Meteorological Society Of New Zealand (Inc.)

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1 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 1 Meteorological Society Of New Zealand (Inc.) ISSN NEWSLETTER 129 JUNE 2012

2 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 2 Meteorological Society Of New Zealand (Inc.) NEWSLETTER 129 JUNE 2012 PO Box 6523, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, New Zealand Please forward contributions to Bob McDavitt, bobmcdavitt@hotmail.com CONTENTS Page Coming conference 3 Autumn 2012 (NIWA + Ben Tichborne) 4-12 Autumn 2012 in the media Your Committee President Andrew Tait andrew.tait@niwa.co.nz Immediate Past President Kim Dirks k.dirks@auckland.ac.nz Auckland VP Jennifer Salmond j.salmond@auckland.ac.nz Wellington VP James Renwick james.renwick@niwa.co.nz Christchurch VP Omid Alizadeh Choobari Omid.alizadehchoobari@pg.canterbury.ac.nz Dunedin VP Daniel Kingston kinda79p@geography.otago.ac.nz Secretary Sam Dean sam.dean@niwa.co.nz Treasurer Alan Porteous alan.porteous@niwa.co.nz Circulation Manager Sylvia Nichol sylvia.nicol@niwa.co.nz Journal Editor Brian Giles gilesnz@ihug.co.nz Newsletter Editor Bob McDavitt bobmcdavitt@hotmail.com Wed Editor Peter Knudsen Hydro.Soc Liaison: Charles Pearson charles.pearson@niwa.co.nz General Committee Mike Revell m.revell@niwa.co.nz Katrina Richards kr@geography.otago.ac.nz Gareth Renowden gareth@limestonehills.co.nz Duncan Ackerley Duncan@ackerley@monash.edu 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.

3 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 3 Our 2012 conference is in Wellington, November 2012, at the Copthorne Hotel in Oriental Bay. Key dates are - 31 August: Submission of titles for those wishing to give talks and/or a poster 20 September: Deadline for Abstracts 31 October: Registration Deadline So if you want to be part of this conference please get your ideas together --- And your expressions of interest to Organise James Renwick, james.renwick@vuw.ac.nz >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Around the branches: Meetings that have been open to Met Soc members during Autumn: Dunedin: Monday 30 April 2012 Physics Colloquium Dr Mark A. Clilverd: Climate Programme, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK A visit to Antarctica: Setting up an experiment to investigate the link between solar activity and polar climate variability

4 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 4 Autumn 2012 National Climate Summary Autumn 2012: Dry and record sunshine over South Island. Rainfall: Dry over the South Island as well as in Manawatu-Wanganui and the Tararua District. Above normal autumn rainfall for Northland, north Auckland, Gisborne, parts of Hawkes Bay and the south Wairarapa coast. Near normal elsewhere. Sunshine: Record sunny across much of the South Island and western North Island. Closer to normal sunshine for Northland, Coromandel, and the eastern North Island. Temperatures: Below average for the north and east of the South Island, and for most North Island areas south of Taupo. Near average autumn temperatures elsewhere. Soils: Unusually dry at the end of autumn in Canterbury and Nelson, as well as the Tararua District and around Palmerston North. Autumn was characterised by higher pressures than normal southeast of New Zealand, and extending across the South Island. Lower pressures than usual were observed north of the country, resulting in more easterly quarter winds than usual over the North Island. The higher than usual pressures over the South Island resulted in a very dry month there, while the easterly winds contributed to below average temperatures in eastern regions. It was a dry autumn over the South Island, with less than three quarters of normal autumn rainfall recorded for most regions (the exception being the Kaikoura Coast, with near normal rainfall). Notably dry were Canterbury and parts of Nelson, with less than half of seasonal normal rainfall observed. It was also rather dry for Manawatu-Wanganui and the Tararua District. In contrast, above normal rainfalls were recorded in Northland, north Auckland, Gisborne, parts of Hawkes Bay, and the south Wairarapa coast. Elsewhere, rainfalls were near normal. At the end of autumn, soils were much drier than normal for the time of year in Canterbury and Nelson, as well as the Tararua District and around Palmerston North. Autumn was extremely sunny over the South Island, and for the western North Island between Waikato and Taranaki, with many records set. Sunshine totals were also above normal in most other regions. The exceptions were Northland, Coromandel, Wellington and the eastern North Island (Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa), which experienced near normal sunshine totals. Mean temperatures for autumn were below average across the north and east of the South Island, and for much of the North Island south of Taupo. Autumn temperatures were near average (within 0.5 C of the autumn average) elsewhere, namely in the southwest of the country (Southland, Fiordland, Westland), as well as in Taranaki, around Wanganui, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, and parts of Waikato, Auckland and Northland. Morning (minimum) temperatures across the country showed much the same pattern; but were near-record low for autumn at many eastern or inland locations. The nation-wide average temperature in autumn was 12.9 C (0.4 C below the autumn average), using NIWA s seven-station temperature series which begins in Further Highlights: The highest temperature experienced was 29.2 C, observed at Timaru on 24 March. The lowest temperature experienced was -8.1 C, recorded at Ranfurly on 20 May. The highest 1-day rainfall experienced was 207 mm, recorded at North Egmont on 27 May. The highest gust recorded was 158 km/hr at Brothers Island, Cook Strait, on 3 March. Of the six main centres in autumn, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga the sunniest, Wellington the wettest and cloudiest, and Christchurch the coolest and driest. For further information, please contact: Ms Georgina GrifKiths Climate Scientist NIWA National Climate Centre, Auckland, Mobile >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

5 NOTABLE WEATHER IN NEW ZEALAND - AUTUMN 2012 Ben Tichborne For many parts of New Zealand, this season was relatively settled, with less rain and more sunshine than normal. However, until early April, it was unsettled at times over the North Island with two particularly damaging storms. MARCH 1st - Cold southerly change brings snow to South Island mountains. Heavy rain causes some surface Klooding in Christchurch during the early hours. Heavy overnight rain in northeast North island, causes large slip that blocks SH2 through the Waiokea Gorge between Gisborne and Opotiki. (road remains closed for most of the month) 2nd-4th - Bomb depression causes severe storm in North Island. (see details below) 6th - Heavy rain in Fiordland and South Westland. 8th/9th - Cold night in many parts of South Island, with frosts in many inland places. -2C minimum at Hanmer Forest. 11th - Low cloud and fog disrupts Klights at Nelson Airport. 12th - Late afternoon thunderstorms between Taupo and Rotorua. 18th-22nd - Deep low brings another period of stormy weather to many parts of North Island. (see details below) 24th - Warm in east of South Island, under a northerly Klow. 29C maximum in Timaru. 25th - Thunderstorms with hail in west and south of South Island, later spreading to Mid and South Canterbury. Severe gusts (reported in media intially as a tornado) cause damage in Leeston. 26th - Early frosts in inland South Island, eg -3C minimum at Pukaki. Only 12C maximum at Milford Sound. 27th - Chilly start to the day again in many inland areas with light frosts, eg 1C minimums in Waiouru and Molesworth. 28th - Chilly 13C maximums in DarKield, Ashburton, and Timaru, as cloud cover and a cool southerly affect Canterbury. APRIL 1st-5th - Heavy rain in east of North Island and gales further west. (see details below), 5th - Warm again in some northern areas, eg 25C maximums in Tauranga and Hamilton. 6th - 0C minimum at Pukaki, but rising to a 23C maximum there by 4pm. 7th - 24C maximums in Whanganui and Alexandra. 10th - Summery 24C maximum in Takaka, under sunshine in a light northwesterly Klow. 11th - Some heavy rain in west of North Island, under moist northerly Klow and a warm front. Only 10C maximum in Ashburton, under a cold, damp southerly Klow. 12th - Scattered thunderstorms in North island, eg Gisborne ranges and southwestern Taranaki. 16th - Rare combination of fog and rain In Hamilton in morning. (slack pressure system over North Island) 19th - Light frosts in many inland areas, as intense high covers most of NZ. 24th - Warm, humid northeasterly Klow over north of North Island. Hamilton records record April high overnight minimum of 19C. 24th/25th - Combination of clear nights and a light northerly Klow over the South Island results in wide temperature variations, as morning frosts are replaced by warm daytime temperatures. Culverden records 23C maximum on 24th, while Alexandra rises from a 0C minimum to a 24C maximum on the 25th. Pukaki records lowest temperature of -3C. (24th) 25th - Alexandra rises from a chilly 0C minimum to a warm 24C maximum. 27th - Heavy rain on South Island West Coast, and Nelson. (where Klooding causes some local damage to properties) Strong winds cause some damage in new Plymouth.

