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1 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 1 Meteorological Society Of New Zealand (Inc.) ISSN NEWSLETTER 125 JUNE 2011

2 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 2 Meteorological Society Of New Zealand (Inc.) NEWSLETTER 125 JUNE 2011 PO Box 6523, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, New Zealand Please forward contributions to Bob McDavitt, bobmcdavitt@hotmail.com CONTENTS Page Conference 3-4 Seminars 4-5 Autumn 2011 (NIWA + Ben Tichborne) 6-15 Autumn in the media Your new Committee President Andrew Tait a.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 j.renwick@niwa.co.nz Christchurch VP Colin Simpson Dunedin VP vacant Secretary Sam Dean s.dean@niwa.co.nz Treasurer Alan Porteous a.porteous@niwa.co.nz Circulation Manager Sylvia Nichol s.nicol@niwa.co.nz Journal Editor Brian Giles gilesnz@ihug.co.nz Newsletter Editor Bob McDavitt bobmcd@xtra.co.nz Wed Editor Peter Knudsen Hydrological Soc Liaison Charles Pearson c.pearson@niwa.co.nz General Committee Jim Salinger j.salinger@niwa.co.nz Mike Revell m.revell@niwa.co.nz Katrina Richards kr@geography.otago.ac.nz Gareth Renowden gareth@limestonehills.co.nz Duncan Ackerley Views and endorsements expressed in this newsletter are those of the contributors and advertisers, and not necessarily those of the Meteorological Society of New Zealand. The mention of specific companies or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the Society.

3 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 3 Annual Conference Monday 14 November Tuesday 15 November 2011 Trailways Hotel 66 Trafalgar Street, Nelson AIM The aim of the meeting is to serve as a gathering point for meteorologists, forecasters, climatologists, atmospheric scientists, and atmospheric chemists where they can: (i) share their knowledge and consider progress at all levels, (ii) interact with peers and colleagues, (iii) debate scientific issues, and (iv) learn new things. PAPERS AND POSTERS The organisers invite contributions (either posters or talks) on topics including; the stratosphere, atmospheric chemistry, urban meteorology and air pollution, modeling (over all atmospheric scales of motion), hydrological applications, remote sensing, weather hazards, forecasting, data assimilation, agricultural and bio-meteorology, climate and impacts, including global change, seasonal forecasting, and the history of New Zealand meteorology and atmospheric research. FORMAT Talks will be of 20 minutes duration including time for questions. Alternatively a poster presentation, with a 5 minute oral description, may be requested. Audio-visual equipment will be available for all presentations. TITLES AND EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Those intending to present talks and/or posters are asked to submit the titles to Andrew Tait by a.tait@niwa.co.nz by 31 August, Those planning to attend the conference but not give a talk are also requested to indicate their expression of interest by ing Andrew by 31 August, ABSTRACTS Abstracts should not exceed one A4 page, and should include full address information as well as the corresponding author s address. Where possible please submit your abstract by to: a.tait@niwa.co.nz, or post or fax it to: Met. Soc. Conference, c/o Andrew Tait, NIWA, Private Bag , Kilbirnie, Wellington. Abstracts may include a figure or table. Abstracts must be submitted by 30 September 2011 LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS The conference will be held at Trailways Hotel, 66 Trafalgar Street, Nelson. There will be a conference dinner at Trailways on the Monday night. The conference venue is in central Nelson City, within easy walking distance of cafés, restaurants and bars, and a range of accommodation options, many of which are featured at REGISTRATION The full Registration Fee is $150. The registration includes the conference dinner, lunches and morning and afternoon teas. Day registration fees are available at a cost of $90 per day, these include the lunches, morning and afternoon teas, but not the dinner. CONFERENCE DINNER The Conference Dinner will take place following the Society's AGM on the evening of Monday 14 November. The dinner will be at Trailways Hotel. The cost is included in the registration fee, but will be $50 per extra guest. ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL Participants should make their own accommodation and travel arrangements. Reservations for Trailways Hotel can be made by telephone at , or at enquiries@trailwayshotel.co.nz.

4 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 4 More information about the hotel can be found at STUDENT S FUND The Meteorological Society operates a Students Fund, which provides a grant to subsidise accommodation and travel expenses for a student presenting a paper. Several awards can be made per year. Applications, with a copy of the abstract, should be ed to Andrew Tait a.tait@niwa.co.nz. Information regarding the conference will be progressively updated on the Meteorological Society of New Zealand's web site TIMETABLE Titles & Expression of Interest: 31 August 2011 Deadline for Abstracts: 30 September 2011 Registration Deadline: 31 October 2011 The 10th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography, will be held at the Tjibaou Cultural Center from 23 to 27 April 2012 in Nouméa, New Caledonia. This is run under the auspices of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), in collaboration with the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) and Météo-France. Since its advent, the ICSHMO has provided a unique contribution to ocean and atmosphere sciences that are specific to the Southern Hemisphere. The objective of the 2012 conference, the 10th of the series, is to provide an interdisciplinary forum for presentations of our current state of knowledge, as well as motivating new research and applications within the variety of disciplines related to weather and climate of the ocean and atmosphere. Met Soc Urban seminars: A talk was held on Wednesday, 4 May 2011 at NIWA Greta Point Wellington High Resolution modelling of air quality over London using the Unified Model Elizabeth Somervell (NIWA Christchurch) The forecasting model of the U.K. Meteorological Office (UKMO), known as the Unified Model (UM) has been developed to support a wide variety of global and mesoscale applications and increased resolution now allows the exploration of issues on smaller scales. Urban air quality is one such application that requires valid high resolution meteorological input and can bene-

5 fit from a multi-scale approach. With this in mind, the UM has, for the first time, been coupled to the chemistry transport model CMAQ, in order to simulate a high pollution episode over the London area. Comparisons are made with ground based measurements for meteorological factors (temperature and wind speed) and air pollutant concentrations (ozone, NOx). A detailed analysis of the UM temperature and windspeed fields in relation to land use and diurnal cycle indicated improvements might be made to the UM surface scheme in order to better simulate meteorological processes that affect air quality in urban areas. A sensitivity analysis on the UM s urban parametrisation was then undertaken. Of particular interest are the early hours of the morning, when the urban surface is under-going a critical cooling, and areas downwind of the urban centre. Biographical sketch: Elizabeth Somervell has recently joined the Air Quality and Health group at NIWA, after completing her PhD at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. She has a broad background in environmental science and her previous work focused on urban meteorology using the Unified Model. Her current work falls under the Healthy Urban Atmospheres (HUA) programme and includes the investigation of drainage flows using mobile monitoring data. A talk was held on Thursday, 14 July 2011 at NIWA Greta Point Wellington Tracking Earth s energy: From El Niño to global warming Speaker: Dr Kevin E. Trenberth, National Centre for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO The state of knowledge and outstanding issues with respect to the global mean energy budget of planet Earth was described, along with the ability to track changes over time. Best estimates of the main energy components involved in radiative transfer and energy flows through the climate system do not satisfy physical constraints for conservation of energy without adjustments. The main issues relate to the downwelling longwave radiation and the hydrological cycle, and thus the surface evaporative cooling. It is argued that the discrepancy is 18% of the surface latent energy flux, but only 4% of the downwelling LW flux, and is most likely that the latter is seriously astray in some calculations, including many models. Beginning in 2000, the top-of-atmosphere radiation measurements provide stable estimates of the net global radiative imbalance changes over a decade, but after 2004 there is missing energy as the observing system of the changes in ocean heat content, melting of land ice, and so on, is unable to account for where it has gone. Based upon a number of climate model experiments for the 21st century where there is a stasis in global surface temperature and upper ocean heat content in spite of decade long periods with a known net energy input into the climate system, we infer that the main sink of the missing energy is likely the deep ocean below 275 m depth. Kevin also gave an interesting presentation to NZ Climate Change Institute at And from the Science Media Centre At Scientists participating in a briefing said more extreme weather can be expected in the years ahead as climate change plays a role in intensifying weather events. Dr Kevin Trenberth, head of climate analysis at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research based in Colorado, said climate change was providing a 5-10 per cent contribution to extreme weather events and could be the considered the "straw that broke the camel's back". "The environment in which all storms form is now different to 30 or 40 years ago because of climate change," said Dr Trenberth, who was born in Christchurch and was in the city for the February 22 earthquake. Victoria University geology professor Lionel Carter and Professor Martin Manning, of Victoria's Climate Change Research Institute also presented at the briefing,.

6 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 6 NIWA Report: Autumn 2011 Warm and wet for many regions. Temperatures: Above average autumn temperatures for much of the North Island, as well as the north of the South Island. Near average temperatures over the southern half of the South Island. Several heat waves during the autumn. Rainfall: Above normal autumn rainfall across most of the North Island, as well as the north of the South Island, Otago and south Canterbury. Suns hine: A cloudy autumn for Otago, Nelson, Taranaki to Wellington. Near normal autumn sunshine in most other regions. New Zealand was affected by more northerly winds than usual during autumn, squeezed between low pressures over the Tasman Sea and anticyclones ( highs ) lying east of the country. These northerly winds contributed to the very warm and wet autumn experienced over most of the North Island, and the north of the South Island. Autumn temperatures were well above average (more than 1.2 C above the autumn average) in parts of Northland, Auckland, the Firth of Thames and Bay of Plenty, southern Hawkes Bay, and around Nelson. Elsewhere in the North Island, and in the north of the South Island, autumn temperatures were generally above average (between 0.5 C and 1.2 C above the autumn average). Near average autumn temperatures (within 0.5 C of average) were experienced over the southern half of the South Island. Using NIWA s seven-station temperature series, the average temperature for autumn 2011 was 13.9 C (0.6 C above the autumn average). Rainfall totals for autumn were well above normal (exceeding 150 percent of autumn normal) in parts of Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Central Plateau, Hawke s Bay, from Taranaki to Kapiti Coast, Nelson, Tasman District, south Canterbury and Otago. Elsewhere in the North Island, autumn rainfalls were generally above normal (between 120 and 149 percent of autumn normal). Across the remai nder of the South Island, autumn rainfall totals were close to normal (ranging between 80 and 119 percent of seasonal normal). It was a rather cloudy autumn for Otago and the Lakes District, around Nelson, and from Taranaki to Wellington (with sunshine totals less than 90 percent of autumn normal). Elsewhere, autumn sunshine was closer to seasonal normal (between 90 and 115 percent of autumn normal). Autumn climate was rather extreme: A State of Emergency was declared for Hawkes Bay on 28 April, due to flooding and slips in the region following extremely heavy rainfall on April, and several coastal Hawkes Bay settlements were evacuated after being completely cut off. May started with a heat wave on the West Coast of the South Island. A tornado swept through Albany (Auckland) on 3 May. Flooding rains affected Otago on May 7/8, and Nelson and Takaka on May 25/26. F u r t he r H i gh l ig h ts : The highest autumn temperature recorded was 31.4 C recorded at Christchurch on 4 March. The lowest temperature recorded was -5.9 C recorded at Ranfurly on 28 April. The highest 1-day rainfall of 289 mm was recorded at North Egmont on 25 May. The highest gust was 184 km/hr recorded at Southwest Cape on 12 May. Of the six main centres, Tauranga was the wettes t but also the sunniest, Auckland was the warmest, Christchurch the driest, and Dunedin the coolest and cloudiest. F u l l re p o r t Full details are at data/assets/pdf_file/0017/111464/climate_summary_autumn2011.pdf F o r f u r th e r i n f o r m at i o n, p l ea s e c o n t a ct : Ms Georgina Griffiths Climate Scientist NIWA National Climate Centre - Auckland WEATHER EVENTS IN NZ SUMMER + AUTUMN 2011 (Ben Tichborne) There was some very unsettled weather during our 'La Nina' summer, with spells of heavy rain in northern and western areas, especially in the north on January. By contrast, there were some periods of warm, sunny conditions as well, especially in December and during the first half of February, DECEMBER 4th - 31C maximum in Alexandra. 5th - 30C maximum in Blenheim. 6th - 31C maximum in Blenheim. However, cool southerlies spread over most of South Island by end of day. 7th-8th - Rather cold southerly flow, with well below normal maximum temperatures in eastern areas. 9th - Unseasonably cold and frosty start to the day in Otago and Southland, following departure of cold southerly flow. December records broken at Tara Hills (-2C), Manapouri (-2C), and Queenstown. (0C) 13th - Record December high of 28C in Dargaville.

