevan Hurley and NZPA | (Abridged)

Tornado hits Kapiti Coast KAY BLUNDELL Stuff 09/07/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5261305/Tornado- hits-Waikanae KARLA LOVE GOLFBALL SIZED: Karla Love from Waikanae sent in this picture of a hail stone beside a softball. (Abridged)

Heavy snow closes skifields - Avalanche risk 'too high' EMMA DAWE 11/07/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/ news/5264516/Heavy-snow-closes- skifields

PRETTY PICTURE: A snow-covered Queenstown after heavy snowfalls during the weekend. KEITH SCOTT Oh, the irony. After weeks of praying for snow so Wanaka's skifields could finally open for the season, it was the very thing that forced most of them shut at the weekend. - The Southland Times (Abridged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 31 Tornado made 'horrendous' noise 12/07/2011 Stuff http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local -news/5270171/Tornado-made- horrendous-noise GRAHAME COX/Fairfax Media SAFE: Jackie Winters with her dog Luke, who was under her bed and woke her up just before the tornado hit her home. A woman who lost the roof of her house to a tornado says it sounded like "a roaring jet engine" as it wreaked havoc on her home. Jackie Winters woke to lightning on the horizon and a "horrendous noise" and watched from her bed early this morning to see her roof and decking peeling off in what she believed was a tornado. "I could see flashes on the horizon then the wind got up, it was roaring like a jet engine. I thought 'shit, something terrible is going to happen' and it did," she said. "The next minute 'bang' and the whole roof came off. It was an horrendous noise. When it's happening you don't think about what's happened until after." MetService duty forecaster Rachel Kirkman said 4000 lightening strikes were recorded over the past 24 hours in the area monitored by them. – Stuff (Abridged)

2011 already costliest year for natural disasters 12 Jul 2011,MSN Miguel Llamos Munich Re produced this map showing where 355 natural disasters hit in the first half of 2011. The larger the dot the more significant the disaster. (Munich RE)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 32 Natural disasters across the globe have made 2011 the costliest on record in terms of prop- erty damage, and that's just six months in, according to a report released Tuesday by a leading insurer that tracks disasters. Moreover, that record builds on a trend of recent costly years — which means more expensive insurance for consumers over the long haul.

It's snowing all around ALANA DIXON AND STAFF REPORTERS 13/07/2011 Southland Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5275764/Its-snowing-all-around

GRACIE FEA/Southland Times Queenstown was hit by heavy snow overnight.- (abridged)

User pays forecasts a safety risk, say pi- lots Friday July 15, 2011 Source: ONE News Recreational pilots fear plans to charge for aviation weather forecasts will lead to more accidents and deaths. The MetFlight service is used by nearly 6000 pilots of small craft, but at the end of the month the free service turns user pays. With around one in five accidents weather related, there are fears that user pays will mean that some pilots will put costs before safety. Pilot Steve Perreau told ONE News that pilots need more information than what they can get from free forecasts. "We need to know about wind and layers ... turbulence, icing". Sponsorship of Metflight had come from the Civil Aviation Authority. But the CAA says the sponsorship was only a temporary measure to get the service up and running. The service will still be available on a user pays basis with an annual subscription fee of $95 plus GST. Bill Sommers of CAA says "aviation safety is an individual responsibility" and it's up to pilots to pay for proper forecasts. But Perreau fears that without proper forecasts everyone's safety is at risk. The New Zealand Aviation Federation says there are hundreds of pilots who say they won't pay, instead opting to rely on anecdotal reports or general forecasts. While Perreau is willing to pay the fee oth- ers question why they should be charged when boaties and trampers get free forecasts. But with out sponsorship Metservice says it is under no obligation to provide free aviation fore- casts.