6 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 6 28th - Heavy rain in strong winds in central North Island means a group of trampers need to be rescued from the Tongariro Crossing. (several of them suffering from hypothermia) 29th - Cold front crosses South Island with thunderstorms and heavy rain about and west of the Southern Alps, also Southern Lakes. Small tornado damages property and knocks out power in Hokitika. (same thunderstorm also cuts power to Greymouth) Northwesterly gales in Central Otago and inland Canterbury later in day, with power outages in the Hororata area. 104 km/hr gust recorded in Lauder. 30th - West to northwest gales in lower North Island, damaging some trees and buildings about Wellington and the Horowhenua. Gust of 152 km/hr recorded at Akitio, Wairarapa. Very cold in far south, with hail and snow showers to low levels in Southland and South Otago. Record low April maximums of 7C at Dunedin Airport and 6C at Nugget Point. Thunderstorm lashes Invercargill, with lightning strikes affecting trafkic lights and forcing evacuation of Southland Girls High School. MAY 1st - Cold southerly Klow over NZ; some heavy showers with thunder and hail about eastern coasts of North Island. 2nd - Some more hail in east of North Island, as cold southerly continues. Heavy early frosts in many other parts of NZ, eg -4C in Waiouru (rising to only 6C maximum there) and Blenheim, and -6C at Pukaki. 4th/5th - Frosty high over NZ -5C minimum in Raetihi and -4C at Pukaki on 4th. 7th - Warm in inland South Island under sunshine in a northerly Klow. 22C maximum in Hanmer; 20C at Mt Cook Village. Heavy overnight rain causes some disruption about Auckland and Bay of Plenty, with fallen trees affecting some roads. 7th/8th - Fog disrupts operations at Timaru Airport during both days. 8th - Unseasonably warm in many parts of North Island under a north to northeast Klow. 22C maximum in Whanganui; 21C in Napier, and 20C in several other northern and eastern North Island places. 9th - 23C maximums in Kaitaia and Whangarei; 21C in Greymouth. (foehn easterly Klow there) Northerly gales in far north, eg 139 km/hr at Cape Reinga. 10th - Some heavy rain in lower North Island, eg 44mm in Whanganui. Fog disrupts domestic Klights to and from Auckland Airport. 11th - Southerly gales and some heavy rain in coastal eastern parts of North Island. 13th - Warm northwesterly Klow over northern and central NZ. 22C maximum in Whangarei; 21C in Napier. 14th - Heavy downpours and thunderstorms in many northern and western areas. One of these in northwest Wellington causes a roof to collapse in a Porirua warehouse and Kloods a Titahi supermarket. Waterspout seen offshore from Oakura, Taranaki, while a tornado damages some property in Papamoa. Warm 21C maximum in Napier. 15th-16th - Cold south to southwest change spreading onto lower South Island late on 15th and rest of NZ during 16th. Some hail and thunder with the change; Air New Zealand Klight returns to Auckland after Klying into thunderstorm. Snow showers on high country of both islands, falling down to 400m in south of South Island and 800m in central North Island on 16th. Snow already blankets Mt Ruapehu ski-kields on 15th, closing access roads. 18th-19th - Cold in eastern areas, thanks to south to southwest Klow. Only 8C maximum in Dunedin on 18th. 19th - Heavy fog blankets parts of South Canterbury. 20th - Heavy frosts in many South Island areas, eg -8C minimum at Pukaki; -6C at Dunedin Airport. Ice on tracks and overhead lines delays commuter trains in Wellington region. 21st - Frosty in many parts of NZ, eg -4C minimums in Taupo and Tekapo. 24th - Foggy in some northern areas of North Island, including both Auckland and Hamilton. (disrupting airport operations in both places) 26th - Morning fog again in many northern areas of North Island, worst in Auckland. (badly

7 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 7 affecting airport) 27th - More morning fog in north of North Island. Thunderstorms and heavy rain about and west of the Southern Alps; also Mt Taranaki. (207mm recorded at North Egmont) Northwesterly gales in many eastern parts of South Island, with some damage in Canterbury and Kaikoura. Warm in eastern areas, eg 22C maximums in Timaru, Christchurch Airport, and Kaikoura, and 21C in Napier. 28th - A period of heavy rain in eastern Bay of Plenty. Warm 23C maximum in Napier under northwesterly Klow, but cold southwesterlies in lower South Island, with snow lowering on hills. (only 8C maximum at Puysegur Point) A few later afternoon/evening thunderstorms in mid Canterbury, as cold change moves north. 29th - Cold southerlies spread over North Island, with hail and high country snow showers in eastern areas. Dusting of snow visible on Rimutaka Range. Heavy hail in Wellington in morning makes roads hazardous for a time. 30th - Frosty morning in many North Island areas as ridge follows cold southerly. -4C minimum in Taumaranui; -3C in Dannevirke; -1C in Napier. Cloud cover during day suppresses maximums in west of island, eg only 7C maximum in Taumaranui, and 9C in Hamilton. MAJOR EVENTS 2nd-3rd March - Bomb depression for NI and northern SI. A deep bomb low crossed the North Island during this period, resulting in a spell of stormy weather in northern and central areas. The worst affected areas were Whanganui and South Taranaki, where severe gales caused much damage. Early on the 2nd, a weak ridge covered NZ. However, a low moved into the eastern Tasman Sea during the day and deepened rapidly, with a moist northerly Klow spreading over northern and central areas. Meanwhile weaker low pressure developed over the South Island, followed a cold southerly change in the far south later. During the early hours of the 3rd, the cold southerly spread over the remainder of the South Island (with fresh snow on the ranges), while the interaction between this cold airmass and the existing warm, moist air associated with the low maintained its intensity as it crossed the lower North Island. Not surprisingly severe gales lashed many parts northern and central NZ as a consequence. The worst of these winds affected South Taranaki and Whanganui areas, with severe damage. This included downed power-lines, fallen trees, and damaged buildings, while many airports had to be closed. The extent of this damage resulted in many areas being cut-off from the outside world, especially in back country areas. Many of the trees felled by the winds were in commercial forestry blocks and the damage claimed hundreds of hectares of forests. Gusts recorded on this day included 154 km/hr at Mt Kaukau, Wellington, (new March record), 102 km/hr in Wanganui, 98 km/hr at Farewell Spit, and 76 km/hr in Kaikohe. The fronts associated with the low also brought heavy rain to many parts of the North Island, adding to the damage. The Hutt River broke its banks, while classrooms were Klooding at a school in Wainuiomata. 60mm was recorded in Masterton. As the low moved to the southeast of the North Island during the 3rd, the cold southerly still covering the South Island spread north. As the low remained very deep, southerly gales started to lash eastern areas, especially about exposed coasts such as Cook Strait and the Mahia

8 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 8 Peninsula. Daytime maximums were well below normal in many areas, eg 10C in Ohakune and Le Bons Bay, 11C at Takapau, 12C in Wallaceville and Stratford, and 13C in Wanganui. Snow fell on the mountains of both islands. Big swells in Cook Strait forced the cancellation of several Inter Islander ferries early on the 4th, but the southerly Klow gradually eased during the day with the weather gradually improving. However, the effects of the storm were to last much longer in the worst affected areas. 40 rural properties in South Taranaki were still without power two weeks later, and in some places, line networks had to be completely rebuilt. Mean sea-level analyses for midday NZDT 2nd March to midnight NZDT 3rd March in 12 hour steps are shown here. 17th-21st March - Deep low brings stormy weather to NI parts. A deep low coming from sub-tropical latitudes brought another spell of stormy weather to many parts of the North Island, with severe gales and heavy rain causing more damage to several areas. The low developed in sub-tropical latitudes to the north of NZ during the 17th, and moved south during the next day. An east to northeast Klow increased over northern North Island during the 18th, with rain becoming very heavy in the far north by late in the day. This rain continued in Northland during the 19th, causing extensive Klooding. A family had to be rescued by KireKighters (using an inklatable boat) near Ngunguru on the 19th, while a woman was saved by neighbours before she could be swept away by Kloodwaters near Whangarei. Numerous roads were closed by the Klooding, with Kaeo was isolated for a time as Klooding inundated the town s streets. Totals included 168mm in Kerikeri, 136mm in Kaikohe, 133mm in Whangarei (all on 18th), and 91mm in Kaitaia. (19th) A station near Kaeo recorded 283 over a 35 hour period.