7 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 7 14th - Unusually warm overnight in many parts of North Island, including December record of 20C overnight at Whenuapai. 18th - Heavy rain in some northern and wes tern areas of both islands. Thunderstorms in central North Island, northern Wairarapa/southern Hawkes Bay, and inland South Canterbury. 20th - 30C maximums in Kaikoura, Ashburton, and Timaru. 21st/22nd - Very strong and very warm northwesterly flow affects NZ. 34C maximum in Timaru and 33C in Kaikoura on 21st. 31C maximum in Whangarei on 22nd. Unusually high minimums overnight in several North Island places, e.g. 21C in Hamilton and Hastings overnight 22nd. Gales cause some damage in east of South Island on both days. Combination of heat and gales results in several bush and scrub fires in Canterbury and Otago. 27th/28th - Storm with damaging gales and heavy rain in many areas. (see details below) JANUARY 2nd - 32C maximum in Masterton. Heavy rain and thunderstorms about and west of the Southern Alps. 3rd - Heavy rain easing from the south on South Island West Coast. 4th - 31C maximum in Masterton. 6th - 33C maximum in Kaikoura; 31C in Gisborne and Palmerston North. 7th - Very warm in Hawkes Bay, e.g. 33C maximum in Hastings, and 32C in Napier. 8th 15th - Northwesterly gales in lower and inland South Island. Aeroplanes damaged by gusts at Queenstown Airport. Gore records a January record high gust of 119 kph. 17th - Unusually warm in north of North Island thanks to tropical air in a northerly flow, with Paeroa recording a January record high of 32C. 18th - Heavy rain in some northern and western areas, especially in the South Island, thanks to remnants of Cyclones Vania and Zelia combining into a low pressure system over NZ. Flooding causes problems in Westland, with Reefton recording 84mm. Very warm in many parts of North Island. Record overnight minimums in Kaitaia (21C), Kaikohe (20C), and Whitianga. (21C) Record maximums include 31C in Dannevirke and Levin, 30C in Hawera, and 29C in Wellington. Record high minimums include 21C in Kaitaia and Whitianga, Unusually warm again overnight in parts of North Island, e.g. record high minimum of 20C in Rotorua. 20th - Only 13-15C maximums about east coast of South Island, under a cool southeasterly flow. 22nd-24th - Deep low causes very heavy rain and gale to many parts of North Island. (see details below) 25th - 32C maximum in Hanmer. 26th - Another 32C maximum day in Hanmer; 31C in Masterton. 28th/29th - Cyclone Wilma lashes northeastern North Island with very heavy rain. (see details below) 30th - Northwesterly gales in some inland areas of South Island, with caution needed on some highways. 31st - Period of severe gales in Golden Bay causes damage, including uprooting trees, demolishing farm shed, and smashing a hangar at a local aerodrome. A small tornado trashes the Waitapu Gardens. FEBRUARY 2nd - Very warm (30C+) in many eastern areas and Nelson region. February records broken in Gisborne (36C) and Kaikoura. (34C) severe west or northwest gales in some southern and central areas, e.g. 175 km/ph gust at Cape Turnagain, 87 km/ph at Tara Hills, and 117 km/ph in Gore. (latter being a February record) Damage includes downed trees and power-lines in Canterbury, and highway travel is made hazardous. A small tornado damages roofs at Fiordland College in Te Anau. 3rd - Heavy rain on South Island West Coast. 4th - Very humid in north and west of North Island. February record high minimum of 20C in Rotorua. (And similar minimums elsewhere in central North Island on 4th and 5th) 32C maximum in Gisborne. 5th - Very warm in northeast of South Island, e.g. 35C maximum in Hanmer; 33C in Blenheim. 6th - Heatwave in east of South Island. (see details below) 7th - About 20-25C cooler than day before in east of South Island, as a cool southerly covers the island following a cold front. (bringing some welcome rain to east) However, very warm in east of North Island, e.g. 33C maximum in Hastings. 8th - Another very warm day in east of North Island, e.g. 33C maximum in Hastings. 12th - 31C maximum at Christchurch Airport, thanks to a warm northwesterly flow. Heavy rain in Fiordland and South Westland. Some thunderstorms in north of North Island. 13th - Heavy rain on South Island West Coast. 14th - Very warm in many parts of North Island. 31C maximums in Tauranga, Kawerau, and Hastings; 30C in Whakatane. 15th - 30C maximum in Kawerau. 18th - Waterspout seen offshore from New Plymouth in afternoon. 21st - 32C maximum in Ashburton, as warm northwesterly flow covers South Island ahead of cold front. 22nd - Some heavy showers in north of North Island. A wet evening in Christchurch; unpleasant for residents in wake of day's devastating earthquake, but rain does provide clean water for some and is collected in buckets. Heavy showers in some northern North Island areas; thunderstorms reported about Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

8 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 8 The weather for autumn was a mixed bag, with a tendency for more unsettled weather and storminess in northern and central areas. Also notable was the record warmth of May, due to more northerly airflows than usual. MARCH 2nd - Heavy overnight rain about and west of the Southern Alps. 4th - Some heavy rain about areas of central NZ exposed to northwest, e.g. northwest Nelson. Record (since station opened in 1987) March daily total of 39mm in Wanganui. Warm in many eastern areas under northwest flow, e.g. 31C maximum in Christchurch. 5th - Some heavy rain in north and west of North Island. Unusually warm overnight in many northern and central areas, e.g. new March record 20C minimum in Kaikohe. However, cold southerly change spreads over South Island during the day. 6th/7th - Cold southerly flow over NZ, with some hail in eastern areas and snow on the mountains of both islands. Unusually low daytime maximums in east and south of North Island, e.g. only 11C maximum at Takapau, and 14C in Wanganui, Paraparaumu, and Hastings. These conditions becoming confined to North Island on 7th. 8th/9th - Early frosts in many inland areas following departure of cold southerly flow. -2C minimum in Waiouru on morning of 9th. 9th - Waterspout reported offshore from Auckland in afternoon. 14th - Warm northwesterly flow over South Island, with 30C maximum in Ashburton. 15th/16th - Some heavy rai n about central NZ, res ulting in slip on railway lines at Johnsonville, Wellington, causing delays. 18th - Thunderstorm with heavy rain causes flooding in South Island, with some homes flooded. 21st/22nd - Heavy rain developing in northeast of North Island on 21st and easing later next day. Worst about Coromandel Peninsula and East Cape, with flooding and slips blocking several roads. 151mm recorded in Whitianga on 21st. 26th - Warm front within moist northeasterly flow brings heavy rain to some northern and central parts of North Island, e.g. 69mm recorded in Taupo. 27th - Active trough crosses NZ, with some heavy falls in rain in northern and western areas of both islands. Particularly heavy downpours result in flooding in northern parts of Wellington. Cool southerly change spreads over South Island in afternoon (accompanied by a few thunderstorms about Canterbury foothills), with southerly gales causing some damage in Canterbury, especially about rural areas southwest of Christchurch. (power cuts due to fallen trees) 28th - Light frosts in many parts of South Island. 28th-30th - Cyclone Bune delivers a period of heavy rain and gales to the Kermadec islands. The cyclone is too far away to directly impact NZ's weather, but there are southeasterly gales about the coast from Gisborne north to East Cape on the 29th and 30th, and heavy swells pound the eastern coasts of the North Island from Northland to Wairarapa. APRIL 1st - Rather chilly in south and east of South Island in wake of a cool southerly change. Only 12C maximums in Kaikoura and Invercargill. 4th - Some heavy rain in north and west of North Island and northwest of South Island, including thunderstorms in Waikato, offshore Bay of Plenty, and Marlborough. Slip blocks rail-line just north of Hokitika. Cold southerly change spreading over South Island, with snow on the ranges. Kaikoura drops from 22C to 13C in afternoon. 5th - Some heavy rain at first in north of North Island, with minor slips and flooding reported in Wellington and Taumaranui. Cold, showery south to southwest flow spreading over most of NZ by later in day, with snow on ranges of both islands. Only 11C maximum in Masterton. Thunder and hail in many parts of northern and central NZ. Tornado in South Auckland (blowing roof off storage unit), and waterspout seen offshore from Nelson. 6th-8th - Cold southwesterly flow strengthens again from late on 6th, before easing on 8th. Further snow on the ranges, plus scattered hail. Winds reach gale in exposed eastern areas of South Island on 7th. 17th - Cold southerlies spread over South Island, with snow lowering on the high country. Only 10C maximum in Invercargill. Change reaches lower North Island from late afternoon. 18th - Unseasonably cold southerly flow over NZ. Snow in central North Island falling as low as 600m, with dustings on Desert Road and Waiouru. Snowfalls to low levels on South Island high country, as low as Hanmer and Te Anau. Wintry maximums include 4C in Waiouru, 7C in Ohakune, 8C at Takapau, and 10C in Taupo, Turangi, and Palmerston North. Downpour in Gisborne forces drivers to pull over and wait until rain eases. 19th - Frosty morning in many areas in wake of previous day's cold southerly. -3C minimum at Pukaki. Only 8C maximum at Milford Sound, thanks to cloud cover. 23rd - Warm in east of South Island, e.g. 25C maximum in Timaru, also Northland. (Kaikohe records a new April record maximum of 26C) Heavy rain on South Island West Coast. 24th - Some heavy rain in north of South Island, and southwest of North Island. 151mm recorded at North Egmont. 25th-28th - Storm brings very heavy rain and damaging gales to parts of North Island. (see details below) 29th - Frosty start to the day in many areas, with Hanmer recording an April record -5C minimum. 30th - Unseasonably warm in north of South Island. April records broken in Westport (28C) and Takaka. (25C) MAY 1st - Record late autumn heat in north and west of South Island. May records broken include 26C in Hokitika, 25C in Westport (both would be above normal even in mid summer!), 23C in Nelson, and 21C in Haast. New Plymouth also re-