Tornado hits Waipu Friday 22 Jul 2011 10:43p.m. 3News http://www.3news.co.nz/Tornado-hits- Waipu/tabid/423/articleID/219782/ Default.aspx

Cove Road, Waipu, damaged by a Tornado at 5pm (Abridged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 33 Wild Northland weather, tornado chaos in Waipu Lindy Laird | 23rd July 2011 Northern Advocate http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/wild-northland-weather-pregnant-woman-cut-from-car/3960473/

WAIPU TWISTER: Several water spouts like this one caught on camera by Emma Knight were seen moving up and down the coast yesterday. At Waipu, residents and emergency services were thankful no one was injured after a twister ripped along Cove Rd, destroying a cabin, damaging smaller sheds and blowing caravans to smither- eens about 4.45pm. One witness told firefighters he saw the cabin go past, airborne and still in one piece, before it landed again.

Polar blast turns NZ into winter wonderland Sunday Jul 24, 2011 NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10740652&gallery_id=120470#7844564 An icy southerly is keeping temperatures in the South Island barely above zero today, with chances of snow reaching the Auckland re- gion.

Heavy snow makes for slippery conditions, as discovered the driver of a truck whose trailer slid into a fence. Photo / Peter Dunn

Christchurch Press: Mon 25 July

Christchurch red zone:The big dump shut Christchurch for a day and fell in North Is- land regions untouched by snow since the 1940s. At 8am yesterday, no region south of the North Island’s Central Plateau was warmer than 2C. The snow blanketed Christchurch in white. Airports in Dunedin, Queens- town and Christchurch were shut, and roads— including parts of State High- way 1— around all three centres were closed. Later in the day, the cold air moved north, bringing snow flurries to Wel- lington. Some snowflakes drifted on to downtown Lambton Quay. MetService said Greytown, in Waira- rapa, had its first snow in 70 years. Weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said the record cold was caused by a southerly push arriving at the coldest time of year and in an uninterrupted flow from the Antarctic. ‘‘The coldest days usually come in late July,’’ he said. ‘‘But what is unusual is that this

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 34 cold air has managed to bring snow to widespread areas . . . and to places that haven’t seen it for 15 to 20 years or more.’’ Christchurch had the heaviest snowfall, dumps of 30cm and 15cm disrupting electricity, transport, health and education services. Mr McDavitt said Auckland had snowclouds hovering overhead, but no mountain ranges high enough to pierce them. (Abridged)

Wintry blast brings country to a standstill 25/07/2011 PHIL REID/Dominion Post http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5336735/Wintry-blast-brings-country-to-a-standstill Snow in the Rimutaka Ranges Just hanging: Monty the snowman relaxes with friends in Edgeware, Christchurch.

A cold start for Lyttelton John Kirk Amderson

Taihape Wainuiomata

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 35 Snow on the Kaimais ranges this morning. GREG STACK Waikato Daily Times 25/07/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/ news/5334520/More-snow-on-the-way-in- Waikato Dreams of snow in the Waikato may become reality tonight as it continues to fall around New Zealand, dusting unlikely sites. The biggest snow fall in 15 years is set to con- tinue. MetService Media and communication mete- orologist Daniel Corbett said that although the Waikato typically misses the snow – there may just be a chance that childhood prayers are answered. (Abridged)

Farmers and stock take winter blast in their stride http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1107/S00668/farmer s-and-stock- take-winter-blast-in-their-stride.htm Following contact with provinces south of Taupo in both islands, Federated Farmers has found that both stock and farmers have come through this wintry blast well. “It’s been a short and sharp storm front but it seems to be moving off with much better condi- tions on my farm today,” says David Rose, Federated Farmers adverse events spokesperson, who farms near Invercargill. Farmers plan for winter weather events like this while our livestock are also bred for it. Win- ter in winter is all part of farming but winter in spring is something else. “The MetService gave farmers plenty of warning to get stock into lower or more sheltered paddocks. MetSer- vice weather ambassador, Bob McDavitt, cautioned in our May National Farming Review that a weakening La Nina could bring snowfall similar to 2008 and 1974. “So this wintry blast was pretty much ex- pected at this time of the year. That said it’s terribly hard on Christchurch.