9 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 9 The depression had deepened to below 996ha by the 19th as it moved just northeast from Northland, and then onto the area on the 20th. In the meantime, a weak front and cool south to southeast change over the South Island allowed a ridge to build up over the island during the 19th. This ridge pushed against the low, resulting in a very strong southeasterly Klow over central NZ. The Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay areas were next in the Kiring line for torrential rain. Slips and Klooding blocked many roads, including main highways, virtually isolating Gisborne for a while. The city was drenched by 153mm on the 19th. Gales developed in the southwest of the North Island on the 19th, and became severe in many parts of the island on the 20th, including areas that were battered by the storm at the beginning of the month. Taranaki was worst affected, but the whole province suffered damaging winds this time. As in the earlier storm, much damage was done due to fallen trees and damage to buildings. Some 2500 homes lost power, the majority in Taranaki. Interislander and Wellington Harbour ferries had to be stopped due to the winds and heavy seas. Gusts reached 100 km/hr in Kaitaia and 76 km/hr in Kaikohe on the 19th, and 107 km/ph in Taupo (new March record), 113 km/hr in Hawera, and 89 km/hr in Mahia. The low weakened on the 21st, with both the wind and rain easing. Mean sea-level analyses for midday NZDT 17th March to midnight NZDT 21st March in 12 hour steps are shown here.

10 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 10 1st-5th April - Heavy rain for east of North Island A strong, moist east to southeast Klow resulted in more very heavy rain in parts of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay during this period, while southeasterly gales lashed many northern and western areas of the North Island, but with unseasonably high temperatures. This weather was caused by a complex low pressure system which started moving towards NZ from sub-tropical latitudes on the 1st, positioning itself to the northeast of the North Island by the 4th, before moving north again on the 5th. At the same time, anticyclonic conditions were maintained over the South Island, resulting in a moist easterly Klow over the North Island, which tended more southeasterly from the 3rd. Rain set in over northeastern North Island areas on the 1st, and became heavier in the Gisborne/northern Hawkes Bay areas by the 2nd. While no records were broken (the highest recorded total was 102mm in Gisborne on the 3rd), the prolonged nature of the wet weather caused Klooding and more slips. Plus, the ground was already damp from several days of lighter precipitation, so it didn t need much more to cause problems. Around Gisborne, the heavy rain closed a number of roads and three schools, while a slip disrupted trafkic at the Devil s Elbow section of SH2 between Wairoa and Napier on the 2nd, while another slip in the same

11 area caused problems on the 5th. Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 11 Further west, the combination of the airmass originating from the subtropical latitudes and foehn heating from it crossing the North Island ranges resulted in unseasonably warm temperatures during this period. Initially, the warmth was most intense in the southwest of North Island, as the Klow there was east to northeast. For example there was a 26C maximum in Whanganui and 25C in New Plymouth on the 1st. Later, as the Klow tended more southeasterly, summer-like temperatures were recorded in the north of the island. A station near the Firth of Thames recorded a 27C maximum on the 4th, while Port Taharoa broke a new April record with 26C on the same day C maximums were common in many other places. Nights were warm as well, with overnight minimums of 17C-19C in many northern places on the 4th and 5th. While these temperatures may have been enjoyable for many, they were spoilt by southeasterly gales on the 3rd and 4th. Gusts reached 80 km/hr in Whangarei and 76 km/hr in Motu (a new April record, though records only began in 1991 there) on the 3rd. There weren t any reports of signikicant damage, however. Heavy seas in the Bay of Plenty did more damage to the stranded Rena wreck, with debris being pushed onto Coromandel beaches. The low pressure retreated back again northwards, while the high extended over more of NZ during the 5th, with conditions easing over the North Island. Mean sea-level analyses for midday NZST 1st April to midnight NZST 5th April in 12 hour steps are shown here.

12 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 12 CHRISTCHURCH WEATHER PATTERNS: by Ben Tichborne MARCH The weather pattern that deprived Christchurch of proper summer weather during February, continued through March with onshore airklows maintaining well below normal temperatures. Most of the notable weather occurred at the beginning of the month, with brief heavy rain in the early hours of the 1st and cold, showery weather on the 3rd/4th. Strong, gusty southerlies occurred on both occasions, with snow coating the Alps. A period of strong, gusty southwesterlies lashed the city late on the 25th, with thunder and hail clipping the southern edge of Banks Peninsula. APRIL Conditions were more anticyclonic this month, so that while onshore airklows still predominated, it was much sunnier than March. The only really wet day was on 11th, as a cool, moist southerly Klow covered the area. A few nights later in the month were cold enough for light frosts. MAY More southerly winds than normal resulted in a cooler than normal month, but there were several settled periods. The coldest southerlies were on the 1st, 15th/16th, and 29th. Snow fell on the higher Banks Peninsula hills on the 16th. Brief northwesterly gales lashed the city on the 17th.

13 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 13 Weather bomb forecast widened 02/03/2012 Taranaki Baily News The MetService has widened its warning for a "weather bomb" that is expected to lash the country tomorrow. It said this morning that heavy rain and gales were expected over most of the North Island and the top of the South Island. The low was expected to "deepen rapidily" as it crossed the Tasman Sea today and should be intense as it crossed the North Island on Saturday. A "weather bomb" was dekined by a rapid decrease in air pressure, which usually produced high winds and heavy rain. The most likely track of the storm's centre was from Taranaki to Hawke's Bay during Saturday morning with the front's pressure falling to near 970hPa. Heavy rain was expected in the ranges from Mt Taranaki to Mt Ruapehu, the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne, Wellington, Wairarapa and the Kaikoura Ranges. Streams and rivers would rise quickly. Severe gales were forecast for Taranaki and Waikato across to the Bay of Plenty and down to Wellington as well as Buller, Nelson and Marlborough. The wind had the potential to be damaging. Rough seas and heavy swells could cause erosion and storm surges in coastal areas and recreational boaties are being told to keep off the water. Conditions should ease later on Saturday as the low moves away to the east. MetService spokesman Geoff Sanders said the weather could make life difkicult for motorists. "I wouldn't like to ride a motorcycle over the Auckland Harbour Bridge tomorrow." In Auckland, racing's glamour event, Cup Week, kicks off at Ellerslie with Derby Day featuring Kiwi pop star Kimbra, while a one-day cricket match between the Black Caps and South Africa is set for Eden Park. (Abridged) Weather bomb: It's not over yet Saturday Mar 3, 2012 NZ Herald Trees in Birkdale caused serious damage. Photo / Ngaire Jermaine A severe weather warning has been issued for much of the country this afternoon, as strong gales from the tail-end of today's storm continue to blast the country. MetService has issued a strong wind warning for Wellington and Wairarapa, coastal Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, with gusts between 120 and 150km/h predicted until later tonight.

14 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 14 Metservice warned rough seas and heavy swells are still possible and may cause erosion and storm surge inundation in some coastal areas. Hundreds of travellers and event-goers have had their weekend plans disrupted by the wild weather blasting the North Island. Severe winds and heavy rain have ripped through parts of the north, leaving a path of destruction as the weather bomb moves down the island towards the Wairarapa. Interislander passengers booked to sail today have been forced to delay their plans following the cancellation of all 10 scheduled crossings. Seventy-six Air NZ Klights have been cancelled, mostly in Wellington, Rotorua and Wanganui, because of the adverse weather. Yesterday organisers made the decision to cancel today's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand in Taupo. Police have been Klooded with reports of roofs blown off, buildings damaged and and trees down as the storm heads in to towards the Wairarapa "hitting the areas inbetween," said Metservice meteorologist Daniel Corbett. It had been "a few years" since such a a deep low had been felt in some of the worst-hit areas, said Mr Corbett. The weather bomb, an "explosive cyclogenesis," was dekined by a deepening low that quickly strengthened and intensikied, he said. Meanwhile, off the coast of Raglan, Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter Klew to the aid of a yachtsman who made a mayday call this morning. The rough weather conditions meant it was too dangerous for the man to be winched from his boat, so he had to deploy his liferaft and be rescued from there. "He's happy to be off his boat, it was matter of time before it smashed up on the coast," said light paramedic Russel Clarke. In the small Taranaki settlement of Patea 50 houses lost their roofs, shop fronts were ripped away, windows blown out and trees toppled "everywhere" early this morning, said the town's Kire chief. Kelly Dwyer, who lives in Stafford St, said a power pole fell onto a boat outside her aunt's house across the road, but no one was injured. The storm was frightening, Dwyer said. "It was shaking the whole house." Longtime Norfolk St resident Lina Baldwin said the storm was the worst she had experienced since moving to Patea in "The wind, gee whizz, the house was shaking. I kept on putting my head under the blankets." The storm is also being felt in Wellington, where trees fell onto Wainuiomata Road and Ngaio Gorge Rd. (Abridged)- APNZ Foveaux Strait survivor determined to see sons' birthdays SOUTHLAND TIMES REPORTERS AND MICHAEL DALY 16/03/2012 ARCUS WILD Southland Times/Stuff LOST AT SEA: Easy Rider, a 38-foot vessel, capsized off Saddle Point at the northern tip of Stewart Island at about midnight on Wednesday. Dallas Reedy, who survived the sinking of The Easy Rider, tells of his ordeal staying alive for 18 hours in the water before being rescued. A petrol can dubbed "Wilson" saved Dallas Reedy from the clutches of the sea, after the Easy Rider capsized in Foveaux Strait on Wednesday night. Invercargill freezing worker Reedy, 44, survived more than 18 hours in the sea, using the can to stay akloat. He dubbed it "Wilson" after the Tom Hanks Kilm Castaway. "I sang to him. I talked to him. I just did everything I could to stay alive," he said.