9 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 9 cords an unseasonable 21C maximum, an equal highest for May. These exceptional temperatures are thanks to a warm northeasterly flow over NZ, further enhanced as a fohn wind on South Island West Coast. 2nd - Heavy rain and strong to gale-force winds developing in north of North Island, with flooding and slips reported in Northland and western Bay of Plenty. (102mm recorded in Te Puke) But there are also warm 21C-23C maximums in Northland; 21C also recorded in Wanganui and Kapiti. 3rd - Deadly tornado in Auckland. (see details below) Unseasonably warm in west and south of North Island. May records broken in Levin (24C) and Wanganui. (22C) Kaikohe records highest ever official May minimum of 17C. 4th - Foggy in many inland areas of South Island. Another warm day in northern and central areas, e.g. 23C maximum in Motueka, 22C in Whakatane, and 19C in Waiouru. May record high minimum of 18C at Hick's Bay. 5th - Foggy in many areas, especially Auckland and Waikato. Warm spell continues as northerly flow brings subtropical air down over North Island. 23C maximum in Kaikohe (equal highest for May), and 22C in Te Puke. 6th - Fohn easterlies bring more unseasonable temperatures to South Island West Coast, e.g. 21C maximum in Reefton. 7th - Yet more unseasonable 21-23C maximums in southwest of North Island. Combining with sunshine heating the ground, this triggers large thunderstorms around the Palmerston North area and Horowhenua. 7th/8th - Heavy rain (easing on 8th) causes flooding in parts of Otago and Canterbury. Flooding and slips worst around Otago Peninsula and Waimate. Records broken for May include 67mm in Alexandra, 62mm at Nugget Point, and 52mm in Ranfurly. Further north, rain is not so heavy in Canterbury, but causes some flooding in Sumner, Christchurch. (creating more problems for earthquake damaged properties) 11th - Northerly gales in Northland and Auckland; some trees blown over in western Auckland, and ferry trips between Auckland and Waiheke Island cancelled. However, the airflow over NZ is warm, with May record maximums of 23C at Ngawi and 22C in Ohakune. Milford Sound's maximum of 20C is due to wind tending more of a fohn northeasterly. 12th - Northwesterly gales in many eastern areas of South Island. Severe gales cause damage and several injuries in eastern Otago, including Dunedin. Many trees are blown over, and roads are closed or rendered hazardous Dunedin Airport is closed for a time. May record gust of 115 km/ph reached in Dunedin. Southwest Cape records 184 km/ph. 13th - Squally thunderstorms in west and north of South Island. Heavy overnight rain causes some flooding in eastern Bay of Plenty around Opotiki. 15th - Cold front crosses NZ, followed by strong, disturbed west to southwest flow over the country. Front delivers heavy rain to central NZ (May record total of 37mm in Wanganui) with some local flooding and slips about Wellington and Hutt Valley. Thunderstorms also extensive about central NZ. Small tornado damages homes and properties near Nelson, while other small tornadoes are reported to have felled trees about Wellington and the Kapiti Coast. Squally gales also lash the coasts in the far south. 16th - Westerly gales make roads hazardous in Southland. Cold in Fiordland, with Milford Road closed overnight by snow and only 6C maximum at Milford Sound. 17th - Westerly gales lash many areas, with damage in Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, and Nelson areas. Cold southwesterly change spreads over South Island, wi th snow showers on southern hills. Thunder and hail early afternoon on Banks Peninsula. 18th - Snow showers on central North Island high country down to level of Desert Road. 8cm recorded at Stratford Mountain House, Mt Taranaki. 19th/20th - Heavy rain (due to fronts within westerly flow) causes some flooding in Southland. 24th - Extensive morning fog in parts of central and northern North Island and east of South Island. Auckland and Christchurch airports both closed for a time. 25th - Warm 22C maximum in Ashburton, before cooler southerly replaces the warm northerly from later in afternoon. Heavy rain in north and west of South Island (123mm recorded in Takaka; 92mm in Greymouth), causing some flooding in Nelson and Golden bay areas. Heavy rain also in Taranaki and Northland, with 105mm recorded in Kerikeri and 289mm at North Egmont. 26th - More heavy rain results in flooding and slips in Nelson and Marlborough Sounds areas. Houses have to be evacuated in and around Nelson. Heavy rain also affects north and west of North Island, with flooding causing disruption in Waikato and Northland. Gales also caus e problems in some areas, especially about Wellington. Unusually warm overnight in many areas, e.g. 15C minimums in Hawera, Wanganui, and Takaka. 27th - 23C maximum in Napier, under northwesterly flow. 28th - Cold southwesterly flow brings overnight and early morning snow showers as low as about 300m in far south. MAJOR EVENTS 27th/28th December - Storm with damaging gales and heavy rain in many areas A vigorous trough and cold fronts delivered a short period of very stormy weather during these days, especially about central NZ, with very heavy rain in north of the South Island, and damaging gales in the southern North Island. A cold front had moved onto the South Island early on the 27th, but its progress was slowed down by an anticyclone to the northeast of the North Island. A moist, warm (32C maximum in Hastings) northwesterly flow lay between these two systems, with rainfall becoming heavy in the north and west of the South Island. As a low formed on the front in the far south, and as the front slowly pushed northeast, the rain became intense in the west and northwest of the South Island and other higher exposed parts of central NZ, especially Mt Taranaki. A one-day December record was broken in Takaka (171mm) and Mt Cook recorded a near record 313mm.

10 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 10 Several state highways and numerous smaller roads were closed in the north and west of the South Island by slips and flooding, with Golden Bay isolated for a time due to the closure of SH60. Two bridges were washed a way by floods in the Nelson region. As the low moved across the lower South Island, cooler undercutting southerlies also resulted in heavy rain in the south of the island on the same day. Monthly records were broken there too, including 55mm at Dunedin Airport, 85mm at Tara Hills, 43mm in Alexandra, and 49mm in Balclutha. Overnight 27th-28th, the low moved away to the east of the South Island and the front crossed central NZ. A period of severe northwesterly gales lashed the lower North Island just prior to the front, the winds downing trees and powerlines and closing some roads for a time. During the 28th, the whole system moved away to the east, with a cooler south to southwest flow spreading over NZ. There was some briefly heavy (and welcome) rain in parts of Canterbury for a while, but the weather generally eased over the country. Mean sea-level analyses for 1pm NZDT 27th December to 1am NZDT 29th December in 12 hour steps are shown here. 22nd-24th January - Deep low brings very heavy rain and gale to many parts of North Island A deep low of tropical origin (not a cyclone) swept down onto the North Island, dumping very heavy rain to many parts of the island, resulting in much damage. The weather was already very wet in the north and east of the North Island on the 22nd with a moist easterly flow over the island and a stationary front and trough just to the northeast. This system extended into the tropics (to near New Caledonia) where a low formed and deepened before moving south towards NZ. While technically not a tropical cyclone, this low had similar attributes as it pushed down onto the North Island by the 23rd. Rain and winds (northeasterly in the north and east to southeast in the south) intensified even more with the low's arrival. Flooding was widespread in the northern and central North Island as many rainfall records were broken. Roads were closed, while a Taupo camping ground had to be evacuated and the Waitomo Caves were closed because of nearby rivers flooding. In Auckland, the flooding was aggravated by a King Tide which resulted in the northern and northwes tern mo-

11 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 11 torways being closed. The January records broken included Taupo (113mm on 23rd), Turangi (124mm on 23rd), Whatawhata (80mm on 22nd), Te Kuiti (97mm on 23rd), and Stratford. (164mm on 23rd) During the 24th, the low moved well to the southeast of NZ, taking the severe weather with it, and leaving a light south to southwest flow over the North Island. Mean sea-level analyses for 1pm NZDT 22 January to 1pm NZDT 24th January in 12 hour steps are shown here. 28th/29th January - Cyclone Wilma lashes northeastern North Island with very heavy rain This ex-tropical cyclone only lashed the northeastern portion of the North Island, but caused a lot of damage there. The cyclone formed in tropical waters to the north of NZ during the 26th and 27th, but on the 28th it moved south before sweeping southeast across the northeastern coast of the island. This resulted in a period of very heavy rain and severe gales (between northeasterly and southerly depending on location) in exposed areas of the northeastern North Island from Northland to northern Hawkes Bay. Northland was first to be affected late on the 28th, with widespread power cuts and flooding of the waterfront at Paihia and Kerikeri isolated. The storm then lashed other northeastern areas overnight and into the 29th. Slips and flooding

12 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 12 blocked roads in Northland, the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty, with people having to be evacuated at Kaeo, Kawakawa, and Waihi Beach. High seas also pounded the coast, with heavy surf reaching normally sheltered coasts in the Hauraki Gulf. (A house crashed down a cliff after a retaining wall was washed away)\ Several January rainfall one-day records were broken on the 28th, including 130mm at Cape Reinga, 211mm in Whangarei, 220mm in Whitianga, and 175mm in Te Puke. During the 29th, Wilma quickly fizzled out about East Cape and it remains were incorporated into a trough crossing NZ linked to a much weaker low to the southeast of the South Island. (Which delivered some thunder and hail to parts of Canterbury) Mean sea-level analyses for 1pm NZDT 27th January to 1pm NZDT 29th January in 12 hour steps are shown here. 6th February - Heatwave in east of South Island Waitangi Day 2011 will be remembered for some record breaking high temperatures in east of South Island. The set-up for these high temperatures was an area of high pressure over and northeast of the North Island, and a trough and cold front moving onto the far south of the South Island. This resulted in a northwesterly flow over the South Island.

