J07
-
Posts
802 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Events
Learn About Weather and Meteorology
Community guides
Posts posted by J07
-
-
Partly cloudy, but a pleasant day with a high of 16C.
Nationwide high of 20C again in Northland, although it was a wetter day for them with thunderstorms currently triggering inland.
-
Splendid photos. How far in advance did you plan this trip? Planned based on the weather or a shot in the dark?
I have a bugbear though - they are certainly NOT palm trees! They are NZ "Cabbage Trees", generally considered hardy down to -10C.
-
24 hours ending 2200 on 9 Jun 09: London & South East England
Highest max 17.3 °C Gravesend
Lowest max 14.1 °C High Wycombe
Lowest min 8.7 °C Benson
Highest rainfall 14.2 mm East Malling
Sunniest 0.3 hours Manston
Heck, I didn't realise the SE was getting it *that* bad!
-
First time NZ has reached 20C for quite a long time!
Whangarei got to 20C with light winds and clear skies. Beaut of an afternoon there.
Down here, cloudy with some rain. A high of 16C, making it the warmest day for ages.
Dewpoints reaching 16C in the north today, the subtropical airmass has finally made its presences felt.
-
At last, something of a "warm up". A high of 11C, pathetic really but hey-ho. Interestingly, despite our cold weather at the moment, we still had a daily high on Saturday that was warmer than my hometown in the UK. Now, that's truly pathetic!
Nationwide high of 19C in Kaitaia, looked like a nice late afternoon there once the rain cleared.
-
I wouldn't call it a bad start to summer at all - pretty normal in fact. A hot spell late May/early June then into the standard 'Euro monsoon' you get in many June's.
But isn't the Euro "monsoon" just a return to drab westerlies? This pattern change came in the form of a northeasterly, didn't it?
-
The whole thing I find odd. No matter how much temperatures rise, it's going to be very hard to maintain a Mediterranean climate at 50 degrees of latitude. It would need a change in the global circulation, you still have to have a subtropical ridge somewhere and westerlies somewhere. If the forecasts suggest the Med gets hotter and drier...fair enough, but I would have thought this would lead to strengthening of westerlies over the UK. In other words, making the east warmer and drier and the west wetter and milder.
I suppose the idea is that with Europe as a whole warming, this pushes the polar front further north and naturally leads to ridging over the UK. I'm just not convinced.
When they talk about "maximum" temperatures I think they mean "the highest maximum you can expect in any given summer". So 31C is probably not a bad bet for London right now. 41C in 2080 is quite believable considering an exceptional heatwave will give temps of 35C or more in the southeast in current times.
-
I think Heathrow scraped 14C on Saturday so even the south was not immune to the cold.
-
Does anyone know if there's any truth behind the association with thunderstorms? I guess it might stem from the association with turbulent air, since thunderstorms develop in conditions of extreme instability, and cumulonimbus clouds by definition feature a lot of turbulent air.
Edit: obviously they aren't exclusively associated with storms because I could swear that there are some outside Exeter right now! Photos to come in the Photography forum.
Look at the post above. No thunderstorms in those situations.
-
http://blog.metservice.com/pages/asperatus/
Written by: Bob McDavitt on Jun 4th, 2009 (0 Comments)
ASPERATUS?
Clouds: Their changing shapes often occur over a time-scale and space-scale that we humans can not always fully appreciate unless we use time-lapse photography.
In the international cloud naming scheme used to describe and identify clouds, there are ten basic characteristic cloud FORMS or TYPES or genera (nouns): Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Cirrocumulus, Altostratus, Altocumulus, Nimbostratus, Stratocumulus, Stratus, Cumulus, and Cumulonimbus.
To further describe clouds there are several accepted and defined adjectives covering 14 cloud species (shape and structure), 9 varieties (arrangement and transparency), 9 supplementary features, and two words (genitus, mutatus) describing growth. Click here for a table of these words.
There has recently been a call from the Cloud Appreciation Society of the United Kingdom to ask The Royal Meteorological Society to apply to the World Meteorological Organization to officially add a new variety or species of cloud to the international scheme. The new word is “ASPERATUS”, after the Latin word for rough, and is intended to be used as an adjective to describe those clouds whose underbellies look like the surface of choppy sea.
This story was covered in the UK here and here and then in NZ by Radio NZ National on the Panel.