Blanket of snow from perfect weather mix PAUL GORMAN Christchurch Press 26/07/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/ news/5338593/Blanket-of-snow-from- perfect-weather-mix WHERE IT CAME FROM: The polar blast sweeping New Zealand is captured in Met- Service images. In the infra-red satellite photo, snow-making clouds are sitting over Christchurch and coastal Canterbury. Sometimes all the pieces in the puzzle fit together perfectly. That's what hap- pened yesterday in the skies over Christchurch. Snow-making is a fickle art, one that re- quires the right ingredients in just the right quantities. Simply having a supply of very

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 36 cold air is not enough to produce the kind of once-in-20-years fall that began on Sunday eve- ning and petered out late yesterday. The snowfall was the result of polar air, moisture and the perfect wind direction joining forces at the right time. To start with, the air mass that caused the collective national shiver had its source well south of the country, close to the Antarctic. Many other cold outbreaks come from sub-Antarctic lati- tudes, but this one was truly polar in origin. Second, a sub-tropical low-pressure system over the north of the North Island was packed with moisture and thick frontal cloud bands, effectively primed and ready to turn rain into snow once the southerly floodgates opened. Third, the wind across Canterbury was pretty much from due south, give or take 10 compass degrees. You may remember that two weeks ago almost equally cold air was battering the south of the South Island bringing large amounts of snow there, while much of our region and Christchurch stayed fine and dry. That weather was borne on strong west to southwest winds from which we were sheltered. However, bring the angle of attack around to the south and there is no such shelter, allowing Canterbury to cop a full-on assault. Two other factors also helped make this such a memorable fall. It began at night, when the temperature had dropped an extra degree or so from pre-dusk levels, and, unusually for Can- terbury, the snow fell on to largely dry ground, unaffected by hours of rain or sleet. The weather forecasters did well picking this storm. Computer models indicated a bitter snap was on the cards a week ago and the guidance remained fairly consistent through until last Friday, when the likelihood of the severe weather became overwhelming. Both Blue Skies Weather and MetService warned of snow pretty much to sea level in a 24-hour period from Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately now, until the next time the ingredients are mixed to perfection, the wonder of a breathtaking snowfall is about to disappear into ice, slush and mud. - The Press

Jim Hessell: Climate change and hot air Friday Jul 29,2011 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10741397 Jim Hessell writes, 'the 'experts' do not appreciate the complexity of the atmos- phere and how it responds as part of the planetary system which also includes the oceans.' Many of the heated debates on global warming often arise from one or both of two reasons. Attitudes become entrenched in a position from which it is difficult to retreat or the protago- nists expect their area of expertise to explain everything. Also it is not uncommon for incon- venient truths to be ignored, for example a strenuous advocate of global warming will ignore outbreaks off extreme cold which occur at about the same frequency as heat waves. This seems to me to be because the "experts" do not appreciate the complexity of the atmosphere and how it responds as part of the planetary system which also includes the oceans. A basic requirement of anyone discussing the atmosphere is to understand that thermody- namics (temperature effects) and dynamics (wind effects) are mutually dependent. We know that since the beginning of the industrial revolution the composition of the atmosphere, an important part of which is the increasing concentration of "greenhouse" gases, has been changed by the activities of mankind including its burgeoning population. The concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide, monitored over the last 50 years show an irrefutable upward trend. The impacts of these are affecting and threatening our existence on a planet of limited resources. Nearly all of the computer models predict, and has as now been observed, that the tempera- tures at the poles increase more rapidly than at the equator. Let me simplify the results of this. It means that the mean thermal gradients between the poles and the equator are de-