13 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 13 This is a common situation which causes high temperatures in the east of the island, but what was different about this day, was that the airflow came all the way from central Australia, where a cyclone had pushed moist tropical air from northern Queensland. This resulted in particularly warm air reaching the South Island in the northwesterly flow. Temperatures rose to above 30C in many eastern areas of both islands (Takaka also recorded a record 33C maximum), but in Canterbury the thermometers pushed into the high 30s in many places. Also, it reached over 40C in Timaru (41C in Timaru Gardens), breaking all-time records there. This is the only time in NZ other than during the record heatwave of February 1973 that temperatures more than 40C have been officially recorded in NZ. The approaching trough also brought some heavy rain about and west of the Southern Alps, with 245mm recorded at Mt Cook. Later in the day as the system moved onto the lower South Island, cooler undercutting air delivered heavy rain to Otago and Southland. Flooding affected parts of West and South Otago, with SH90 closed for a time. Several monthly records were broken, including 68mm in Alexandra, 64mm in Gore, and 63mm at Nugget Point. Mean sea-level analyses for 1pm NZDT 6th February to 1am NZDT 7th February in 12 hour steps are shown here. 25th-28th April - Storm brings very heavy rain and damaging gales to parts of North Island A complex low pressure system resulted in a period of severe gales and heavy rain to many parts of the North Island during this period, the worst affected area being central Hawkes Bay which suffered severe flooding. During the 25th, a low which had developed in the North Tasman Sea the day before, moved onto the north, with warm, subtropical air moving down over the North Island. Heavy rain developed in northern areas, with totals including 116mm in Te Puke and 70mm in Hamilton. On the same day, a cold southerly flow spread over the South Island, with air coming from the subantarctic. Methven and Gore shivered under wintry 6C maximums and light snow fell on the Canterbury foothills. These two systems inevitably clashed as the colder air reached the lower North Island late in the day. From then through the next two days, the low pressure system persistent over the north of the Island, breaking into two low centres on the 27th. The result was a very strong east to southeast flow over the central and southern North Island as well as the top of the South Island. Severe gales lashed many areas on the 26th, especially in the lee of the main ranges, with widespread damage. Trees fell onto roads, airports were closed, and power-cuts were widespread. Gusts recorded on the 26th included 89 km/ph in Hawera (a new April record) and Taupo, and 95 km/ph in Rotorua. Heavy rain fell in many northern and eastern areas during these days, with the east being particularly hard hit. Slips and flooding were widespread, especially in Hawkes Bay. The worst affected area was southeast of Hastings, where flooding forced evacuation from Te Awanga and many other places were isolated by blocked roads. Even in Napier, several homes had to be evacuated due to a slip, which also blocked the railway line. Many buildings were badly damaged and water had to be boiled to be safe for public use. Rainfall totals included 125mm in Napier on 26th and 128mm in Wairoa on 27th. Most of the South Island escaped the stormy weather, but cold air persisted over the island. Daytime maximums remained low on the east coast, with only 9C in Kaikoura and 8C at Le Bons Bay on the 27th. Inland, unseasonably heavy frosts were recorded in many places, with Queenstown recording a new April record low of -4C. During the 28th, the low pressure system gradually moved away to the north and northeast, with the rain easing in the east of the North Island. However, a period of thunderstorms dumped heavy rain in parts of Northland, with a lightning strike between Maungatapere and Kaikohe cutting power to a wide area for a time.

14 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 14 Mean sea-level analyses for midday NZST 25th April to midday NZST 28th April in 12 hour steps are shown here. 3rd May - Deadly tornado in Albany, Auckland A violent storm cell swept down over northern parts of Auckland during the afternoon, including a tornado which caused much damage and one fatality. A warm, moist and unstable northerly flow covered northern and central NZ on the 3rd, with a frontal system crossing the North Island during the afternoon, with thunderstorms in many areas. One particularly vigorous storm swept down over the North Shore and central Auckland. The tornado within this storm hit the Albany shopping centre, with signifi-

15 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 15 cant damage to several buildings and killed one worker at a building site. The tornado then cut a swathe south, damaging several houses before crossing the Waitemata Harbour and fizzling out near Point Chevalier. While tornadoes are not uncommon events in many areas of NZ, it was unfortunate that this one struck a busy urban area and killed someone. Mean sea-level analysis for midday NZST 3rd May is shown here. MONTHLY WEATHER NOTES FOR CHRISTCHURCH SUMMER AUTUMN 2010/11 DECEMBER A variety of weather patterns affected the area this month, though there was a predominance of dry, sunny weather. There were some periods of northwesterlies and very warm temperatures, the winds reaching gale-force on the 21st and 22nd. By contrast, there was a cold spell from the 6th-9th, with southerly winds and well below normal daytime temperatures, but only delivering some light showers and drizzle. Scattered thunder and hail were reported in parts of Canterbury on the 24th, but not in Christchurch. Some briefly heavy rain did fall in the city on the 28th. JANUARY Onshore flows predominated this month, resulting in often cooler than normal daytime temperatures, though nights were mild. The second half of the month was more changeable than the first half. Wet weather on the 18th and overnight 22nd pushed the monthly total to above normal; some light rain and drizzle occurred on some other occasions. FEBRUARY While the month ended about average overall, there was a contrast between the warm, sunny weather of the first half and the cooler, cloudy conditions later in the month. (overshadowed of course by the devastating earthquake of the 22nd) The main weather event of note during the month was the heat of the 6th, where temperatures reached the mid thirties in the city, while Timaru recorded a record 41C. The heatwave was due to a northwesterly flow originating from central Australia. MARCH This was a relatively normal month as far as temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine were concerned, though typically it was varied. Northeasterly winds were predominant, with several southerly changes. The most significant was on the 5th-6th, with a period of rain on the 5th, followed by showers with some hail the next day. Snow blanketed the Alps. Briefly heavy rain also lashed the city on the evening of the 27th, with strong southerlies. While these rain events (also those in April and May) were not significant in themselves, they resulted in surface flooding in eastern parts of the city affected by liquefaction fro m the February earthquake. APRIL Cooler than normal temperatures were a feature of April 2011, with three spells of cold southerly weather. The first, fro m the 4th -7th, brought some hail on the 4th, snow on the Alps, and southwesterly gales on the morning of the 6th. An even colder southerly outbreak occurred on the 17th/18th, with some briefly heavy rain and hail. Snow was low down on the inland high country, blanketing Hanmer for a time, plus a brief dusting on higher parts of Banks Peninsula. The third cold spell from the 25th-29th, brought lighter showers and snow on the foothills, but as the weather cleared by the 28th, it left three mornings with frost in Christchurch. MAY While April may have given an early foretaste of winter, May turned out to be one of the city's warmest on record. Frequent low pressure systems in the Tasman Sea resulted in mo re northerly flo ws than normal. In Christchurch, the flow was generally nort h- easterly, with daytime temperatures nearer normal, but nights much warmer than average. A break in this pattern occurred from the 15th-18th, when a strong west to southwest flow covered NZ. The Christchurch area was largely unaffected, except on the early afternoon of the 17th, when thunder and hail affected parts of Banks Peninsula and a few areas in the city. Brief evening hail was reported in New Brighton on the 28th. The last three nights were colder, with frosts, as a much lighter west to southwest flow predominated.

16 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 16 Passengers rescued off Wellington ferry SINEAD BOUCHER, STACEY WOOD AND PAUL EASTON 2 Mar The Stricken East by West Ferry off Seatoun, Wellington. A passenger was swept overboard after a Wellington ferry was swamped by a large wave this morning. Police said all 43 passengers and the captain had been rescued from the East by West ferry, which broke down off Worser Bay in Wellington Harbour about 8.40am. Passenger Mark Blackham said he was sitting behind the ferry's driver when a "massive" wave smashed a window and showered the driver with glass and water. At one point a passenger fell overboard and was drifting away, but was rescued by the police vessel Lady Elizabeth IV, he said. Severe gales had been forecast for Wellington and southern Wairarapa this morning but should ease this afternoon, MetService said. (abridged) Buoy off track PIERS FULLER Wairarapa News 2 Mar DISCOVERY: Masterton District emergency management officer, Paul Walker, with the MetService observation buoy that washed up at Riversdale Beach. A MetService drifting buoy found washed up on a Wairarapa beach is giving valuable insight into weather conditions and the way the currents move in the oceans off New Zealand shores. Manager of Marine Observations, Julie Fletcher, said it was a surface velocity pressure buoy, part of the Global Drifter Programme (GDP), which transmits real-time sea temperature and air pressure data. Ocean current information is derived from its drift. The buoy is part of an array of 1250 buoys which covers the globe. Met- Service has a partnership with the United States GDP to deploy the buoys east and south of New Zealand. "It was unusual for a buoy deployed to the east of New Zealand to wash up on a Riversdale Beach, because normally the currents push them eastwards towards South America," she says. This was probably due to the current La Nina weather pattern with stronger easterly winds. The recovered buoy was taken back to Wellington and it is being redeployed, this time in the Tasman Sea. MetService also maintains a network of nine drifting buoys in the Tasman Sea to the west of New Zealand. The data transmitted from the buoys is used for day-to-day weather forecasting and also long-term climate research. (Abridged) Water spout spotted at Mount Kiri Gillespie 2nd March 2011 Daily Post The water spout at Mount Maunganui was an amazing spectacle for cruise ship tourists and locals

17 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 17 yesterday. Photo / Ben Van Toledo The words "water spout" were on the lips of all who caught a glimpse of the weird weather phenomenon off the coast of Mount Maunganui yesterday. Metservice forecaster Gerard Barrow said water spouts were basically tornadoes but at sea. "Instead of dust and debris being sucked into the vortex, you get water." Yesterday's water spout was considered to be a weak one as it was skinny, Mr Barrow said. Water spouts usually form when warm air is forced upwards, through winds changing direction and heavy rain. (abridged) Christchurch earthquake: Recovery hampered by weather BBC 2 march 2011 Rescuers are using face masks to protect themselves from the silt and sand. Strong winds and dust storms are hampering recovery work as the search for the bodies of those killed by last week's devastating earthquake in Christchurch continues. Residents have been using face masks as strong winds - up to 70km/h (44mph) - have whipped up the silt and debris coating the streets of the city, the centre of which remains unstable. 'Farmy Army' Radio New Zealand reported that last Tuesday's quake brought an estimated 200,000 tonnes of silt to the surface of the city, more than half of which has been cleared away. However, the strengthening north-westerly winds have been drying the silt and kicking up clouds of dust, it said. Student volunteers and about 600 farmers - calling themselves the Farmy Army - were on the streets helping clear away more of the silt.(abridged) NEW dust graphs for Christchurch city MetService Blog 4 March 2011 Over the past couple of days we ve been working on an easy-to-understand indicator of the risk of wind-driven dust clouds in and around Christchurch city. To our knowledge, no-one s tried this before. These dust graphs are now live on metservice.com so that the people of Christchurch, emergency services, lifelines and others have more information to help them deal with the very trying circumstances they continue to face. As these graphs are a totally new feature on our website, please bear with us while we monitor them over the weekend for any technical problems. This shouldn t affect any other information on metservice.com. Besides wind speed, there are many factors that influence how much dust gets into the air and how long it stays there. Most of these are not easily quantified; however, we can identify (a) when the wind gets strong enough to raise dust (gusts of about 28km/h) and (b) when rain is likely. We hope you find this new information useful and we look forward to your feedback on Twitter or to MetService New Zealand on Facebook Key Central Otago site to provide climate data CHE BAKER IN ALEXANDRA,Southland Times 4 mar FROM ACROSS THE WORLD: Lauder Niwa atmospheric processes group manager Paul Johnston discusses a tracking antenna with climate scientists Dian Seidel, of Washington DC, and Michael Som-