Photo credit to Bill Slater, taken near Hanmer Springs on 2 March 2005 and winner of the Met Society Photo competition, shows an example of what ASPERATUS implies. Bill explains “It was a fine day and we first noticed some round disc like clouds at fairly high altitude. We commented that they were like flying saucers. Then as we reached Hanmer Springs we started to see these swirls and dangling clouds, looking back towards the Lewis Pass… no rain ever fell.”
“Asperatus” clouds form when there are two (or more) layers of air of differing density, one sitting on the other. The cooler and higher layer is cloudy and the other layer is clear. The boundary between these layers may occasionally get knocked up, but will return downwards thanks to gravity and then may go further down but will return back up thanks to buoyancy. This creates a wave-like surface along the cloud base, and we call these gravity waves because the returning force is gravity and buoyancy.
Yes, the waves on the surface of the sea are a good example of this process.
Another good example is when moist air blows over a range of mountains and makes a system of mountain wave clouds. In New Zealand this often happens, and people in Canterbury call the mountain wave clouds “the northwest arch”.
At first individual Altocumulus lenticularis clouds form, but as a front approaches, upper-level moisture increases and middle and high clouds combine to produce an arch cloud comprising Altocumulus, Altostratus, and Cirrostratus. This arch cloud displays a very sharp edge near the mountains and often there is an arch of clear sky immediately downstream of the mountain divide.
We can cope with the current naming scheme and use Altocumulus lenticularis to describe the NW arch clouds, but it would also be useful to have the extra variety or species word “ASPERATUS” especially when there are undulations in the cloud base.
The MetService cloud poster already has a special photo devoted to the NW arch cloud. At present it is just classified as “Northwest Arch Ac/As/Cs”, but if the word “ASPERATUS” is officially accepted then we are ready and waiting.
If you are coming to the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek 10-13 June then pass by the MetService display in the main pavilion and ask for your own complimentary full-sized cloud poster.
Tags: clouds
-
I never thought a UV index of 12/13 could be possible in New Zealand as ive always thought of it as being like the Southern Hemisphere version of the UK in a way but i guess its Latitude is not about 50S like the UK is 50N?
NZ stretches from about 35N to 47S.
If you went to 50S though, the summer sun would still be stronger than in the UK (not that there is much sun at 50S though!). Southern Hemisphere UV is 40% stronger than at similar latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun's rays down here are also stronger- when ignoring UV- due to lack of pollution and the seasons being in phase with the earth-sun distance (as opposed to out-of phase as is the case in the NH).
Essentially, to get NZ-esque sun-strength in the northern hemisphere, you have to go to the tropics- not even the Med is enough.
-
The second image in that show was taken in NZ. Googling Alpine Village Inn suggests that it was in Hanmer Springs, an inland location at moderate altitude (400m I think). No further information is forthcoming, which is a shame as I would like to know what condition led to that display.
Contrary to the above posts, I speculate that it is some form of wavecloud, it looks kind of similar to altocumulus lenticularis. That formation is extremely common in NZ, so the question is what was different in this case. Who knows.
-
Flippin heck, UV index of 13!! It is strong enough here when it reaches 7-8 in the peak of Summer, I burn from being out in 7-8 for a few hours, I dread to think how bad it would be if I was out a few hours in 11-13 :|
Here's a like-for-like comparison:
1)Today's UV forecast for the UK, with clear skies.
2) 6 months ago the UV forecast for Wellington (11) and what was actually recorded (13).
Clear sky UV indices in Europe at comparable latitude to Wellington range from 2 to 9 depending on cloud cover.
-
I do, occasionally, gorge on Cheddar.
The cider? Mmm, delicious.
-
Can you define rain day please...is it a day with >1mm of rain?
-
Boom:
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.ISSUED BY MetService AT 7:59 pm 29-May-2009
MEDIA
WINTRY SPELL ON SUNDAY WITH SNOW DOWN TO SEA LEVEL FROM SOUTHLAND TO
THE KAIKOURA COAST. SNOW DOWN TO UNUSUALLY LOW LEVELS OVER THE NORTH
ISLAND WITH HEAVY FALLS EXPECTED IN THE SOUTH AND EAST
MetService expects another wintry spell this weekend. A strong,
very cold southerly is forecast to reach southern New Zealand late
Saturday and quickly spread north over the whole of New Zealand on
Sunday.