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 37 creasing. This gradient is best understood by considering the mid-level of the atmosphere, with regard to mass, i.e. at the 500 hPa height (Mean sea level pressure is approximately 1000 hPa or mil- libars). At 500 hPa the wind flow (dynamics) is largely governed by the mean thermal gradi- ent (thickness) down to seal level, and a weather map at 500hPa is basically a horizontal wave structure in a stream flowing from west to east. The amplitudes and speeds of movement of these waves, being largely influenced by the rota- tion of Earth, change with the mean temperature gradient. With a reduced gradient causing a larger amplitude the flow reaches further towards the relevant pole and the speed of the wave slows. Together these result in a greater, or lesser, transport of heat (depending on whether the trough of the wave lies to the east or west of the position of reference). This explains why the frequency of cold outbreaks in both hemispheres matches that of heat waves. This apparent paradox can explain why, as various distinguished scientists have com- mented, the extremes of weather (caused by global warming!) which are observed, are be- coming more frequent and severe. How many of our "climate experts" have understood these simplified explanations? This arti- cle explains some of the apparent pros and cons of global warming. It must be recognised by all concerned that global warming is here to stay unless it is soon mitigated against in some way. In fact various scientists have evidence to show that even if we ceased increasing the greenhouse gas content of the atmosphere immediately, global warming would continue to perilous levels by the end of the century, or sooner. They make such statements with a knowledge of the thermodynamics, together with the dy- namics, of the atmosphere, including the effects on the stratosphere and higher levels. So much for the thermodynamics, but the dynamic affects such as the increasing strength and frequencies of hurricanes, tornadoes and intense rainfalls, will also occur for reasons which are now well understood by teams of scientists who have the advantages of inter- communication and of advanced observation and computer resources. We can do no better than accept their advice and prepare for a future which, at the least, will greatly affect the av- erage standard of living. In this potted course on meteorology and climatology, I have not ventured into the impacts of the oceans on the atmosphere. These cannot be ignored, not only as contributing to the ther- modynamic system but, as is commonly expressed, the rising sea level, particularly on our coastal cities. These views are a result of amalgamating meteorological considerations over a period since I joined the Meteorological Service (now MetService) in 1957. They are an attempt to summa- rise the many considerations gleaned in a variety of professional positions I have occupied over that period. * Jim Hessell is a former weather forecaster with the Meteorological Service and lecturer in theoretical and practical meteorology.

Happy birthday weather forecasts 1 August 2011 BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14361204 On 1 August 1861 the Times newspaper published the first ever weather fore- cast. The forecast was put together by Admiral Robert FitzRoy, who led the mete- orological department in the Board of Trade which was later renamed the Met Office.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 38 Snow falls in downtown Wellington Motorists trapped in snowbound vehicles BRONWYN TORRIE ANDREW GORRIE/ 15/08/2011 Dominion Post http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5442969/Snow-falls-in-downtown-Wellington TASTE TEST: Peter Heword treats his son Finn to a snow tasting after they ventured out in the chilly weather to the top of the Ri- mutaka Range. The worst snowstorm in decades blanketed Wellington to sea level, stranding motorists and cutting power to thousands of homes – but even worse is yet to come. Strong southerly gales, fresh off the Antarctic ice-shelf, would lash New Zealand making it feel bitterly cold and creating blizzard conditions in places, forecaster Hordur Thordar- son said. (Abridged)

Wellington's 'once in a lifetime' polar blast BRONWYN TORRIE, MICHELLE DUFF AND KIRAN CHUG Dominion Post 15Oct http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/ news/5442971/Wellingtons-once-in-a-lifetime- polar-blast

DEAN HILLIER The Beehive endures a blanketing of snow in Wellington.

KATIE FARMAN George and Hunter Far- man enjoy a walk in the snow in Masterton.

YESTERDAY'S STORM Yesterday's storm is being called the coldest in the city in living memory. Motorists abandoned cars in Wellington's hill suburbs yesterday as roads became treacher- ous, a men's hockey final was cancelled because of snow and nearly 3000 Tawa homes lost power. It hit yesterday, bringing atrocious weather, chilly temperatures and snow to sea level in

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 39 Southland and Canterbury before working its way north and hitting Wellington just after 3pm. Queenstown recorded the lowest temperature at -2 degrees Celsius. Wellington hov- ered just below 3C for much of the afternoon and early evening. A high of 7C has been forecast for today. (Abridged)

Wellington's 'once in a lifetime' polar blast BRONWYN TORRIE Dominion Post 15/08/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5442971/Wellingtons-once-in-a-lifetime-polar-blast