18 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 18 mer of Germany, with the measuring dome at the Lauder Atmospheric and Climate Research Centre in the background. A centre in Lauder is set to become an integral part of a new global network to improve research into climate change. More than 30 international experts in climate science are in New Zealand to discuss the launch of the network called the GCOS Reference Upper Air Network (Gruan). Gruan would improve the quality of measurements taken of upper air climate variables and increase the accuracy of estimates of how changes in the global climate could be attributed to human activities, natural factors or a combination of both, Mr Johnston said. The monitoring network was made up of 15 sites across the world from Alaska to New Zealand. At each site climate variables such as temperature, water vapour, pressure, wind speed, wind direction and ozone levels would be recorded using sensor packages carried by a balloon up to 30km above the earth. New Zealand's permanent representative with the world metrological organisation Neil Gordon, of Wellington, said for people who did not believe in climate change the calibrations the scientists at the conference would put together through the network would be the most accurate data available. German meteorologist Holger Voemel, of Lindenberg, said the atmospheric research gathered at Lauder played a large role in international data collection. It had been a pleasure to visit the centre as it was one of the most important stations in the network because it nearly represented half of the world, Mr Voemel said. - The Southland Times Creepy crawlies plague the Bay Hawkes Bay Today 5 March Fleas can cause serious problems for your pets so it's best to stop them in their tracks. Warm weather has brought with it an infestation of bugs and big business for those who kill them. (Abridged) Rotorua has nearly all March rain in one week Daily Post 7 March Rotorua has had three-quarters of its normal March rainfall in the first week. Rotorua weatherman Brian Holden said after the weekend's heavy rain the total rainfall for the month so far was 92mm. The average rainfall for March was 117mm. Most of the rain - 82mm - had fallen between 8am on Friday and 8am yesterday. Meanwhile, Environment Waikato has issued an alert about rising river and lake levels following a heavy rain warning from MetService. Between 120mm and 170mm of rainfall had been expected across the Central North Island during the weekend. (Abridged) Christchurch earthquake: Rain the last straw for ruptured drains By Anna Leask Herald 7 Mar c_id=1&objectid= Jan and Marty Westerink's Parklands Street is back under water again after overnight rain. Photo / Sarah Ivey Residents in Rue De La Mare were just starting to get

19 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 19 on top of things after the Christchurch quake, and then the rain came. The quiet Parklands street in eastern Christchurch was submerged in silt and water after the earthquake 13 days ago and as the rain poured down over the city yesterday, the floodwaters returned. Water washed up over kerbs in Avondale as council workers and emergency services battled to keep it away from already-damaged homes. Roads were closed and residents shovelled furiously, trying to clear drains in a bid to get the water off the street and out of their living rooms. (Abridged) Mountain gets a dusting Taranaki Daily News 7 March You might have seen the snow on Mt Taranaki this morning, but don't expect it to last for long. Today's temperature is expected to reach 18 degrees and New Plymouth is expecting fine, warm weather for the rest of the week. However, the over-night dusting gave many a reminder that summer is officially over and we are one week into autumn. Several mainly Taranaki people professed their disgust for the cold on twitter and other social media sites today with most comments resembling something along the lines of "OMG I am so cold. Pj pants still on, slipper sock, and Brothers old FILA jersey. It's frickin cold!! Stoopid snow." - Taranaki Daily News Eerie sight sparks fears of tornado (+ photos) NZ Herald Wednesday Mar 9, news/article.cfm? c_id=1&objectid= Brett Agnew took this picture of a funnel cloud over the skies of Pakuranga. Several nzherald.co.nz readers have been sending in photos of what appears to be a tornado forming over

20 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 20 South Auckland. MetService forecaster Paul Mallinson says it is, in fact, a funnel cloud, which forms on a seabreeze convergence - when an easterly meets a westerly. Mr Mallinson says the cloud is consistent with conditions and not particularly unusual. WeatherWatch.co.nz's head weather analyst Philip Duncan says this evening's funnel cloud was caused by a mixture of cooler air and warmer air moving in different directions at different altitudes. "The different temperatures and airflows caused the clouds to rotate, producing a funnel cloud." As it is now dissipating, the funnel cloud is unlikely to become a tornado. "By definition, it's a funnel cloud in the air and if it reaches the ground, you start thinking about calling it a tornado," says Mr Mallinson. "If it had touched down on the surface and it formed over water, it might have formed a water spout." - NZ Herald staff Heavy rain could cause flooding tonight and tomorrow Herald 5:44 PM Monday Mar 21, People in northern and eastern areas of the North Island are being advised to take precautions as heavy rains threaten to sweep across those regions tonight and tomorrow, with a possibility of flooding in coastal and low-lying areas. A MetService severe weather warning has been lifted for Auckland but remains in place for Northland, Coromandel, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty and has been extended to include Hawke's Bay, where up to 100mm of rain is possible today and Tuesday morning. MetService predicted between 100 and 150mm of rain to fall about the ranges in Bay of Plenty in the 15 hours starting about 9pm today, with 70 to 100mm possible elsewhere in the region. Rains there could reach between 25 and 40mm per hour on Tuesday morning. Thames-Coromandel District Council civil defence manager Ron White said rain in Coromandel would be probably be intense, with 120 to 180mm expected to fall about the ranges, and 70 to 100mm elsewhere in the region. "If it's very short then that's okay, but if it goes on for a longer time we could have problems. At the end of January we had $6.5 million worth of roading damage and that's what we're very susceptible to," Mr White said. "There's a chance that it may not be any more than a normal rain event, but having said that, I've said that before and then it turns nasty on you." Northland Regional Council civil defence officer Graeme MacDonald said it was unlikely the rain would cause any significant problems there, but the council had made contact with owners of properties which tended to flood during these weather events. WeatherWatch.co.nz warned people to be aware of rising streams and rivers. Heavy rain, coupled with a large full moon, strong winds, lowering air pressure and high-running streams and rivers could also create minor coastal flooding, Weatherwatch said. NZPA Floodwaters recede but towns remain cut off By Paul Harper NZ Herald. Tuesday Mar 22, The scene where a large tree fell onto a house in Parnell, Auckland. Photo / NZPA Towns around the Coromandel Peninsula have been cut off from each other as flooding from heavy rain sweeps across the North Island. Floodwaters have receded, but State Highway 2 remains impassable at Opoutere, Hikuai/ Settlement Rd, Hot Water Beach Rd, Whitianga at Wades Culvert, Te Rerenga and Manaia. As of 11.30am, residents could not travel from Thames to Tairua, Pauanui or Whangamata, from Thames

21 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 21 to Coromandel township, Tairua to Whitianga, and from Whitianga to Coromandel township, the Thames Coromandel District Council said. A Parnell family had to clamber over a fallen oak tree to get out of their house this morning. In the 24 hours up until 8am this morning, 32mm of rain fell in Whangarei; 46mm in Whangaparaoa; 25mm at Auckland Airport; 143mm in Whitianga; 147mm at The Pinnacles in the Coromandel Ranges; 56mm in Tauranga; 30mm in Rotorua; 49mm in Whakatane, and 67mm in Gisborne. But heavy rain warnings remain in place for Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, Met- Service said. Forecaster Geoff Sanders said rain was continuing to fall steadily this morning in Gisborne at 2.5mm an hour. MetService warned the rainfall could lead to slips and swollen rivers and coupled with very high tides could threaten to cause surface flooding in low lying coastal areas. - with NZPA and NEWSTALK ZB (Abridged) Slips and floods leave motorists stranded to close. (Abridged) By James Ihaka and Edward Gay, NZ Herald 23 Mar article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid= SH25 in Coromandel was flooded. Photo / Christine Cornege Heavy rain in the Coromandel yesterday left dozens of motorists frustrated by slips and road closures but MetService says the worst of the bad weather is over. Emergency services on the Coromandel Peninsula had few callouts despite a deluge that brought up to 200mm of rain to parts of the region and forced several roads Downpour swamps Wellington TVNZ/Newstalk ZB 27 Mar Dozens of emergency crews were kept busy around Wellington this afternoon after a sudden downpour flooded properties and ripped up roads. MetService says around 39 millimetres of rain fell just north of the capital in less than an hour. Titahi Bay street was hit for the second time in as many months and the sheer force of the water tore up sections of the road. Stormwater systems from Johnsonville to Kapiti fail, and flood waters sweep through properties and across roads. - with Newstalk ZB (Abridged)

22 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 22 Tropical cyclone heading for NZ NZ Herald 28 March 2011 By James Ihaka and Edward Gay nzherald.co.nz/metservice/news/ article.cfm?o_id=112&objectid= TC Bune on Google Earth Tropical Cyclone Bune is making its way down to New Zealand and is expected to pass to the east of the country from Wednesday. The eye of the storm is expected to pass directly over Raoul Island in the Kermadec group tonight, MetService forecasted. MetService Weather Ambassador Bob McDavitt said Department of Conservation staff on the island have been given warnings of the storms progress since Saturday. "At present the system has torrential rain and sustained winds of around 110km/h gusting 160km/h near the centre, enough to knock over weak trees and cause minor structural damage," Mr McDavitt said.. Bune is expected to move slowly southwards, out to the east of New Zealand, over the next few days. On Wednesday heavy rain and a southeast gale may affect the northern Gisborne area, Mr McDavitt said, and there is some chance that these conditions will spread to northern Hawke's Bay on Thursday. "Long-period swells associated with the system are likely to cause problems," said McDavitt. "Cyclone swells are expected to start arriving on eastern shores from Northland to western Bay of Plenty, and in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, on Tuesday. "On Wednesday and possibly also Thursday as well, waves will probably be large enough in some places to pose a danger to swimmers, cause coastal erosion and test the soundness of moorings." Boat owners along the East Coast are advised to check their moorings beforehand - NZ Herald staff Pictures show unusual cloud formation The Press 31 march The odd cloud formation over State Highway 1. This strange cloud formation was spotted on State Highway 1 on Tuesday evening. According to Indira Hope, who sent in the photos, many people stopped their cars to take photos or videos. Hope said there was no smell of smoke and no factory in site and asked The Press to source an explanation for this occurrence... MetService Weather Ambassador Bob McDavitt said the formation could be explained by a change in weather conditions. "This long roll of cumulus cloud marks the western trailing edge of a cold front whose main clouds are offshore. Air moisture is being cooled and condensed into cloud as a brief southerly wind change makes its way across an anticyclone." The Press (Abridged)

23 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 23 Wild weather lifts roof trapping man Stuff 05/04/ Wild-weather-lifts-roof-trapping-man GRAHAME COX/Stuff A large section of roof at a south Auckland storage facility was ripped off by a tornado this afternoon, trapping one person. One person had to be freed from debris after a mini tornado blew a roof off a south Auckland building, landing on top of another storage unit and trapping a man inside. It was the latest weather-related incident in a day which brought heavy rain to Christchurch, Bay of Plenty and the lower North Island. MetService forecaster Oliver Druce said the front had passed over the north of the country but cold southerlies were still expected to bring showers in the next two days. The weather caused minor flooding across the Wellington region, slips in Taumarunui and the Wellington suburb of Seatoun, and a handful of minor crashes. - BELINDA MCCAMMON, Stuff and NZPA (abridged) Wet weather causes crashes and slips By Paul Harper and NZPA / NZ Herald Tuesday Apr 5, c_id=1&objectid= / Wanganui Chronicle Wet weather lashing New Zealand has caused slips and crashes overnight, with one car flipping onto its roof and a van ending up wedged on a median barrier. MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the Bay of Plenty, with 15-20mm forecast for Whakatane for the two hours from 9am. There's also been surface flooding just south of Levin across part of State Highway One. In Paraparaumu 44mm fell from 8pm to 8am this morning, MetService said. By Paul Harper and NZPA (abridged) Misty Wellington weather causes multiple crashes Herald Saturday Apr 16, Central police communications Sergeant Andy Dow said the wet, misty weather was keeping police busy. Two people were injured when a truck and bus collided on Kuku Beach Road, just south of Levin, about 2pm, central police communications team leader Kirsty Henson said. NZPA (abridged) Autumn snow in south Southland Times 18/04/ FEELING THE COLD: Sheep cluster together after a snowfall on state highway 94 between Mossburn and Te Anau.