Snow showers are forecast to lower to sea level from Southland to the
Kaikoura Coast and fall to unusually low levels on the hills in
southern, eastern and central parts of the North Island.
Note that, although snow amounts will probably be marginal for a
warning in many southern areas, MetService is issuing one because of
the very low levels involved.
Snow is likely to many roads in these areas. With the strong southerly winds,
windchill will be severe for animals and trampers in open areas.
People are advised to keep up to date with weather forecasts.Motorists will need
to check road conditions before departing,particularly on Sunday, and plan for
possible road closures. Farmers should shelter vulnerable animals.
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS FOLLOWS:
HEAVY SNOW WARNING
AREA/S AFFECTED: SOUTHLAND OTAGO CANTERBURY MARLBOROUGH ALSO HILLS AND RANGES OF
WELLINGTON WAIRARAPA HAWKES BAY GISBORNE MANAWATU WANGANUI TAIHAPE TARANAKI AND
TAUPO
FORECAST:
SOUTHLAND OTAGO
Bitterly cold southerlies expected to strengthen on Saturday night.In
the 12 hours from midnight Saturday expect snowfalls down to sealevel.
5 to 10cm of snow are expected to accumulate above 200 metres and
possible 15cm about the eastern hills and ranges. Snow showers should
ease or clear during Sunday afternoon and evening with the freezing
level rising a little.
CANTERBURY MARLBOROUGH
Bitterly cold southerlies are expected to strengthen early Sunday
morning. In the 21 hours starting about 3am Sunday expect 5 to 15cm
of snow down to 200 metres with lighter falls down to sea level in
Canterbury and about 200 metres in northern Marlborough. The heaviest
falls are likely to be in north Canterbury and about the Kaikoura
ranges where there may be 25cm above 500 metres. Winds and showers
should ease during Monday morning,with the snow level rising slowly.
WELLINGTON WAIRARAPA
Strong, bitterly cold southerlies expected to spread north early
Sunday morning. In the 24 hours from about 8am Sunday expect
10 to 20cm of snow above 300 metres and lighter falls down to about
200
metres on the hills.
HAWKES BAY GISBORNE
Bitterly cold southerlies are expected to strengthen from late Sunday
morning.Snow is expected to lower to about 200 metres in Hawkes Bay
and 300 metres in Gisborne during Sunday afternoon and evening. In
the 24 hours from midday Sunday to midday Monday 10 to 20cm of snow
may accumulate above about 300 metres,and up to 40cm at higher levels
in the ranges. Note snow is expected in many farmed areas. Wind and
snow should ease during Monday afternoon and evening with the snow
level rising slowly.
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM MT
TARANAKI TO TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK TO LAKE TAUPO.
Very cold southerlies expected to strengthen during Sunday morning.
Snow falls are expected to lower to 200-300 metres during Sunday
afternoon and evening. In the 18 hours from about noon on Sunday
expect 5 to 10cm of snow to accumulate above 300 metres and 10 to
20cm above 500 metres.
This includes farming country of inland Taranaki, Wanganui, and
Manawatu as well as all of Taihape. Showers should ease or clear
during Monday morning with the snow level rising slowly.
NEXT SEVERE WEATHER WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE
9:00am Saturday 30-May-2009
Forecast prepared by: Oliver Druce
For further information after 9pm contact Duty Forecaster Geoff Sanders
A service provided through a contract with the Crown
Road snow:
LINDIS PASSSnow is expected to start falling on the road during Saturday night. From 10pm Saturday to midday Sunday 5 to 10cm snow may accumulate on the road.
MILFORD ROAD
Snow is expected to start falling on much of the road from Te Anau to the Homer tunnel during Saturday evening. In the 18 hours from 6pm Saturday to midday Sunday 5 to 10cm of snow is expected.
PORTERS PASS
Snow is expected from the early hours of Sunday morning. From 3am to midnight on Sunday 10 to 20cm snow is expected over the whole road.
DESERT ROAD
Snow is expected to start falling on the road during Sunday morning. Between 10am and midnight Sunday 10 to 20cm snow may accumulate on the road.
RIMUTAKA HILL ROAD
Snow is expected to start falling on the road during Sunday morning. Between 8am and midnight Sunday 10 to 20cm snow may accumulate on the road.