Ngaio Plimmerton beach Josh Harding MetService described the storm as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would affect the entire country. (Abridged)

The big chill hits North Island By Amelia Wade and NZPA /NZ Herald Monday Aug 15, 2011 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10745187 The unusual sight of snow on Waikanae Beach and dusting Kapiti Island near Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell The bitterly cold southerly blast bringing snow to much of New Zealand closing roads and some airports continues to batter the country today. Snow has made road conditions impassable in many parts of both islands. Auckland snow forecast Today, Auckland will have its turn. Snow is forecast to fall and possibly settle on the tops of the Waitakere and Hunua ranges and the peaks of the Coromandel Peninsula. Wellington's 'snowmageddon' The snowfall in Wellington caused excitement and chaos throughout the city last night. Snow settled in the northern suburbs, including Churton Park, Newlands and Karori, and there was flooding in Kilbirnie. English actor Stephen Fry, who is in Wellington filming The Hobbit, was among hun- dreds of people who took to Twitter. "It's been an exciting day here in Wellington. Snow. That's unusual ... NZ is same latitude as Melbourne so it's rare," Fry tweeted. Another person described it as "snowmageddon". (Abridged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 40

New Zealand In Grip Of Memorable Icy Blast By FERGAL TIERNEY - Sun Aug 14, 1:35 pm Irish weather on line

850 hPa (~1,400 m alti- tude) chart for 12 UTC Sun- day 14th August, 2011 (00 hrs local time Monday 15th August). Image: Ogi- met.com

http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/new-zealand-in-grip-of-memorable-icy-blast/31934.html The cold winter in New Zealand continues as a new blast of cold weather grips much of the country Sunday. Snow is currently falling in the South Island and in southern parts of the North Island too. Sunday saw Wellington’s greatest snowfall for 30 years. New Zealand Met Service predict falls of 20 – 35 cm above 300 m in the Wellington area, with lesser falls continuing at lower levels. The reason for the extreme cold is a strong southwesterly flow straight off the Antarctic ice shelf, caused by a combination of high pressure over Tasmania and low pressure east of New Zealand. With an unobstructed path over the anomalously cold sea waters, the Antartcic air- mass picked up enough moisture to generate the snowfall as it reached New Zealand.

Snow in Square, temperature drops JONATHON HOWE AND STACEY OLIVER 15/08/2011 Manawatu Standard http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/5444663/Rare-snowfalls-blanket-region Melanie May Watershed Road residents, Hiwinui, 10 minutes north east of Palmerston North, woke up to snow on Monday morning. Snow has landed in The Square in Palmerston North for the first time in decades, as tempera- tures plummet and roads around the region become dangerous. (Abridged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 41 Snow falls in central Rotorua 15th August 2011 Daily Post http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/local/news/snow-falls-in- central-rotorua-video/3963048/ Snow at Rotorua's Simmonds Firestone, Eruera St. Photo / Supplied Snow fell in central Rotorua this morning, bringing ex- citement to a community which rarely sees the stuff. Workers and tourists left buildings to see the snow close up as it fell in short bursts. MetService says the temperature is 2.4C at present with a minimum of 2C and a maximum of 6C expected. Meanwhile, snow has made roads impassable in many parts of both islands. Dunedin woke to between three and four centimetres snow in the central city with the northern motorway closed in both directions and the southern motorway only open to traffic coming in to the city, Senior Consta- ble Ian Henderson told NZPA. Dunedin Airport was also closed this morning with about 150 passengers forced to stay there overnight af- ter four flights were grounded. Passengers were also left stranded in Queenstown Air- port and a number have flights had been cancelled in and out of Christchurch Airport this morning. Canterbury University, Christchurch Polytechnic Insti- tute of Technology, and Otago University's Christchurch campus had all been closed for the day and Environment Canterbury said all Christchurch metro bus services had been suspended until further notice. Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) had closed access to the city's quake- damaged red zone and would reassess the situation at 11am. Snow has also fallen in many parts of the North Island including in and around Wellington. Many hill roads around the capital were closed this morning, including the Rimutaka Hill Road. The Desert Road and the alternate route through National Park in the central North Is- land were also closed. High winds and snow caused trees and branches to tear down power lines cutting power to about 6000 customers across the lower North Island overnight and this morning. Snow had settled in Wanganui for the first time since 1974, Constable Simon Beswarick told NZPA. (Abridged)