24 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 24 Rural parts of Otago and Southland above 400m woke to a dusting of snow this morning. The Remarkables skifield reported 10cm of fresh snow this morning. - The Southland Times (Abridged) BARRY HARCOURT/The Southland Times Winter arrives with a hiss and a roar BRONWYN TORRIE 19/04/2011 Stuff/ Dominion Post KARL DICKSON Snow falls at the National Army Museum in Waiourou, on State Highway 1. The icy blast bringing gale-force winds, squally showers and snow is expected to clear by midweek but the fine weather is not likely to linger during Easter. Gusts strong enough to lift roofs and topple powerlines and trees swept across much of New Zealand yesterday, with reports of hail and thunder in pockets of the country. Wellington and the Wairarapa coast were hit with southerly gales, with gusts of up to 120kmh, and high tides caused surface flooding along Marine Dr in Eastbourne. Eastern areas up and down the country were battered by strong winds. Dustings of snow and sleet fell on the central North Island as temperatures plummeted, making driving conditions on the Desert Road greasy, MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said. Rural parts of Otago and Southland above 400 metres woke to a dusting of snow yesterday, while the Remarkables ski-field reported 10 centimetres of fresh snow. Waiouru was the coldest spot in the North Island, recording a low of 0 degrees Celsius on Sunday night. Snow fell to 1500 metres on Mt Ruapehu but not enough to create a base at Whakapapa and Turoa ski-fields. - The Dominion Post (Abridged) Heavy rain causes flooding in Christchurch Tuesday April 19, 2011 Source: Fairfax/ONE News The Avon River breaches its banks - Source: Victoria Rasmussen A high tide following a period of heavy rain brought surface flooding to quake-damaged parts of Christchurch earlier tonight. Flooding was reported around New Brighton and the Avon River at Dallington and Avonside.

25 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 25 More slips on Mauao (Mount Maunganui) Bay of Plenty Times Genevieve Helliwell 27th April Heavy rain has caused new slips on Mauao (Mt. Maunganui)o. Photo / Supplied. The four-wheel-drive summit track has been hit the hardest and is now partially closed and there is a new slip on the base track. (Abridged) 'Mini tornado' as strong winds, rain batter country Stuff 26/04/ A squashed garage in Te Awamutu following high winds. (Abridged) - Waikato Times, Dominion Post, Stuff, Marlborough Express and NZPA Gale-force fury lashes North Island By Amelia Wade Wednesday Apr 27, c_id=1&objectid= A car crushed by a falling branch in Hamilton during yesterday's wild weather, which brought devastation to many central North Island areas. Photo / Christine Cornege (abridged) Radio NZ 26april P o w e r c u t s i n T a u p o Severe winds have knocked out power to several places in the North Island, including all of Taupo. The lines company, Unison, says about 15 thousand people are without electricity in the town after four substations feeding the town lost their supply. What is thought to be a small tornado has ripped three roofs from properties in Picton as strong winds affect large parts of the North Island.

26 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 26 Small tornado in Picton as storms hit NI The affected properties are in the Picton suburb of Waikawa and police, fire service personnel and builders are dealing with the damage. Copyright 2011, Radio New Zealand (abridged) Wild weather in Waikawa Marlborough Express 10:51 26/04/ Wild-weather-in-Waikawa BEN CURRAN - Roofs blown off houses down Ranui Rd in Picton. A twister swept through Waikawa near Picton this morning, tearing at least one roof from a house and leaving the iron lying metres up a nearby hillside. (abridged) Homes damaged by twisters TANIA BUTTERFIELD Marlborough express 27/04/ At least five homes were damaged by a series of mini-tornadoes that struck Picton during stormy weather yesterday. (Abridged) - The Marlborough Express Wild weather system 'worse than Bola' By Paul Harper and Hayden Donnell Herald Tuesday Apr 26, Heavy rain overnight has brought flooding and slips to much of the top half of the North Island. Photo / Richard Robinson Te Awamutu is one area taking a battering from the extreme gusts of wind, with deputy fire station officer Murray Gillard describing it as more severe than the destructive 1988 Cyclone Bola. "Anything that's not tied down is blown away," he told Newstalk ZB. "I've been in the brigade when Cyclone Bola came through, and I think this one's a bit worse than Bola because we've had more calls with this one." MetService has issued severe weather warnings for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay for tonight and tomorrow. "These warnings are the result of a strong southeast flow lying sandwiched between a slow moving low close to Auckland and a large intense high over the South Island," Mr McDavitt said. (Abridged)

27 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 27 More heavy rain for flood-hit Hawke's Bay (+ photos) By Amelia Wade, Paul Harper, TRN and NZPA Wednesday Apr 27, news/article.cfm? c_id=1&objectid= Ross Hardy and his son Connor Hardy, make their way out of Leyland Street, Te Awanga near Hastings. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today About 60 residents of coastal settlements in the Hawke's Bay are being evacuated today because of flooding. The extreme weather has caused flooding and slips in three Hawke's Bay coastal settlements: Waimarama, Clifton and Te Awanga. Inspector Dean Clifford told NZPA the army had been called in and were evacuating people from the coastal township of Te Awanga. By Amelia Wade, Paul Harper, TRN and NZPA (abridged) Hawke's Bay storm: Services swamped with slips and floods Hawkes bay today 27th April A slip in Hawke's Bay following heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Photo / Supplied Related Gallery (Abridged) Hawke's Bay farmers face losses after floods Herald Thursday Apr 28, 2011 A house sits on the edge of a large slip on Breakwater Road, Napier. Photo / NZPA Hawke's Bay farmers face stock losses as rain continues to pound the region. Federated Farmers said a number of inland farms had been severely inundated and stock had almost certainly been lost. Farms well inland from Napier had been drenched by 200mm of rain with one station near Waipawa, recording 500mm, its statement said. "At this early stage it does seem to be a major, if geographically tight, adverse event." Dennis Bell, who has farmed close to Aramoana Beach for 41 years, said the flooding was "devastating". "My father showed me photos of the famous 1938 flood - and this is far worse," Mr Bell told Hawkes Bay Today. Major slips on State Highway 2, between Napier and Wairoa, have forced the closure of the road in the wake of heavy rain and flooding in Hawke's Bay. - Newstalk ZB, NZPA, Hawkes Bay Today, NZ Herald staff (abridged)

28 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 28 Huge slip forces Napier hill evacuations Hawkes Bay Today CAITLIN NOBES AND HEATHER MCCRACKEN 28th April Massive slip onto Breakwater road beside the Port of Napier from Napier Hill. Photo / Warren Buckland Eighteen homes were evacuated this morning after a massive slip on Bluff Hill, blocking Napier's Breakwater Rd. (Abridged) Weather bomb cuts off Mahia Gisborne Herald Thursday, April 28, 2011 Jessica Wauchop type=article&id=22485 MAHIA was blocked off and Wairoa remained nearly completely isolated as heavy rain and wind continued to drench the district today. (Abridged) Floods bring mud misery in Central Hawke's Bay MORGAN TAIT Hawkes Bay Today 29th April EVACUEES: Residents airlifted from coastal areas arrive at the Civil Defence Welfare Centre at Russell Park Photo / Glenn Taylor A state of emergency remained in place this morning in Central Hawke's Bay as residents in coastal settlements were left coming to terms with the devastation wrought by this week's storm. In Pourerere, homes have been lost, metres of mud left behind by flood waters, and the terrain is ravaged and inaccessible due to thousands of slips cutting off access to properties and livestock. Clean up starts: "We've lost it all" By Amy Shanks Hawkes Bay Today 30th April Coastal parts of Waimarama were underwater, with the settlement cut off and without power. Photo / Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Devastation, frustration, helplessness and loss were written on the faces of Waimarama residents living in Gillies Crescent, as they tried to put their lives back together after floodwater ravaged their homes. (Abridged)

29 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 29 Hawke's Bay hit by massive weather bomb Hawke s Bay Today 3rd May A rain radar picture taken 26 April shows the massive low across the central and eastern North Island. Photo / Metservice Being stuck in the "squash zone" between two lows and a high resulted in a massive deluge across Hawke's Bay last week. The rain system was pushed downwards by two lows in the north, and pushed north from below by a large high across the South Island, leaving it stalled in a narrow band over Hawke's Bay. "It was very unusual circumstances," Metservice weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said. "That sort of rain really only occurs in a system like Bola, but last week the focused rain was only over a very small area." That resulted in record-breaking rainfalls around the region, with triple the normal rainfall for April in Napier, most of it in just two days. The rain gauge at Hawke's Bay Airport recorded 247mm of rain, its second-highest April total since records began for the site in Wairoa recorded 333mm of rainfall in April, its highest for the month since records started in Hawke's Bay Regional Council gauges show rural and coastal areas were even harder hit. Pukeorapa Station, near Wairoa, received 218mm last Tuesday, and a total of 372 over four days. Kotemaori received 214mm in one day. Storm battering gets fierce By Amelia Wade Herald Monday May 2, c_id=1&objectid= The damage to land in Central Hawkes Bay has been described as 'huge'. Photo / NZPA Hawkes Bay is still in a state of a emergency as the clean-up of landslips and flooding continues. The wild weather forced the evacuation of more than 100 people from 14 coastal communities. Central Hawkes Bay Mayor Peter Butler said last week's storms had "ruined the region" and the cleanup would take more than six months. By Amelia Wade (Abridged) Volunteer 'farmy army' suggested for Hawke's Bay Updated at 1:42pm on 2 May 2011 RNZ suggested-for-hawke%27s-bay Officials in Hawkes Bay will push for last week's storm to be declared a medium scale adverse event, and want to organise a volunteer teams of local farmers to help with the clean up.up to 100 farms in a 5km-wide strip of coastal land between Cape Kidnappers and Porangahau have lost large areas of grazing land, along with stock, fences, roads and dams from slips and flooding. Huge landslides have damaged coastal farmland. PHOTO: Central Hawke's Bay District Council Copyright 2011, Radio New Zealand (Abridged)

30 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 30 Fog shrouded Wellington harbour 03/05/2011 Dom Post Wellington-harbour A small vessel makes its way towards thick fog at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. The moan of fog horns sounded across Wellington Harbour today as thick fog obscured vision in the busy shipping lanes. (Abridged) New deluge expected to follow record fall Tuesday May 3, 2011 Herald A tree was brought down by high winds onto a beach cottage. Photo / Paul Estcourt One bout of wet weather is expected to replace another as the North Island continues to be doused by heavy rainfall. Rain clouds are moving south, towards Gisborne, but are forecast to mercifully miss the badly hit Central Hawkes Bay area. MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said some areas were still wet from last week's stormy weather: "Slips and surface flooding are more likely than normal, producing hazardous driving conditions. But Hawkes Bay isn't in the firing line this time." The country will get only a temporary respite when the low departs - another low is forecast to arrive tomorrow, bringing cooler westerly winds and squally showers from the west. (Abridged) One man dead as tornado wreaks havoc in Auckland Published: 3:13PM Tuesday May 03, 2011 Source: ONE News The tornado that ripped through Auckland today sounded like a "747 was flying right overhead", a witness says. One man was killed in the tornado which struck first in Albany about 3pm. More than a dozen people suffered injuries, some of which were critical, as the twister left a trail of destruction in Auckland suburbs. One eyewitness said the tornado came within 200 metres of a school. The Fire Service said 74 calls for help were made, while the police responded by sending at least 15 units to the North Shore. About a dozen cars were overturned by the tornado with people trapped inside, Inspector Gary Davey, Acting Commander for the Waitemata Police District, said.