That is quite a lot of snow for our local road (Rimutakas)
-
I think if your wife can get in easily, she could apply as the Primary, and provided you could prove your relationship (bills etc) then I think you get in relatively easily based on her. I didn't go through that route so this is all through hearsay sadly! Check http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/index.php for people who have done this.
-
Yeah, what can I say. Memories of 6 months ago...and one photo of today's reality! Bah!
-
Lol that link actually that link made me as its basically a grossly exaggerated a load of rubbish that is trying to big up WeatherAction and make it look so good!
what a load of twaddle!
Yep. "500%". LOL.
Comedy though the Express is, you must have a chuckle at some of the stuff that was reported considering the summer that was to follow!
DIY specialist B&Q has also noted a massive increase in people converting outdoor areas into “flexible living spaces” as less rainfall and more sunshine makes it possible to cook, eat and even work al fresco.Barbecue sales have more than doubled and sales of decking are up 25 per cent on last year. Supermarkets also noticed a change in Easter trends.
Where previously families would stock up on lamb for a traditional Easter roast, shoppers flocked to buy fish, salads and food more suited to eating outdoors.
Garden centres across the country, and particularly in the drought-stricken south-east, have reported a tenfold rise in sales of more drought-resistant plants more suited to Mediterranean conditions.
Local authorities have already begun replacing traditional bedding plants with more tropical blooms like palm trees which were a rare sight and could only grow on coastlines warmed by the Gulf Stream.
But all this comes at the expense of much-loved British species. Indigenous varieties like oak trees, pansies, roses and delphiniums suffer in extreme heat and especially from a lack of water.
-
Damn, are we getting hit on the weekends this month!
2 weekends ago: Very windy with northwesterly severe gales and 140km/h gusts
Last weekend: Southerly storm, plenty of rain and southerly severe gales gusting to 140km/h
This weekend: Another southerly. Looks less damp, but colder! 850hPa temperatures over Wellington should be close to -7C on Sunday. Won't get snow to sea level here but should get some snow on the surrounding hills.
Nice footage of last weekend's southerly:
I strongly suspect now that this will be the coldest May for about 50 years. Last May was the coldest for 14 years, but was much more settled and sunnier. This month we will come in with close to average (or just below average) sunshine hours. Probably about 120. But temperatures....wow. Average high in May is 14C. We've been struggling around 9C/10C for quite a while now. It has reminded me of the UK in November, with no sun AT ALL for 5 days straight, temperatures in high single digits or low double digits, plenty of wind and rain. The difference here is that everyone thinks it's mid winter.
Ah, here we go. 2 years ago (tomorrow), the difference is quite marked! You can take 6C off those temperatures for us now, and it won't be *that* sunny...and back then they didn't have such a prodigious southerly waiting for them a few days later...
-
You lot have been enjoying some pleasant weather. Meanwhile, this has been my life over the past few days:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Wild-weather-lashes...ID=105498#video
The second video is particularly beautiful.
-
You must be joking!
It feels a lot warmer than what it is when it is really humid even if the air temp is only 15C!
Hardly. 15/12 (RH=82%) does not feel much, if any, warmer than, say, 15/05 (RH=50%).
-
Good video here on the recent snowfall to the rangipo desert area.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Storm-front-brings-...ID=105503#video
Mt Hutt apparently opening on May 30th, sounds like they got a good snowfall again on the weekend (snow was to 500m for a time, then rose to 1000m with some heavy falls).
-
Yeah, as we go into May don't forget we are easily capable of surpassing 30C.
I wouldn't say "easily capable". If that were the case then more than 50% of Mays would see 30C. I don't have the records at hand, but I doubt it's anywhere near that. It's actually reasonably difficult to exceed 30C in the UK at anytime of the year.
This Sunday seems a fair bet for 80F in the SE. Light winds, dry boundary layer and 850hPa temperatures nudging double figures. It should be close, anyway.
as its basically a grossly exaggerated a load of rubbish that is trying to big up WeatherAction and make it look so good!
Longest Wait In Year For 1st 20oc
in Spring Weather Discussion
Posted
When did the UK last hit 20C? I've been looking at "the last 24 hours" for the last two days and none of them saw 20C anywhere in the country.