15 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 15 He was determined to stay alive so he could see his sons' 16th and 18th birthdays next week. Reedy never saw the wave that swamped the Easy Rider but he certainly heard it, about midnight on Wednesday. "I was sitting on the deck and I heard it, like a wind rushing, like a train, he said. "It was dark but I heard it coming. I don t know big it was. The wave "blew" him off the boat and into the water. "I thought, I m gone, I just Klailed my arms out and managed to hold onto a rope," Reedy said. He clambered onto the hull of the upturned boat, and tucked himself in near the propeller where he was "battered for two hours by big waves I couldn t see". Then he heard air escaping from the boat and knew it was sinking. With less than a metre of the boat left out of the water Reedy "stepped off into the black" and was thinking "this is my time", when the petrol can that was to help keep him akloat for the next 16 hours popped up out of the water. Police announced the missing at a press conference in Invercargill, saying they had recovered three bodies - while Kive remained lost at sea. About 5.30pm they announced a fourth body had been recovered. Seventeen lives have now been lost in the strait since 2006, 14 of them on muttonbirding expeditions - with six lives lost in 2006 when Kotuku sunk returning from a the muttonbird nesting grounds. Easy Rider was heading north near Stewart Island when it capsized. The alarm was raised 14 hours later, when it failed to make a 2pm rendezvous at Stewart Island. There was heavy rain and gale force winds in Foveaux Strait at the time of the capsize, and a four-metre swell. - Fairfax NZ News (Abridged) Wet, cold season takes costly toll By Colin Williscroft, Saturday, March 17, 2012 Wairarapa Times Age -season-takes-costly-toll/ / HARVEST DELAYED: Paul McGill, Federated Farmers Wairarapa president, says the harvest of Wairarapa's grain crop is a month behind schedule. LYNDA FERINGA Wet weather has delayed harvest of the region's grain crop by a month, which is likely to have a knock-on effect for the local economy. That comes on top of predictions that Wairarapa's wine harvest is also likely to be

16 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 16 late. Federated Farmers Wairarapa president Paul McGill, a grain grower, said the damp weather meant much of the crop already harvested had to be dried, which could add between $30 to $50 a tonne to the cost of harvesting. The lack of sunshine also meant many crops were taking much longer to mature. Fortunately, that lack of sunshine had not affected the overall quality of this year's crop, he said. The question now was whether there would be enough sunshine before harvest. (Abridged0 Global warming leading to deadly, costly weather disasters Thu, 29 Mar 2012 TV3 News. By Seth Borenstein articleid/248467/default.aspx A woman stands among debris outside the Superdome as stranded evacuees wait in lines to evacuate New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (Reuters, September 2005) Global warming is leading to such severe storms, droughts and heat waves that nations should prepare for an unprecedented onslaught of deadly and costly weather disasters, an international panel of climate scientists said in a new report. The greatest threat from extreme weather is to highly populated, poor regions of the world, the report warns, but no corner of the globe - from Mumbai to Miami - is immune. The document by a Nobel Prize-winning panel of climate scientists forecasts stronger tropical cyclones and more frequent heat waves, deluges and droughts. The 594-page report blames the scale of recent and future disasters on a combination of manmade climate change, population shifts and poverty. In the past, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, founded in 1988 by the United Nations, has focused on the slow inexorable rise of temperatures and oceans as part of global warming. This report by the panel is the Kirst to look at the less common but far more noticeable extreme weather changes, which lately have been costing on average nearly NZ$100 billion a year in damage. This report - the summary of which was issued in November - is unique because it emphasizes managing risks and how taking precautions can work, Field said. In fact, the panel's report uses the word "risk" 4,387 times. IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri told The Associated Press that while all countries are hurt by increased climate extremes, the overwhelming majority of deaths occur in poorer, less de-

17 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 17 veloped places. Yet, it is wealthy nations that produce more greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, raising the issue of fairness. Northeastern University engineering and environment professor Auroop Ganguly, who didn't take part in writing the IPCC report, praised it and said the extreme weather it highlights "is one of the major and important types of what we would call 'global weirding'". It's a phrase that some experts have been starting to use more to describe climate extremes. (Abridged) Northland Kloods: More rain on its way By Amanda Gillies Mon, 19 Mar 2012 TV3 Wet and wild weather has thrashed the North Island today. Flooding closed State Highway One near Morewa mid-morning Winds were too strong for planes to land at Auckland Airport - even international Klights. While on the ground, a series of dramas included drivers rescued from cars trapped by the Kloods that came with the rain. Northland bore the brunt of it - and Kaeo was cut off as State Highway One was also shut. Storm gusts also forced one of the Volvo Ocean Races off the water. Abu Dhabi crept back into Auckland in the middle of the night. They were six hours into the Kifth leg out in front when a large wave jolted the yacht, damaging equipment. (Abridged)

18 Storm affects Klights, roads Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 18 Mon, 19 Mar By Elizabeth Puranam TV3 Default.aspx Auckland Airport was ;illed with stranded passengers as stormy weather delayed or cancelled ;lights By Elizabeth Puranam Auckland Airport was Killed with stranded passengers today, after stormy weather forced many Klights to be delayed or cancelled. And those travelling by car were not much better off, with roads affected by Klooding and slips. Northland bore the brunt of the storm and Kaeo was cut off, as State Highway 1 was also shut. More than 300mm of rain fell on the hills above Kaeo over the weekend - more than twice the average rainfall for Northland during the month of March. Power was cut to some areas and schools closed early, so that children could get home. Air New Zealand cancelled 24 Klights due to the bad weather.(abridged) Wild weather spreads south 20/03/2012 Stuff A boat washed up against the rocks at Evans Bay, in Wellington.

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22 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 22 CHRIS SKELTON/Fairfax NZ The east coast is getting the worst of the wild weather this afternoon, with rain causing surface Klooding in Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay. The heavy rain and strong winds that have been sweeping across the country has shut roads, caused slips and cut power to thousands of homes in Taranaki, Taupo and King Country.

23 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 23 One family had to evacuate their home in Gisborne as a slip crushed its way inside overnight. MetService said Wairoa had received 102mm of rain since midday yesterday and Napier about 83mm. South-easterly winds gusting up to 120kmh lifted roofs, collapsed fences, and blew down trees. Widespread power cuts were reported throughout North Taranaki and schools around New Plymouth were closed. WIND TEARS HOME TO SHREDS A Bell Block family watched their home get ripped to shreds by the gale that lifted the roof off this morning. The New Plymouth courthouse had windows blown out and large cracks formed over the main doors. All Klights in and out of New Plymouth airport had been cancelled. ROADS CLOSED, POWER CUT, FLIGHTS CANCELLED High winds have seen several roads closed by fallen trees and debris in the central North Island overnight. State Highway 12 was closed near Dargaville in Northland, as was the Napier to Taupo road near Taupo, SH10 near Kaeo in the Far North, and SH1 in four places in Northland. In the Central North Island lanes were closed on SH4 and SH47, from National Park to Turangi. State Highway 45, the coastal route from New Plymouth to Hawera, is also closed. State Highway 2 South was closed due a slip, but re-opened this morning. Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh said power had been cut to about 2000 customers, mainly in Taranaki, about 1am. SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK Severe weather was expected to continue lashing much of the North Island. MetService warned of heavy falls in Wairarapa, Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay, where about 150mm to 200mm of rain was expected to fall on the ranges and eastern coastal hills. The rain was expected to ease overnight in Gisborne and Wednesday morning in Hawke's Bay. As well as the severe gales in Taranaki, winds were also expected in Taupo and the central plateau. High winds were also forecast for Wellington, the Kapiti coast and Horowhenua. MetService said the heavy winds would ease later this evening. - From Taranaki Daily News, with Michelle Cooke and Kirsty Johnston(Abridged) FARMERS RACE TO HARVEST CROPS By Linda Clarke March 20, 2012 Ashburton Guardian Farmers burned the midnight oil over the past hot weekend to move seed and cereal crops from the paddock to the silo. There were some long hours worked and a fair bit of crop harvested, Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers grain and seed chair David Clark said. But it is not Kinished yet. Wet weather has further delayed harvest over much of the district and a spell of nor west wind is desperately needed. Pockets around the country have got on better than others, but some have really struggled. Mr Clark said the weekend s hot weather had provided farmers a good catch-up and while yields were averagely-good, the harvest was an expensive one because grain and seeds had to be artikicially dried. The cracker one just slipped through our Kingers. He said there would be knock-on effects of a wet and delayed harvest. There would be a shortage of straw and green feed for dairy cows was in some cases not yet planted. One thing was certain, farmers were in for a busy time trying to make up for the weather. (Abridged)

