Scarf-Carrot-Coal

Guys, I really appreciate your updates while I am working hard in NZ, All the best for the new Year, SCC

Er, yesterday afternoon, Sat 12 Oct. It came up from the south and we had a good storm with hail. I am on the Canterbury Plains on the South Island in NZ.

I was happier when I filled up with fuel and had enough to get home! Jake was taking it in his stride; all part of the NZ adventure :0) Kirsty, my 10 year old daughter is away on school camp some 100Km away. However, the school has taken the sensible view that the kids are safe, so why bring them back into Christchurch? We will collect her tomorrow. Lyttelton & New Brighton are being described as un-inhabitable although the areas closer to the university should be better placed. Sumner and Red Cliffs have been cut off due to bridges being taken out. The Lyttelton tunnel is closed.

I had been out in the city to get my hair cut and returned to my desk at 12:45PM At 12 50PM the 6.3 earthquake struck. It was so violent. The 5 storey office building started to sway and twist. I dived beneath my desk. My computer fell off my desk, coffee went everywhere. ceiling panels fell out, filing cabinets toppled over. When it finally stopped, I grabbed my keys and went for the emergency exits. Bits of the concrete structure had fallen into the stairwells. Outside there was broken glass everywhere. On the pavement outside, there was an aftershock. The land was moving like it was alive. Four men carried a young girl to the hospital - she had a blue face so I fear the worse. People were crying, being hugged, desperately trying to contact loved ones on their mobile phones. We heard stories that office buildings had collapsed - later confirmed. We saw a dust cloud rise from parts of the city - it was either a fire or buildings collapsing. After 15 minutes I left and started walking towards my car. The pavements are all buckled, kerb stones raised. The front of buildings have collapsed. You can hear sirens and car alarms. Water is coming up from the ground due to broken water mains. I cross Mortimer Square and people are sat around supporting each other. I eventually get to my car and drive to Jake's school. There is liquidfied sand and water on the road. The school chapel is missing part of its walls and roof. The bridge over the stream is all buckled. All the pupils are on the school field. I sign my son out and drive via the side streets to Harewood in search of some diesel - I didn't have enough have get home. I find a garage so I fill up my car and drive home.

3.5 quakes are very minor affairs .... you should try a 7.1! 4.0 and above you will feel!

Just woken up to a big earthquake. House has been swaying from side to side and many aftershocks being experienced. Reports coming in from all of NZ. I guess it must be 5. something.

Sorry been catching up with some sleep. It was expected to arrive at 0900NZ. There has been reports of strange tidal conditions all the way up the east coast. Gisbourne (north island) reported the water level in the harbour dropping by 1 metre and 10 minutes later the water rose again by the same amount. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/tsunami-wave-makes-landfall-mainland-3384488 The main threat to NZ should be over by now.

Here in NZ ...... Residents living in low lying areas of Banks Peninsula are being prepared for evacuation. Banks Peninsula is just to the south of Christchurch. A wave of 1-3 metres is expected to hit. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/tsunami-warning-notice-your-area-3384447 I was supposed to be on a fishing trip this morning and that has just been cancelled due to the potential risk of a tsunami.

No snow here either ...... it is the middle of summer so it's hardly surprising! We did get some hail at the start of the week which fell as snow on the mountains but that has now all melted. There is still snow to be found on the southern Alps.

You would have a job on where I live ... no street lights for 25km! We can see the milky way instead.

What looks different?

These are exceptional events and they are almost impossible for councils to put in place sufficient precautions - they don't have the resources. 30cm of rain in the UK is not what you call a common event although it demonstrates the potential impact of global warming. I used to live in Ambleside and my wife lived in Keswick so I know the area affected very well. I hope everybody keeps safe.

The long term forecast is for the warm weather to continue into late Autumn. The east coast of both the north and south islands are starting to suffer a drought with no substantial rain for more weeks than I care to remember. I have been enjoying the excellent weather but winter will be upon us very soon and the rain and snow will be back.

I have just flown today into Perth from Auckland. The route normally flies over Sydney and Adelaide before following the south coast and cutting off south east Australia to fly into Perth. Today we flew over Tasmania and across the sea before we cut the corner for south east Australia. It was a totally different route .... I guess to avoid the areas affected by the fires.

So why aint you heading for the Westwood with your sledge?

Got to disagree with you. I rather like Humberside. I used to live there too!

Lets have debate but please drop the bickering. This debate (and I use the word loosely) is not adding to anyones knowledge.

Christmas Day will be in the 30's again same as last year. There is not a chance of a single flake of snow here!

That all depends upon where you are ..... we had a little sleet today in Christchurch with snow on both the north and south islands.

That'll be Holme-on-Spalding Moor - I was a parish councillor there until about 2 weeks ago. Never heard of Holme of the Wolds? Where is that then?

Hi, We had a sprinkling last night. Homle-on-Spalding Moor, East Yorkshire "Lamp Post Watching Snowcam" Jake's Back Garden Snowcam I expect there will be more on the Yorkshire Wolds - we will be going armed with sledges shortly Kind regards, Scarf-Carrot-Coal