31 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 31 Tornado terror: Man hurled to death By Mathew Dearnaley, Nicholas Jones, Edward Gay, Amelia Wade, Elizabeth Binning, Anna Leask and Michael Dickison 5:30 AM Wednesday May 4, 2011 Herald c_id=1&objectid= An injured baby is carried by a St John medic to an ambulance after the tornado struck Albany. Photo / Sarah Ivey The man killed in a devastating tornado was hurled into the air by 200km/h winds from an Albany building site and slammed into a concrete carpark, witnesses say. "Debris, metal and cars were flying through the air - they were just picked up and tossed around like it was nothing and thrown back down." Fourteen people, including several children, were injured. The dead man and two of the severely injured victims worked for Fletcher Construction and were at the old PlaceMakers building when the tornado hit. Across the carpark, a 5-month-old girl and two other children were injured when the car they were in was turned upside down, its windscreen smashed and bonnet ripped off. Mr Grey said two men were working on the roof of the building when the swirling wind tore through. "The sky split - there was light on one side and clouds on the other, then the wind started spiralling. "It picked the men up and they were thrown high into the air and were tossed about. "Then they fell back down and slammed into the carpark." Mr Grey and Mr Ellington ran across the road and saw several people lying among the debris. "There was blood everywhere," Mr Ellington said. "A group of people huddled around one of the workers... They were trying to do CPR - but then all sense of emergency stopped and I knew he was dead." The PlaceMakers carpark was the worst-hit area, but the tornado continued its rampage from Albany south. It was only a matter of minutes, but the terror struck thousands of Aucklanders. Road closures caused havoc with evening rush-hour traffic, and sirens of emergency vehicles speeding among the damage blared across the city. Richard Turner stood awestruck as the tornado picked up cars, flinging them skyward; Helena Campbell returned to her car to find it crushed and 100m away from where it had been parked. (Abridged) The path of the Auckland tornado Tuesday May 03, 2011 Source: ONE News A tornado struck Albany on Auckland's North Shore this afternoon at about 3pm, causing damage, injuries and death before heading south. This is the path the tornado took -: The tornado appeared to begin around the Albany Megacentre and Westfield Malls. It took parts of the roof off at Farmers and damaged the old Placemakers building. It came down through Rosedale area. Vehicles and buildings were damaged there. Roofs came off in Unsworth Heights area, a residential area of the North Shore. It then went down through Kaipatiki Road, where Glenfield College is situated. Also in Glenfield a power station was damaged and power knocked out.

32 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 32 From there the tornado went to Birkenhead and Beach Haven where more trees were taken out. It tracked a path down to Chelsea Sugar Factory and at that point crossed the harbour. It went airborne at that point and dispersed. Closing the Harbour Bridge was considered but then decided to be unnecessary. Forecasters had no warning of chaos By Mathew Dearnaley Herald Wednesday May 4, A wrecked car in the carpark outside Placemakers at the Albany Mega Centre. Photo / Brett Phibbs Yesterday's savage tornado caught weather forecasters by surprise, even though they had been prepared for thunderstorms - a necessary condition for twisters. MetService forecaster Andy Downs said lower-atmosphere winds detected by weather balloons sent up from Whenuapai before the tornado did not appear to be rotating enough for such an event to develop. "It's a hard one to call because we normally need to have a bit more rotation in the winds." He could only assume that hilly terrain between Whangaparaoa Peninsula and Albany had given the air enough rotation to produce a strong updraft of moist, warm air to collide with cooler conditions from the low-pressure front bringing in thunderstorms. "Any thunderstorm can maybe produce a smaller tornado, but this one was on the higher side - normally we would need a bit more wind shear." "This was bigger, and we need to have a look back at it," Mr Downs said. "It tended to lack the conditions we would expect, which is why we can only assume the key component is the terrain. "It is warm moist air that helps to generate a thunderstorm, but the updrafts have to be fairly strong and we also need rotation." He said Whangaparaoa Peninsula stuck out in the Hauraki Gulf in such a way that air flow over its hills could create low-level swirling winds, which combined with strong updrafts, could create tornado conditions. Auckland climate scientist Jim Salinger and WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan estimated from video images of the tornado and the damage it left that it would have been twisting at 200km/h or more. That put it at a force of 2 on zero-to-5-point scale. Mr Duncan said that was consistent with reports of cars and roofs being lifted and trees being uprooted. His website had received a report from a Beach Haven resident of pink building insulation raining down on her neighbourhood. Dr Salinger described tornadoes as violently rotating columns of air funnelling down from the base of low-pressure thunder clouds. They were usually about 10m to 30m wide, and their velocity increased as they tightened. He said they were usually isolated events in New Zealand, exceptions being the swarms of tornadoes which hit Taranaki over two days in July of 2007, forcing people from their homes and causing about $7 million worth of damage. By Mathew Dearnaley Second fatal twister in 20 years for Albany Last updated 02:39 04/05/2011 The Press

33 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 33 Tornadoes are not unusual in New Zealand, though rarely do they attain the size and lethal capability that Aucklanders saw firsthand yesterday afternoon. Chaotic updraughts and downdraughts of air within and below severe thunderstorms can generate funnel clouds. In some cases these rapidly spinning cores of air do not reach the ground, but when they do, they become tornadoes. Parts of New Zealand which experience the most squally and thundery weather are more at risk from tornadoes and the damage they can bring, particularly the western parts of both islands. In March 2005, Greymouth was hit by a powerful tornado which left 30 people homeless. In two minutes of destruction the tornado caused $10 million of damage, including 30 houses, 25 businesses and numerous cars. Canterbury has also had damaging tornadoes in the past, most notably the January 1983 Halswell storm which ripped through the suburb in the middle of a particularly stormy summer. In October 2002, the wildest thunderstorm since the 1983 event raced up the Canterbury Plains, spawning two tornadoes and pounding parts of the city with hailstones as big as table tennis balls, extensively damaging crops. Tornadoes here do not attain the scale of those in the Midwest of the United States, mainly because the temperature contrasts which form the thunder clouds are not as strong. Despite that, wind speeds in New Zealand tornadoes can easily exceed 200kmh, but the tornadoes are generally shortlived, lasting only 10 to 15 minutes and carving a path of damage only tens of metres wide. Auckland can expect an average of up to two tornadoes, or waterspouts, each year, but research shows damaging ones occur only once every few years. Albany was also hit by a tornado in May 1991, lifting roofs from homes, flattening a small church and killing a man driving a bulldozer, the first known death in New Zealand from such a storm. Auckland buildings and power lines were also damaged in tornadoes in August 1980, May 1982, September 1986, August 1992 and March In August 2004 a tornado swept across Taranaki uprooting trees and destroying a house near Waitara, killing its two occupants. New Zealand's worst tornado struck Frankton and Hamilton in August 1948, killing three - The Press Tornado-struck residents ask 'why us?' 3 News Wed, 04 May 2011 By Simon Shepherd -why-us/tabid/423/articleid/209790/default.aspx One house on Birkenhead s Roseberry Ave has been left uninhabitable No one can predict exactly where a tornado will strike. But the residents of one North Shore street in which 20 hours were damaged, are wondering why it chose them. The way the tornado touched down in some areas and left others untouched is posing questions, especially for the residents of Roseberry Ave who are asking what makes their street a tornado target. Out of 27 buildings damaged, 20 were on or near the street. Tim Malcolm, whose car was written off, can t understand how it happened. It s the way it has jumped across from Glenfield College and come down here and has hit many of the other houses. It s been indiscriminate in the houses it has chosen and the houses it hasn t, he says. Meteorologists say local terrain like valleys and buildings can affect a tornados path and there could be a reason it followed a road.

34 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 34 The road service is usually warmer than the grass around it. All these things hugely affect where the vortex goes, says MetService spokesman Peter Kreft. But the real answer for residents of Roseberry Ave is just pure bad luck. (Abridged) World reacts to Auckland tornado By Paul Harper Herald Wednesday May 4, news/article.cfm? c_id=10&objectid= Al Jazeera English. The tornado which ripped through Auckland's North Shore yesterday afternoon has captivated the world's media, with the BBC carrying a story headlined "Tornado rips through New Zealand city of Auckland". "The dark grey column of swirling air and cloud tore off roofs, flattened trees and tossed vehicles aside. It cut a three mile path through suburbs of Auckland, killing at least one person," Louisa Baldini reported. Sky News Australia reported the "terrifying twister travelled south at 200 kilometres per hour across a five-kilometre strip, leaving a path of destruction that had bystanders recounting images from the Hollywood disaster movie, Twister". The Toronto Sun carried the headline "Tornado tears through N.Z.'s largest city", while the Houston Chronicle reported the tornado sent "debris slicing through the air... causing significant damage to a shopping mall". Chinese news site Xinhua had the headline "Tornado batters New Zealand Auckland's North Shore". "A sudden and powerful tornado left a trail of destruction through New Zealand's largest city of Auckland on Tuesday, killing one person, injured 14 others," the story read. Al Jazeera English also reported a "powerful tornado ripped through the Albany area" in New Zealand's largest city. "New Zealand has seen its fair share of natural disasters in recent history," the Arab broadcaster's reporter said, referring to the devastating 6.3 magnitude aftershock which struck Christchurch on February 22. Other media also reported the tornado was just the latest of disasters to strike New Zealand in recent months. "A tornado twisted through the North Shore of New Zealand's largest city on Tuesday, killing and injuring shoppers at Westfield Albany mall and adding to woes in the Pacific Island nation that is still struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake earlier this year," The Wall Street Journal reported. By Paul Harper Paul Freak 200km/h tornado leaves trail of destruction in Auckland South China morning news 4 May 2011 A freak tornado hit New Zealand s largest city, Auckland, yesterday, killing one person and injuring dozens more as it hurled cars and ripped the roof off a suburban shopping mall. Photo: Reuters The tornado struck without warning, sendings cars flying through the air and ripping