24 Low lakes worry SOE Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 24 By Brian Fallow Friday Mar 30, 2012 NZ Herald Pukaki is one of Meridian's key storage lakes. Photo / APN A lack of dark clouds on the horizon is worrying Meridian Energy. As well as the subdued demand of a slow economy, the state-owned generator is seeing a difkicult hydrological situation develop in the southern lakes. Meridian's new chief executive, Mark Binns, told Parliament's commerce committee yesterday that the key storage lake, Pukaki, was 10 per cent lower than the same time in 2008, the last dry year. "If we look at our combined catchment, from the beginning of summer to the end of March, we've had the lowest lake inklows recorded in 79 years," Binns said. "The level at Pukaki has increased over the last month or so. Unfortunately that isn't the result of huge rainfall. We've been conserving water." But power shortages were highly unlikely, for the next eight to 10 weeks at least, Binns said. North Island generators had been seeing a lot of rain. (Abridged) Tropical storm due to hit for Easter By Isaac Davison and Herald Online Saturday Mar 31, File photo / Ross Setford A tropical storm is building in the PaciKic and threatens to dampen the beginning of the Easter holiday - but forecasters say New Zealanders should expect a Kine, warm weekend before it arrives. MetService said air temperatures are expected to reach 22C in Auckland today, and the weather would remain mostly clear, with some easterly winds, until Monday.

25 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 25 WeatherWatch.co.nz weather analyst Howard Joseph says winds will start to pick up on Monday for everyone in Auckland and areas to the north. A few showers may move into the far northern tip of Northland during the night. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) reported that the La Nina weather pattern was fading, but it would still have some inkluence on the next three months of weather conditions. (Abridged) Tropic gales bearing down on NZ Tue, 3 Apr 2012 Otago Daily Times Heavy rain and gales have been predicted as a band of rain moving south from the tropics sets its sights on New Zealand. MetService has issued a severe weather watch for the north and east of the North Island, with heavy rain predicted potentially causing slips, surface Klooding and hazardous driving conditions. Meteorologist Daniel Corbett downplayed the notion that the weather system was coming from Fiji and said it was rather coming "down from the tropics''. But WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said "relentless'' gale-force winds would affect Waikato, East Coast, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay for six days, brought in by tropical storms connected to those hitting Fiji. "This storm system is literally stretching from here to Fiji... It's just going to be relentless for the next six days. There's a high risk of landslides and a high risk of Klooding. Mr Duncan said the wreck of the Rena on Astrolabe Reef could be in the path of waves averaging 4m high. Mr Duncan said Daphne, the category one cyclone that had formed to the west of Fiji, was heading to New Zealand, merging with lows on its way, but it wasn't as bad as it sounded. "It will simply mean the energy will be spread further, which can sometimes reduce the severity but prolong the period of unsettled weather.'' Mr Corbett also said Daphne's effect on New Zealand would be minimal. Abridged 'Glowing ball' above Wellington likely a meteor KERRY MCBRIDE 03/04/2012 Dominion Post KARLA KARAITIANA: An object, thought to be a meteor, shoots across the sky above Wellington. The glowing ball that fascinated the country last night was most likely a meteor. The bright and colourful light was spotted in the lower North Island and the South Island, including Wellington, Blenheim and Christchurch, about 6.30pm. Because of the positioning of the sun at the time, the Kireball appeared extra bright in the sky. Abridged

26 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 26 More heavy rain for Gisborne, Hawke's Bay STACEY KIRK, PALOMA MIGONE AND MICHAEL DALY Stuff 04/04/ The MetService expects rain to continue to be heavy at times in already sodden Gisborne and Hawke's Bay overnight and early tomorrow. Despite that, the forecast for tonight was not as bad as it had been earlier, Gisborne Civil Defence emergency manager Richard Steele said. Rivers in the area were all slowly easing and should cope well. MetService issued a severe warning for the regions yesterday and another this morning. PREGNANT WOMAN STRANDED IN RUATORIA Two men who took supplies to an isolated 20-weeks' pregnant Ruatoria woman with two small children yesterday were trapped by a swollen river before making the trip out again this morning. GISBORNE DISTRICT DRENCHED Some areas in Gisborne had already received about 120mm of rain by about midday today and a further 100mm was earlier forecast over the next 24 hours, with peak accumulations of 15 to 25mm per hour. Civil Defence controller Jon Davies said the heaviest falls so far were at Te Puia Springs, 188mm, and the Whareratas, 134mm overnight. He said the river north of Tolaga Bay at WillowKlat has reached 11 metres, while the Waimata River reached 7m overnight and was showing no sign of receding. An eight-metre level was the trigger for advising residents. FLOODING ON SOME ROADS Several roads in the district were marginal today with Klooding and surface Klooding, and there was four wheel drive access only in some places. Abridged Strong winds forecast Wednesday 04th Apr, 2012Sunlive The MetService is predicting strong southeast winds to continue in parts of the North Island today bringing moist air of tropical origin over the north and east of the North Island. Large swells hit the rocks at Mount Maunganui overnight. Photo: Jamie Troughton Describe Journalism. Large swells pounded Mount Maunganui beach overnight with waves peaking at 10m at the A beacon.

27 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 27 South Island gets the best of Easter weather By Paul Harper NZ Herald Thursday Apr 5, ' The MetService brings good easter weather news. Photo / If you've got a crib in the South Island, or a bach in the west and south of the North Island, this Easter would be a great long weekend to get away. However showers will continue this weekend for the north and east of the North Island before easing off come Sunday. MetService has lifted a severe weather warning for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, however a severe weather watch remains in place, with 30 to 40mm of rain expected tonight and early tomorrow morning. MetService spokesperson Dan Corbett said the heaviest, most intense rain across Gisborne and Hawke's Bay has passed. Mr Corbett said the good weather experienced over the south of the South Island in recent days should continue over the weekend. "Over the past couple of days, people down in Queenstown and Southland have just been smiling ear to ear - they've had some decent weather, 20 degrees by day, 4 degrees by night. That will continue. Mr Corbett described the weather in the north and the east as an "improving situation". Abridfged Wanaka well-primed for weekend of Warbirds By Marjorie Cook on Sat, 7 Apr 2012 Otago daily times A big crowd, perfect weather and an appearance by All Blacks captain Richie McCaw thrilled organisers of yesterday's practice day for the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, setting the scene for a huge weekend. Up to 65,000 visitors are expected at the three-day show. There was a rush on sunscreen, bucket hats, cold drinks and ice creams as the temperatures soared into the mid-20s. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is celebrating its 75th anniversary at the airshow and will play a big role in this weekend's displays. Abridged.

28 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 28 Easter bunny brings weather treat SHANE COWLISHAW stuff 09/04/ Sun worshippers can keep their barbecues out this week with a long-overdue spell of Kine weather expected to continue. Wellingtonians have enjoyed several days of sunny weather during the holiday break with residents basking in a high of 20 degrees Celsius yesterday, which seemed much warmer after the dismal summer. Palmerston North reached 23, Masterton and Whanganui 21 and Taupo 19. MetService meteorologist Daniel Corbett said about 70 to 80 per cent of New Zealand had experienced excellent weather during Easter, although some showers had hit Northland, Coromandel and Gisborne. Abridged. Wellington basks in Easter sun Mon, 09 Apr 2012 TV3 Swimmers have been taking advantage of the good weather over Easter By Charlotte Shipman

29 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 29 After a summer which failed to deliver, Wellington has felt like it s gone back a season over the Easter break. The question has to be asked though as to whether four days of sunshine make up for the three months of summer some feel they were robbed of. Yeah it does, according to some. Psychology lecturer Marc Wilson says that the good Easter weather may change the way people remember the summer. There's the possibility that people look back at the summer as being maybe not as good as they wanted but better than it actually was because of nice weather like this, says Mr Wilson. The good weather means some are dreading going back to work tomorrow. Research shows a lacklustre summer can bring equally gloomy consequences. When the sun isn't shining when it's supposed to be people tend to drink more, they tend to smoke more, they tend to overeat more and it's all about trying to regulating feeling bad about the fact summer hasn't come and we really look forward to it, says Mr Wilson. While the good weather may be encouraging healthier behaviour, it is likely that the vice of ice-cream will continue to be heavily indulged. 3 News Science on show in The Cloud Andre Hueber Tuesday, April 10, 2012 The Aucklander Remote controlled plane that contains hi-res camera The Cloud is the rather apt location for the Science in the City event, being held in Auckland for the Kirst time. It's being put on by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and chief executive John Morgan says it's an opportunity to demonstrate we're not just a city of sails but a strong science and technology base as well. On show will be deep water research vessel Tangaroa, a drone-like plane called Tinkerbelle, tanks of hapuka bred in captivity, and creatures from the deep - as well speeches on the Hauraki Gulf, great white sharks and Antarctica.