Waikato dusted with snow 15/08/2011 Waikato times http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/5444269/ Waikato-dusted-with-snow Peter Drury/ Waikato Times Snow men: Cousins Darius and Regan Tipa, both 16, enjoy their first experience of snow in Tokoroa to- day. Tokoroa got a rare sprinkling of the white stuff this morning but Tokoroa High School receptionist An- gela Salmon said it melted quickly. "A couple of wipes of the wiper blades and it was gone not quite enough to make a snowman," she

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 42 said. MetService described the storm as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would affect the entire country. The cold snap was expected to last till Thursday. (Abridged)

Snow reaches Auckland as winter blast bites Monday August 15, 2011 Source: ONE News / Newstalk ZB http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/snow-reaches-auckland -winter-blast-bites-4351436 Snow in the Bombay Hills, south of Auckland - Source: Bev Adams MetService says it will be cold enough for more snow showers in Auckland tonight as disruption from an Antarctic blast spreads over the country. MetService has had reports of snow settling on cars and decks in the Waitakeres and in the central Auckland suburb of Mt Eden. Manukau police have advised of dustings of snow in South Auckland.

Auckland snow argument settled by NIWA 15 Aug 2011 3 news Toya O’Brien http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Auckland-snow-argument-settled-by-NIWA/tabid/423/articleID/222258/Default.aspx While New Zealand’s biggest city argued over the varying definitions of snow vs hail vs graupel vs sleet – NIWA came out and confirmed Auckland had experienced snow. NIWA spokesperson Georgina Griffiths told 3 News that the only definition of snow that counts is that it is a hexagonal flake and said she thought there had been snow flurries in the Auckland region today. The last time snow settled in Auckland was 1939, but there was a snow flurry in 1976. “The sleet that we're receiving could look a lot like snow, could ac- tually well be snow flakes drifting down horizon- tally and even sticking to your hand,” said Ms Grif- fiths. “If people think it was snow flurries then it probably is.” Snow was seen in the Waitakere ranges, Pukekohe and even flurries of what was either snow or sleet in Parnell and Mt Eden.

New Zealand becomes a winter wonderland http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2026146/New- Zealands-North-Island-sees-snow-fall-40-years.html By Sara Nelson Daily Mail UK 16th August 2011 Flights have been grounded, roads closed and power cuts have plunged vast areas of New Zealand into darkness following the country's heaviest snowfall in decades. Snow and gale force winds have brought the country to a standstill during what forecasters are describing as a once-in-a-lifetime

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 43

People walk through a main street under snow in Auck- land, as services across the country were disrupted A blanket of snow covers the city of Christchurch (left), A cyclist is seen riding precariously through Christ- church (right) (Abridged) Prime Minister John Key opened a press conference yesterday by welcoming reporters to the 'winter won- derland that is Wellington'.

Snow here until Thursday - Met Service By 3news.co.nz staff / RadioLIVE / Kloe Palmer http://www.3news.co.nz/Snow-here-until-Thursday---Met-Service/tabid/423/articleID/222304/ Default.aspx Palmerston North - photo by Wiebe Marinus The polar blast is continuing to wreak havoc across the country, particularly in quake-hit Christchurch. Yesterday the city was at a stand- still, and it looks as if the today will be the same. It's been snowing on and off all night, and the Met Service says it is set to continue until at least Thursday. The storm was relatively coastal this morning, but is expected to move inland later to- day. (Abridged)