30 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 30 The ice-strengthened ship was built in 1992 and still retains some of her original crew. It's her job to search for minerals, maintain shipping lanes, carry out Kish stock assessments and do surveys of the sea Kloor. She spends 300 days a year at sea and has recently undergone a $25m upgrade. Abridged ReKlection on Niwa Science day Written by Selwyn Manning on Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 Kiwi FM Click on link above to see this funky skype video interview with web updates. Weather Survey Crew.org.nz 10 April The link below is to an online weather survey. The purpose of this survey is gain feedback from skippers & operation managers on the type of weather information required to ensure safe trip planning & make operators aware of some proposed future changes to MetService products. MetService are proposing some changes and enhancements to marine products and have asked Maritime NZ s assistance with gaining feedback from the various maritime sectors on the likely impacts. Key changes are around consistent content format for coastal forecasts, addition of enhance online graphical representation of wind, swell etc, reduction in text based outlook for coastal and high sea s forecasts & reviewing the requirement for HF weather fax. In short, it is your chance to provide feedback on your weather information requirements. Abridged.

31 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 31 Half of average monthly rainfall falls in one day CHARLEY MANN The Press 11/04/ Don Scott: OVERFLOW: Streets were ;looded in Avonside today after heavy rain. STATION DAMAGED: Heavy rain has triggered a mudslide in Lyttelton. Christchurch is on track for its wettest day this year, with half the average monthly rainfall drenching the city today. So far, 24.4 millimetres of rain has fallen at Christchurch International Airport, while 30.2mm has fallen at the Botanic Gardens. The downpour, which started about 10pm yesterday, almost matches the 25.8mm that fell at the airport on March 1. MetService meteorologist Dan Corbett said the city had had ''half a month's rainfall in the span of one day''. Abridged. What is the sun's halo? MARY BAINES 12/04/2012 Dominion Post Dayanitha Damodaran Tawa College pupil Dayanitha Damodaran, 14, snapped the rare sight at her family home in Tawa at the beginning of this month when she realised she had never seen anything like it before. Niwa National Climate Centre principal scientist James Renwick says the phenomenon is known as a "halo" - a ring of light that forms around the Sun as the sunlight passes through a cirrus cloud. The clouds have to be high enough in the atmosphere, usually about eight kilometres so

32 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 32 that they are made up of ice crystals rather than liquid water drops. In high and thin cirrus clouds, the ice crystals are hexagonal and act like prisms, and as sunlight passes through the crystals, the light is deklected at an angle of 22 degrees, Dr Renwick says. "Different colours are deklected in slightly different amounts, so the inner part of the ring looks reddish, while the outer part looks bluish. "The bright ring we see from the ground is at an angle of 22 degrees from the Sun," he says.abridged Government injects $7m into hazards research April 13th, Science Media Centre Nearly 20 research projects will split $7 million of taxpayer funding over the next three years as scientists take on board lessons of the Christchurch earthquakes and move to mitigate other natural hazards, such as tsunami on the East Coast, a big quake hitting the capital, and volcanic eruptions in Taranaki. Dr Simon Cox of GNS Science The $7 m (excluding GST) has been allocated by the Natural Hazards Research Platform a collaboration set up by the Government in 2009 to provide longer-term funding to make the nation more resilient to natural hazards such as earthquakes and Kloods which is hosted by GNS Science, with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) as coanchor. NIWA, GNS and engineering consultants Opus are examining wind Klows over landscapes and building and reassessing wind-engineering guidance documents. Dr Rob Bell, of NIWA, will assess the hazards of storm tides in estuaries, where storm surges can combine with king tides and inland Kloodwaters surging to the sea. Abridged Forecasting not such an exacting science BRONWYN TORRIE Dominion Post 14/04/ MetService has revealed it only expects to accurately forecast each day's maximum temperature 75 per cent of the time. The existence of an internal performance measure comes after The Dominion Post tracked MetService's forecast for every day last month to test the forecaster's accuracy. The information was compiled using forecasts and data made public in the newspaper and on the MetService website. The state-owned enterprise's annual report reveals it only aims to correctly forecast the daily maximum temperature, within 2 degrees Celsius, 75 per cent of the time. For the year to

33 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 33 June last year its success rate was 76 per cent. MetService's heavy rain warnings were correct 94 per cent of the time, severe gales 89 per cent and heavy snow 82 per cent.abridged. Sun goes down on public data HELEN MURDOCH 19/04/2012 Nelson Mail MARION VAN DIJK DATA DOWN: Motueka and Takaka sunshine hours are no longer being recorded For a region renowned for its high sunshine hours there is a glaring lack of information about the number of hours sunbeams settle on Motueka and Takaka. The towns' chances of holding bragging rights as the country's sunniest went down the drain in 2008 when, for various reasons, public recordings stopped. Regional metrological data is collected by Niwa and supplied to publications, like the Nelson Mail, by the MetService. MetService media graphics manager Tony Hawkins said in the case of Motueka the manual readings at the former Plant and Food site in Riwaka stopped when the person reading and scaling the daily sunshine hours shifted. "To my knowledge there are no sunshine readings being taken from Motueka anymore, either by humans or by automated equipment," he said. Niwa technician Andrew Harper said manual sunshine recorders had to be sited so they were within reach. But Motueka's shelter belts often impeded sunshine from reaching waist-high recorders. He said the glass ball recorders were a favourite of vandals and siting them on open ground invited theft. Such was the problem in Takaka where, coincidentally in 2008, the Information Centre which housed the manual system was broken into twice and the sunshine reorder stolen both times. Andrew said the manual sunshine recorder was not replaced. However Niwa also had an electronic system in Takaka that recorded sunshine hours. Andrew said it was now a process of coming to an arrangement with the Met Service on how to get the sunshine hours data into the public arena. He said a similar situation existed in Dunedin where data was being collected but not yet distributed. In the case of Motueka, Niwa may have money available in budgets next year to install an automated system for the town, he said. Manual temperature and rainfall Kigures have continued to be provided by Niwa and the Met- Service and published in the Nelson Mail.

34 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 34 Hints of ozone layer recovery, scientist says By Lynda van Kempen on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 Otago Daily Times Larry Twigg and Tom McGee (Nasa), Mike Kotkamp (Niwa, Lauder), Daan Swart and Anne van Gijsel (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, the Netherlands) Hamish Chisholm (Niwa, Lauder) and Stuart McDermid (Nasa). There may be a "hint" of recovery in the ozone layer, according to one of the international scientists with equipment based at Lauder for global climate research. Daan Swart, head of the air quality department at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in Holland, has been a regular visitor to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) Lauder station since His country built a Lidar (light detection and ranging) system at Lauder that year, as part of a national research programme. Lauder is part of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change, a web of more than 70 research stations around the world which monitor global climate change. - lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz Abridged. Antarctic ice melting from warm water below SETH BORENSTEIN 26/04/2012 Stuff The link above shows an animation of the circulation of ocean currents around the western Antarctic ice shelves. The shelves are indicated by the rainbow colour; red is thicker (greater than 550 metres), while blue is thinner (less than 200 metres). Antarctica's massive ice shelves are shrinking because they are being eaten away from below by warm water, a new study Kinds. That suggests that future sea levels could rise faster than many scientists have been predicting. Abridged

35 Overwhelming' dawn crowd Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 35 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 Otago Daily Times Jackie Hamilton, of Cromwell, plays the Last Post, while Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor Commander Lyal Cocks, RNZN (retired) and Wanaka RSA committee member Ralph Fegan (back turned) lowers the ;lag. Photo by Lucy Ibbotson Ideal weather contributed to record crowds at Anzac Day services throughout Otago and around the country yesterday. About 10,000 people gathered around the cenotaph in Dunedin's Queens Gardens for a dawn service and throughout the region thousands more gathered to pay their respects to the fallen. In Auckland, the crowd of more than 10,000 far exceeded the expected numbers. In Christchurch, the crowd braved the cold at a ceremony at Cranmer Square attended by Governor- General Sir Jerry Mateparae. At Gallipoli, Turkey, some 6000 people - mostly Australian and New Zealand visitors - attended the dawn service at Anzac Cove. Abridged- Additional reporting by APNZ How do you predict the capital's weather? OLIVIA WANNAN Dominion Post 27/04/ Weather whisperer: Media and communications meteorologist Daniel Corbett at a MetService measurement site. Predicting tomorrow's weather in Wellington may be an imperfect art, but measuring today's is a meticulous science. Figures for rain, wind, sunshine hours and temperature are everyday things, or even every mi-

36 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 36 nute with today's technology, but not many people are familiar with the devices used to record them. But MetService meteorologist Daniel Corbett is well versed and, in his 20 years in weather prediction, has seen the evolution of the gadgets. "There's so much more information. You can imagine, years ago, you'd be able to get measurements and observations every hour or every couple of hours. Now you can literally see what the weather is doing to make a forecast at any moment of the day." MetService's weather measurements are gathered from 12 sites around Wellington, including one in the Botanic Gardens, close to the agency's headquarters. One of the most exciting developments in meteorology is Doppler radar, which can visualise the wind, Mr Corbett says. "We can literally sit there and tweet to say the southerly is arriving." Even with such precise data, meteorologists know microclimates, hills and even buildings mean weather can change a few metres down the road, particularly in a country like New Zealand. "It makes our job difkicult, but also fascinating." Abridged. Heavy rain Kloods parts of Nelson Fri, 27 Apr :18p.m. TV3 Flooding in Nelson Many Nelson residents are cleaning up their properties after wild weather overnight felled trees and cut power to homes. Abridged. Wild weather hits country 29/04/2012 Stuff A mini tornado has taken out powerlines near Hokitika on the South Island's West Coast. A Kire service spokesman said a caller told them powerlines on Old Christchurch Rd had been taken down "by a mini tornado", about 8.40pm. MetService earlier issued a severe weather warning for Wellington, Southern Wairarapa and Marlborough. Strong winds in Wellington appear to have blown over a lamp post on State Highway 1 near Johnsonville. Abridged. Walkers rescued after bad weather strikes PALOMA MIGONE 30/04/2012 Stuff

37 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 37 An "ill-prepared" group of 16 people walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing were found soaked to the skin, with many in the early stages of hypothermia. Police have criticised a tourism operator Tongariro Mountain Shuttle for dropping the group off on Saturday during severe weather conditions. Weather in the area was hazardous with poor visibility, rain, strong winds and very cold temperatures. Encouraging ill-prepared and under-equipped people to go into an alpine environment was irresponsible and contrary to the practices of the local tourism operators, he said. "The weather forecast was actually read out to them: showers, clearing and strong winds in exposed places, dying away in the afternoon." Abridged. Is that the sea creeping up behind me? Tuesday 1 May 2012, info news Paekakariki sea wall repairs CREDIT:NIWA The sea is creeping up on us, with storm surge Klooding starting to occur more frequently on king tides. It is of growing concern. This is the Kirst sign we will notice, rather than the slow but sure rise in sea-level. Sixty-Kive percent of Kiwis live within 5 km of the sea, and this includes twelve of our Kifteen largest towns and cities. Because of our nation s preference for coastal living, we need to really consider what rising sea-levels mean for us, especially for higher.tides. It s mostly about risk, says NIWA Principal Scientist Dr Rob Bell. Rises of more than a metre by 2100 can t be ruled out, and should at least be considered in assessing the vulnerability of our existing development at the coast. On May 2012, the New Zealand Climate Change Centre (NZCCC) is holding a 2-day conference on sea-level rise and the challenges this brings as risks change over time. This conference will be held in Wellington at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa. Abridged April's record breaking sunshine STACEY KIRK 01/05/2012 Stuff HOT STUFF: Four-year-old Mia Sharma enjoys a sunny Easter Saturday. Last month was one of the warmest Aprils on record, with record high temperatures and sunshine hours. The National Institute for Water Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said April was anticyclonic, which resulted in dry, warm weather throughout most of the country. "A lot of sunshine records were broken with Dunedin, Tekapo and Cromwell getting one and a half times what's typical for down there, as well parts of Palmerston North and Waikato," said Niwa scientist Georgina GrifKiths.

38 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 38 GrifKiths said Dunedin had the lowest monthly rainfall, just 12mm, since "Most places were 1.5 to three degrees warmer than what's normal for April, and even in Central Otago they at times got Kive to six degrees warmer on average," GrifKiths said. However, parts of Fiordland and the Southern Alps experienced light snowfall last weekend. SUNSHINE HOURS Auckland 190 (fourth sunniest April on record) Hamilton 191(fourth sunniest April on record) Tauranga 192 (near normal) Palmerston North 189 (second sunniest April since 1930) Wellington 167 (near normal) Christchurch 206 (third sunniest April since 1930) Dunedin 184 (sunniest April on record) Abridged Shades of Autumn in Hawke's Bay AMY SHANKS Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Hawkes Bay Today Autumn in Hawke's Bay 2012 According to the MetService, Hawke's Bay may be in for some early frosts across inland areas this week. "The main thing is that it is going to get cooler," MetService forecaster Marilyn Avery said. "A cold southerly looks set to come through [today] bringing a few showers which should clear throughout the day and may return at night."abridged Rena debris found as far north as Great Barrier By Jamie Morton May 3, 2012 NZHerald Only the bow section of the Rena remains above water seven months after the ship grounded. Photo / Maritime New Zealand

39 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 39 Plastic beads, noodle packets and a dozen wheelbarrows have made the 180km journey from the Rena to the beaches of Great Barrier Island. Bad weather and stormy seas had gradually smashed the ship to pieces since it ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the coast of Tauranga on October 5 last year. Debris at Great Barrier Island, which also included a small amount of timber, washed up in the wake of a heavy storm last month that also resulted in the littering of parts of the Coromandel coast. Abridged Scientists help councils cope with climate change Copyright 2012, Radio New Zealand 5 May Scientists at the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere have released a new kit aimed at helping urban councils plan more efkiciently for climate change planning. The climate change toolbox explains how to assess the risk of things such as rising sea levels, Kloods, slips, and liquefaction and shows how some councils are already dealing with those issues. The toolbox has been funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and has been set up by NIWA, enviromental engineers, GNS Science and the building research company Branz. NIWA's principal climate scientist, Andrew Tait, says some councils are well advanced in assessing their own hazards, but others will save money and effort using the ideas and expertise in the toolbox. Duck shooters take aim as season starts Sat May AAP Ben Staeffens checks the decoy ducks at Blythen Wetlands in Pokeno as the duck shooting season opens today (Getty) The duck shooting season got under way on Saturday with clear weather in many parts of the country. The MetService says a slow-moving high is covering the country this weekend. (Clear skies helps the ducks avoid the shooters) Abridged

40 Glacier sheds big iceberg Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 40 07/05/2012 Stuff SPECTACULAR: A newly formed iceberg follows the April 30 calving. An estimated Kive-million-tonne iceberg "calving" at Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake on April 30 has ensured sensational viewing for visitors for the rest of the season. The April 30 calving was a result of an extensive period of dry weather followed by a deluge of rain. Abridged Heavy frosts close off harvest KAT PICKFORD 08/05/2012 Marlborough Express DEREK FLYNN That time of year: Tohu Wines winemaker Bruce Taylor among the autumn leaves on the company's Awatere Valley vineyard in the last days of vintage Two hard frosts last week fastforwarded the end of harvest Viticulturists are saying the low yields because of cool weather during Klowering in December have been a blessing. Once the Kine weather did arrive the fruit could ripen quicker and with more intense Klavours than it might have if the yield had been bigger. Harvest started a couple of weeks later than an average year, and continued night and day

41 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 41 with excellent weather conditions through April. By the middle of last week, many vineyards had completed or made good inroads in their harvest, and the leaves on many vines were already turning. This meant photosynthesis was coming to an end and grapes would not ripen any further. Then clear skies and low temperatures brought frosts on Wednesday and Thursday, fastforwarding the vines' transition toward winter dormancy. Abridged. Weather cause of red tides JARED NICOLL 08/05/2012 Marlborough express Red algae thriving in Ahatarakihi Bay. Sightings of "red tides" of algae in two bays in Queen Charlotte Sound are likely caused by good weather not the movement of a salmon farm, a Niwa scientist says. Large patches of red algae started appearing in Umuwheke Bay and Ahatarakihi Bay near Blumine Island on April 24, the same date King Salmon shifted one of its salmon farms from Tory Channel to East Bay. Niwa scientist Hoe Chang emphasised that he would need to see microscopic evidence to be certain what kind of algae was present, but based on photos he strongly believed the red algae was myrionecta rubra, a harmless plankton dark red in colour. The algae was not caused by salmon farms, he said. It was also possible the algae may be noctiluca scintillans, or sea sparkle, which thrived under sunlight in shallow areas. Abridged Wild weather causes chaos Wednesday 09th May, 2012 By Corrie Taylor corrie@thesun.co.nz Wild weather throughout the Bay of Plenty is causing damage to property as strong winds and heavy rain hit the region. The MetService has issued a severe weather warning for western parts of the Bay of Plenty as a large low moves over the region bringing heavy rain and strong northeasterlies.