Polar blast expected to linger Mon, 15 Aug 2011 Otago Daily times http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/173580/polar- blast-expected-linger The polar blast which brought snow to many parts of the country is expected to linger, and more snow is expected in the next few days. MetService forecasters say further snowfalls are expected in the southern and eastern parts of the South Island, and southern and central parts of the North Island. The snowfalls were expected to ease on Wednesday and were unlikely to con- tinue down to sea level. (Abridged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 44 Hi-tech equipment improves forecasting PAUL GORMAN The Press17/08/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5456142/Hi-tech-equipment-improves-forecasting Weather forecasting has become so sophisticated that more than a week ago supercomputers started creating maps hinting at what is now blasting across the country. Even 20 years ago it was rare for forecasters to risk warning of snow or such a severe polar blast more than a few days ahead. So how do forecasters know whether it's going to be rain or sleet or snow that falls and how low down the snow will settle? Basically, it's about the density of air. While warm air is light and likes to rise, cold air is much heavier and tends to sink, as we all know from feeling cold draughts blowing under doors. Radiosondes attached to weather balloons measure temperature, air pressure and humidity at different levels of the atmosphere as they ascend. Those observed values are then fed into the mind-bogglingly complicated computer models that in turn generate maps on which forecasters base their predictions. Some of these maps show the "thickness" of the air, or in other words the thickness of a slice of the atmosphere between two standard heights. This is expressed in units of atmospheric pressure, hectopascals (hPa), rather than metres or feet. Those two pressure levels are further apart in warm air, which expands because it is lighter, than in cold air, because it is denser and squashes them closer together. Therefore, these "thickness" values show how cold or hot the lower layers of the atmosphere are. Over New Zealand, the 1000hPa (near-surface) to 500hPa (about 6000m) "thickness" usually averages between 5350 and 5600 geopotential metres (gpm). In hot northwesterly condi- tions it can be above 5700gpm, in cold southerlies below 5300gpm. Forecasters know from experience that snow will fall to sea level when the thickness falls to 5250gpm or lower. In the heavy Christchurch snowfall three weeks ago, it was down to 5200gpm; on Monday it was even lower, close to 5150gpm for a time, and yesterday it was hovering around 5230gpm. Forecasters also use the temperature about 1500m above sea level to calculate how cold the lowest part of the atmosphere is. Based on the average drop in temperature of 1 degree Celsius for every 200m you climb, a temperature of minus 8C at 1500m should see the freezing level come right down to sea level. The weather map for this week's winter blast is similar to the big storm at the end of August 1992. New Zealand has been trapped in a river of icy southerlies between a column of high pressure extending north-south from an intense anticyclone way to the south filling the Tas- man Sea, and a mass of rotating low-pressure systems to the east. These low-pressure centres keep spinning around each other, flicking snow-bearing clouds back on to the east of the South Island. Until the whole storm system shifts a little further east, the weather will be very slow to im- prove.

Fourth day of snow Wellington tested by storm Dominion Post 17 Aug 2010 http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/ news/5456122/Fourth-day-of-snow-for- capital Johnsonville Hills Arun Vanka Power cuts, cancelled transport services and treacherous roads forced Wellington City Council to issue a civil defence warn- ing on Monday.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 45 Metservice forecaster Andy Downs said the wet, windy, cold weather which now blanketed the capital was here to stay for at least the next few days. Black ice, strong southerlies and severe wind chills will create treacherous conditions around the country for days, despite the end of the polar blast being in sight. Mr McDavitt said icy southerly winds that had battered Wellington and Wairarapa would gradually ease from later today. "While more snow is likely, the end is in sight. It's still a few days away, though. The air is so cold that frosts are likely even in cloudy conditions. For the next few days frosts will be severe in many places, and there is likely to be a lot of black ice on roads." Abridged.