42 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 42 Strong winds have dislodged an umbrella at Za Bar on The Strand. The low is expected to move east today but the Bay of Plenty is expected to experience more heavy rain as a rainband moves from Northland into the region today. The MetService is warning of slips and surface Klooding in some areas and advising people to keep up to date with the latest weather information. An umbrella was knocked over in the wind breaking a glass table outside a Tauranga business. Weather topples trees and powerlines MICHAEL FOX Auckland Live Last updated 08:19 09/05/ Foul weather overnight has felled trees and power lines and caused Klooding in Auckland. Morning commuters heading into the city faced delays after trees were toppled across the Te Irirangi Rd on-ramp and the Takanini off-ramp, both northbound, blocking lanes. The MetService said Albany received the most rain in Auckland overnight, soaking up 54mm between 5pm and 5am, while Whangaparaoa received 41mm. MetService forecaster Geoff Sanders said 34mm fell at the airport and 29mm in Pukekohe. He said it was a considerable amount of rain but the worst was over. Abridged Thundery downpours to dampen Mother's Day Sunday May 13, 2012 Source: ONE News

43 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 43 Heavy rain and thundery downpours are expected to batter the country on Mother's Day. A complex trough over the Tasman Sea is expected to slowly move over New Zealand from today through to early Tuesday. MetService said this is expected to bring periods of heavy rain, with the heaviest falls expected in Taranaki and Waitomo, where a severe weather warning is in place. Abridged Water spout seen in Taranaki amid stormy weather 14/05/2012 Stuff Ross Bennett A water spout spotted off the coast of Oakura. A water spout spotted off the coast of Oakura this morning wouldn't cause any major damage says MetService forecaster Andy Downs. Downs said water spouts and small tornadoes were a possibility with the current weather conditions, but they wouldn't do any major damage. "They are usually isolated and short-lived," he said. "Water spouts normally aren't much of a concern but small tornadoes could damaged trees and unsecure structures." Warm moist air at lower levels and cold air above was what generated the heavy rain and thunderstorms the region has been experiencing this morning, Mr Downs said. This then turned into water spouts and tornadoes when the wind began to rotate, he said. "The key ingredient for water spouts and tornadoes is a rotation and in this case the lower wind has shifted in a way that's created a strong level ascent of air." Abridged

44 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 44 Thundery night set for North Island Monday May 14, 2012 NZ Herald A waterspout was spotted off the coast of Taranaki this morning. Photo / Youtube Parts of the North Island are in for a thundery night as a storm, which has already brought hail up to 25 millimetres in diameter passes through. MetService has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for much of the upper North Island. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management advises that as storms approach you should: * Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows; * Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside; * Move cars under cover or away from trees; * Secure any loose objects around your property; * Check that drains and gutters are clear; * Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving. During and after the storm, you should also: * Beware of fallen trees and power lines; * Avoid streams and drains as you may be swept away in Klash Klooding. - APNZ Abridged Mini tornado rips up roofs 15/05/2012 Dominion Post A small tornado tore through the Bay of Plenty town of Papamoa last night, damaging several homes in its path. The tornado twisted through Longview Drive at 8.30pm, destroying the roofs of six homes, a Fire Service spokesman said. Tiles were ripped off roofs but that was the extent of the damage, the spokesman said. Abridged.

45 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 45 Waterspouts and funnel clouds spotted off Wellington coast KERRY MCBRIDE 15/05/2012 Dominion Post Alan Lamb The waterspout over Cook Strait. A series of funnel clouds have been spinning around Wellington's south coast this afternoon, thanks to some uncommon atmospheric conditions. Metservice forecaster Hordur Thordarson said his team Kirst noticed the funnel shaped clouds forming over the eastern part of the Wellington Harbour about 3pm, and had seen "quite a few" of them during the afternoon. The snow must go on, Mt Hutt says By Susan Sandys of the Ashburton Guardian Thursday May 17, Snow machines have been turned on at Mt Hutt. Photo / File Mt Hutt was to be the Kirst ski area in New Zealand to switch on its snowmaking guns for the 2012 season last night. A pre-winter chill in the air signalled to Mt Hutt's snowmaking crew members that their moment had arrived. Mr Urquhart said snowmaking was a complex system, which not only required low temperatures, but also low humidity.

46 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 46 "If the humidity stays down we will be going on-line (switching the snowmaker guns on) as much as possible." The ski area had 76 snowmaking guns, and various lines would be turned on at various times in coming weeks to ensure the skikield had a man-made supplement to its natural snow base. Tony Trewinnard at Blue Skies Weather was forecasting a "typical average sort of season". Cold temperatures would give plenty of opportunity for snowmaking, but there would not be a lot of southerly snowstorms dropping natural snow early in the season. There was likely to be more anti-cyclones across the South Island throughout winter. Before anti-cyclones arrived they brought a burst of southerly air Klow which could bring snow, but once they arrived the weather tended to stay settled for long periods of time. Abridged Boaties click on to latest forecasts Monday, May 21, 2012 Northern Advocate MONITOR: This buoy will help provide weather and wave data to Northland boaties by Northport. Boaties now have free access to the latest weather and wave data in and around Marsden Pt after Northport made its up-to-the-minute information available for all online. Northport started issuing its weather and tide monitoring data - collected through Northport's telemetry system - on its website, on Thursday. Abridge.

47 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 47 PredictWind and MetService partner for live wind data Sail World 21 May 2012 Zoe Hawkins Screen shot of the real time wind observations - displayed on a PC/Mac screen. A mobile application is also available to give subscribers instant weather in their pockets. Real-time observations of wind speed and direction are now available from 84 weather stations throughout New Zealand, thanks to a new partnership between Auckland company PredictWind and the New Zealand MetService. Auckland company PredictWind and the New Zealand MetService have this week announced a service that makes real time observations of wind data available for as little as $1.60 per month, via PredictWind s website and Android and iphone Apps. PredictWind services, including forecasting, routing, boat tracking and weather alerts, can be obtained on a free or paid basis from and the PredictWind App can be downloaded from the iphone/ipad or Android App stores. Abridged

48 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 48 Southerly blast heralds winter MICHAEL DALY, WITH THE SOUTHLAND TIMES 16/05/ A GOOD DUSTING: Happy Valley at Whakapapa ski;ield on Mt Ruapehu on Tuesday. A period of chilly weather covering the country heralds the rapid approach of winter. The ski slopes of Mt Ruapehu were covered with snow yesterday after the Kirst fall of the year, while at the bottom of the South Island snow has fallen to around 400 metres above sea level. In Queenstown and Arrowtown, residents woke to thick snow around the townships as the area received its Kirst serious snowfall of the year. Abridged Chill hits region as temperature hit -1degC MICHELLE DUFF Dominion Post 17/05/ SEAMUS BOYER/The Dominion Post Snow on the eastern side of Tararua Range. If you reached for another blanket and thought it felt chillier than usual last night, you were right. A bitter chill descended over Wellington, with temperatures dropping below zero in some parts of the city. Abridged

49 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page Klights affected by fog at Auckland Airport Sat, 26 May News By Adam Hollingworth Default.aspx#ixzz1yVtkiEYC MetService says at one point visibility was down to a murky 250m Fifty-Kive domestic and four international Klights were cancelled or delayed before the fog cleared around lunchtime. A pea-souper of fog shrouded Auckland Airport for four hours and MetService says at one point visibility was down to a murky 250m. Abridged Truck blown off the road as winds strike Whakatane area Sonya Bateson Tuesday, May 29, 2012 Daily Post A truck driving towards Whakatane is believed to have tipped in strong winds at Waiotahi. The driver received only minor injuries. Weather warnings were issued by MetService for the Bay of Plenty region beginning yesterday morning and lasting until late last night, with up to 100mm of rain expected in the eastern ranges up until midnight. MetService meteorologist Daniel Corbett said yesterday's rain looked to be the "main lump of rain" for the week, with most of it clearing overnight last night. Abridged

50 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - Jun Page 50 Wellington hit by sudden cold snap Tuesday May 29, 2012 Source: Fairfax A street covered in hail this morning in Berhampore, Wellington - Source: Yvonne Tucker A cold southerly outbreak has brought hail and snow to the Wellington region. Hail fell in Wellington city, coating streets and parked cars. Abridged. MetService launches app NBR staff Thursday May 31, The iphone version of MetService's app, created by PaperKite MetService has released an app for iphone and Android (see screen shots from iphone version, right). Unlike the free mobile version of Metservice'swebsite (m.metservice.co.nz), there is a small one off-cost of $2.59. A rep for MetService said the app has features not available on the mobile site, including videos, real-time radar, trafkic cams and the ability to add your own weather photos. The developer was Wellington's PaperKite, last in the news for creating the NZ Budget app, which cost the government $59,000 and was downloaded 8600 times. Asked how much the MetService app cost to develop, spokeswoman Nicola Burroughs replied: "A lot!." "There are lots of interactive elements and we wanted to make sure it was jam packed with features given that it s a paid app. The app is available from Apple's itunes AppStore and Google Play (formerly Android Market).