Opposing weather patterns to blame By Hayley Hannan NZ Herald Wednesday Aug 17, 2011 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10745581 Snow, sleet, graupel, hail and ice - New Zealand has seen the entire range of frozen conditions over the past few days of Arctic weather. The extreme conditions have been caused by opposing weather patterns, said Niwa principal scientist James Ren- wick. "We've got quite a big storm that's a low pressure centre east of the country. That's come down from the North Tasman Sea and has brought quite a bit of moisture with it. "And that's met up with a cold air stream coming from the far south, so that's cooled down that moist air and caused all the precipitation - be it rain or snow or whatever." He said the air stream is flowing all the way from Scott Base to New Zealand around the edge of an anti-cyclone. The air stream is wedged between a low to the east of the country and a high pressure system to the west. He said Kiwis had seen the entire range of "frozen precipitation" across the coun- try. "Graupel is like soft hail that hasn't frozen properly. And sleet is sort of like snow that has- n't melted properly." Dr Renwick said the main difference was between snow and hail, which were both types of ice that formed in different conditions. Hail typically forms in a thunder storm with violent up- drafts, he said. Water droplets were quickly pushed up through the cloud where they froze and collided with other drops and particles. Snow was formed in a gentle kind of way in very flat layer clouds, with a slow updraft of air over a wide area. "The air cools down slowly in a measured kind of a way. You get these crystals forming, typi- cally hexagonals, and the little tendrils grow off those crystals in a typical hexagonal shape." The ground air temperature had to be four degrees or lower to stop snow melting as it fell, he said. People within one city or town can see variances in snow patterns because the slopes and wind determined where and how snow fell. New Zealand has experienced similar weather conditions this year, on June 21, and in 1976 and 1939, Dr Renwick said. The South Island had been hit with big snowstorms more often - in 1945, 1992 and 1996. "It's maybe not quite once in a lifetime but it's once in a generation at least." Chris Noble, MetService forecaster, said reports of snow had been varied. "It can still be snowing but not settling. And that's very common with the onset of snow. We say it is snowing but not settling, and that's the way we qualify it." MetService duty forecaster Rachel Kirkman said the white weather conditions had continued because the low and high pressure blocks had remained fairly still.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 46 Wellington snow most severe since 1976 BRONWYN TORRIE Dominion Post http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5455819/Wellington-snow-most-severe-since-1976

Aerial photos of the Wellington re- gion after heavy snow: Churton Park Andrew Gorrie The last time a "once-in-a- generation" storm of this severity hit Wellington was in 1976. The capital's coldest day on record was in June that year, when the maxi- mum temperature reached only 6.5 degrees Celsius at the airport. Mon- day was the second coldest, at 6.8C.

S'no joke, it's the white stuff 18/08/2011 stuff http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/5465949/S-no-joke-its-the-white-stuff CHRISTMAS CARD: Hail blanketed this Pine Valley Rd home in Dairy Flat. ROB CRAWFORD Hail scattered across homes and towns around Rodney-Hibiscus Coast on Monday afternoon, some believing snow also fell at times. Abridged

Snow in winterless North 23/08/2011 Auckland Now/Whangarei Leader http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/whangarei-leader/5485069/Snow-in-winterless-North SIGNIFICANT SNOW: In scenes remi- niscent of the South Island, tramper Viv Trounson gets into the snow on Northland's Mount Tutamoe. The Antarctic blast last week brought up to 5cm of snow at Mount Tutamoe, west of Whangarei, on Tuesday. "The snowflakes were as big as 20c pieces.". (Abrudged)

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 47 End in sight to chilly weather 19/08/2011 MICHELLE COOKE/Stuff and KIRAN CHUG/Dominion Post http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/ news/5474911/End-in-sight-to-chilly-weather/

Landcare Research CHILLER: A satellite image shows the wintry blast that cov- ered New Zealand earlier this week. Climate scientist Georgina Griffiths of the National Institute of Water and Atmos- pheric Research (NIWA), said Auckland experienced its coldest day since records began in 1961. Wellington Airport re- corded its second coldest day there since records began in 1959 and Gisborne also recorded its second lowest temperature since 1940. (Abridged)-

Polar blast threatens Daffodil Day ANGELA CUMING Waikato Times 19/08/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/ news/5473661/Polar-blast-threatens-Daffodil-Day

Peter Drury/ Waikato Times Shortage: Graham Phillips, of Clandon Daffodils in Gordonton, is struggling to meet demand after frosts wilted his daf- fodil crop this week.

Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Sep 2011 - Page 48

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