35 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 35 the roofs off buildings in New Zealand s largest city, Auckland. (Abridged) Albany a twister zone LISA HONEYBONE North Harbour News 13/05/ Albany-a-twister-zone More tornadoes could hit Albany and other northern areas of the Shore if past events are anything to go by. The area has seen three large tornadoes in the past 30 years, resulting in two deaths. The first in 1981 ripped through Rothesay Bay and Browns Bay, causing widespread property damage. Another large tornado struck Albany in 1991 destroying a church and killing one person. The twister that hit at Albany last week brought back painful memories for a man who lost his son. It was 20 years ago to the week that a tornado claimed the life of Wayne Stanley-Hunt. His father Graham can only reflect on the uncanny similarities. HISTORY REPEATS: Elizabeth Gailer, second from left, and her family inspect the damage to their Browns Bay home following the 1981 tornado. The casualty of the latest incident fatherof-two Benedict Dacayan was killed in almost the same place by the May 3 twister. Mr Stanley-Hunt, 25, at the time, was killed by debris as he drove a motor scraper through Albany on his way back to Orewa. He had been working for family firm Stanley-Hunt Earthmovers. John Tuke recalls a tornado from the 1960s in which he says he was lifted off the ground A mini twister also hit Browns Bay in 2003 ripping tiles and television aerials off roofs, knocking over trees and fences and blowing garden furniture around. FIRST VICTIM(left): Wayne Stanley-Hunt was killed by an Albany tornado 20 years ago to the month another hit near the same area. FAMILY MAN(right): Tornado victim Benedict Dacayan killed almost in the same place.

36 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 36 Last week's tornado caused damage estimated at $10 million in Albany, parts of Birkenhead and Glenfield, and injured several people as well as killing Mr Dacayan. Meteorologist Tony Trewinnard says in a Stuff online chat that the topography around Albany caused the cloud to rotate more. "The air moves up and over and around hills and in the right conditions this can augment air currents which are already moving within the cloud," he says. MetService chief forecaster Peter Kreft wrote in his online blog that the low-level wind convergence was a major contributor to the tornado along with the strong tendency of the air around Auckland to rise. It hasn't been looked at in depth but he strongly suspects the local terrain had a big role to play in the formation of Tuesday's tornado. As far as forecasting more tornadoes in this area in years to come, he thinks that is an impossible question to answer. - North Harbour News Lightning dazzles city Stuff 04/05/ Lightning-dazzles-city/ An electrical storm lit up the night sky over the city in a spectacular fasion yesterday evening, accompanied by a surprisingly small 1.4 millemtres of rain. Metservice forecaster Richard Finnie said such storms do not always come with a large amount of rain. ''There was a low over the Tasman Sea that would drag down humid and warm weather from the sub tropics.'' - Manawatu Standard Tornadoes possible in today's storms By Amelia Wade Herald Friday May 6, Weather pattern 'ticks the boxes' for spiralling winds. Photo / Steven McNicholl More tornadoes like the deadly one that tore through a shopping mall on Tuesday are a possibility for the upper North Island today, forecasters have warned. "Right now the storm ticks all the boxes, and so tornadoes are a possibility among the thundery showers," MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said. Mr McDavitt said "severe" thunderstorm are those that could deliver up to 25ml of rain an hour, hail stones the size of 10c coins or 110km/h winds. It was impossible to predict exactly when or where a tornado might strike because of the difficulty in forecasting which clouds would produce the spiralling winds, Mr McDavitt said. "Tornadoes are so small and they last for such a short time that we don't get individual forecasts. The best that we can do is say here are thunderstorms, and one or two of them might produce a tornado. That's as close as we can get." The tornadoes could be much smaller and less destructive than the one that tore through the North Shore this week.

37 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 37 WHAT TO DO INSIDE * Seek shelter in the lowest level of your home. Keep away from all windows. * Cover your head and eyes with a blanket or jacket to protect against flying debris. OUTSIDE * Avoid large-span roof areas such as school gyms, shopping malls and halls. * Crouch for protection beside a strong structure, or lie flat in low-lying area and cover your head and neck with your arms or a piece of clothing. DRIVING * Get out of the car and lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area. By Amelia Wade (Abridged) More tornadoes could be on the way 3 News Thu, 05 May :59p.m. tabid/423/articleid/209929/default.aspx Damage from the Albany tornado is expected to run to tens of millions of dollars Metservice has issued a warning that the tornado that hit Albany on Wednesday may not be the end of the extreme weather, with a possibility that more tornadoes could strike the North Island tomorrow. A storm system set to reach New Zealand tomorrow will bring more humidity, rain and thunderstorms a breeding ground for tornadoes, according to Weatherwatch.co.nz head analyst Philip Duncan. MetService Chief Forecaster Peter Kreft said that while it was impossible to predict when and where a tornado would occur, Metservice could already identify tornado potential in tomorrow s forecast. Several lines of thundery showers are expected to cross the north and west of the North Island. As of now, tomorrow ticks all the boxes. He said Metservice will be issuing reports throughout the day tomorrow on the likelihood of a tornado, and are prepared for more violent weather. "If tornadoes and/or severe thunderstorms look increasingly likely as time progresses today and into Friday, we will issue a Severe Thunderstorm Watch or Severe Thunderstorm Warning. 3 News (Abridged) Auckland tornado risk low 6/05/2011 Newstalk ZB By Juliette Sivertsen and Newstalk ZB Staff storyid= Tuesday's tornado left a trail of destruction in Albany (Rob Crawford) Despite the conditions being right, MetService says the risk of another tornado in Auckland today is low. MetService says several lines of thundery showers are forecast, creating favourable conditions for tornado formation. It follows a destructive

38 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 38 tornado on Tuesday afternoon on Auckland's North Shore which killed a man and left tens of millions of dollars in damage. Forecaster Allister Gorman says people should be aware, but not panic. "Risk of a tornado is still very low, we're not expected people should hide away, just if you're out and about keep an eye on the sky." Auckland Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley says despite the warning, it's hard to predict where and if a tornado will hit. "You don't really know where it would be if it would come, but what it does do though is put us on extra alert so people are ready to scale up if needed." Civil Defence has released some guidelines for what to do in a tornado. Mr Manley says if one does occur, people should stay inside and stay close to the ground. "If they're caught outdoors and if there is a hollow or a trench or a ditch, they can go in there, cover their head while the tornado goes over the top is the best thing to do," he told Newstalk ZB. If driving, people should try get out of their cars. (Abridged) Flash flood terror in Auckland By Chloe Johnson Herald Sunday May 8, article.cfm?c_id=10&objectid= Antony Thomas + daughter Brianna outside their Mt Albert home. Photo / Amos Chapple A sharp, torrential downpour forced some Auckland residents from their homes early yesterday morning. About 15 frightened residents in Mt Roskill, Hillsborough and Mt Eden called emergency services between midnight and 3.30am as rain and sewage gushed into their homes and garages. According to the Met-Service's nearest gauge at Mangere, 26mm of rain fell in just one hour, between 2am and 3am. (Abridged) By Chloe Johnson Otago soaked by month's rainfall in just 12 hours ODT Monday May 9, c_id=1&objectid= Slips and flooding kept Otago emergency services busy. Photo / Otago Daily Times Many parts of Otago received their usual monthly amount of rain in 12 wet hours at the weekend, pushing Alexandra to possibly its wettest May ever, the MetService says. The downpour, which started about 11pm on Saturday in most places and eased about 8am yesterday, caused slips, blocked drains, surface flooding and rivers to rise in the already wet eastern parts of the region. A slip on the Nugget Point Rd meant some tourists in campervans, who had stayed overnight at Nugget Pt, could not get out until the road was cleared in the afternoon. Alexandra's 67.3mm of rain in 24 hours was well above the May average of 23mm and exceeded the record of 46.5mm. - OTAGO DAILY TIMES (Abridged)

39 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 39 Torrential rains forecast to move and hit harder By Isaac Davison Herald Thursday May 12, c_id=1&objectid= The message on the bus says it all as drivers negotiate flooding on Tamaki Drive after wind-driven waves crashed over the sea wall. Photo / Brett Phibbs Torrential rain that pummelled Auckland and led to a series of road accidents was expected to hit the Bay of Plenty even harder overnight. By Isaac Davison (Abridged) Strong winds batter region ODT Thu, 12 May Boats are tossed in the water at Macandrew Bay during this morning's strong winds. Reader photo submitted by and copyright to David Begg. Severe gales have been causing havoc in Otago today, bringing down trees, causing power cuts and closing roads. Senior Sergeant Bruce Ross, of Dunedin police, told NZPA they had mainly dealt with fallen trees blocking roads, and several roads had been closed. "The incidents included a tree which fell down on top of a car in Waitati (20km northeast of Dunedin). A man was trapped in his car and he had to be taken to hospital, but his condition was not life-threatening," Mr Ross said. Trevor Tilyard, east Otago fire service assistant area commander, said they had been busy since about 7.30am. "We've had roofs blown off, conservatories blown in, trees down over roads, powerlines, houses and cars. Gales hammered Dunedin with unconfirmed reports of waterspouts, or funnel clouds, being seen over the harbour earlier this morning. Power lines had been affected by winds and falling trees but it was too early to say how many homes had been affected. Gusts got up to 90kmh at Dunedin Airport, and westerlies reached gusts of 70kmh in the city. Southwest winds reached severe gale level at 150kmh at Swampy Summit, one of Dunedin's highest points. Strong gusts also tore down trees and power lines on State Highway 6 at Mossburn, in northern Southland, shortly after 12pm. Meanwhile winds were even stronger on Stewart Island, hitting almost 180kmh. (Abridged) Strong winds batter Otago Herald Thursday May 12, 2011 ttp:// c_id=1&objectid= &ref=rss Portobello Rd in Dunedin was blocked by a fallen tree this morning. Photo / Craig Baxter

40 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 40 Gale force winds battered Otago this morning, causing trees to come down, road closures and power outages. MetService said the high winds were due to a small low slipping past the far south this morning and were due to ease later today. (Abridged) High winds wreak havoc By Debbie Porteous and Rebecca Fox on ODT Fri, 13 May Ben and Erin Fenemore, of Dunedin, are nearly knocked off their feet by a wind gust at Macandrew Bay yesterday. Photo by Craig Baxter. A windstorm wreaked havoc on people, trees, powerlines and buildings as it swept through the Dunedin area yesterday. The northwest wind, which gusted up to 160kmh in places, abated by noon, but not before at least seven people were injured, 12,000 consumers lost power and two state highways and several main access roads were closed between Mosgiel and Waikouaiti. The winds, which had dropped by noon, were the result of a "little low" rolling past the south of New Zealand bringing strong winds to mostly the eastern coast. Police examine State Highway 1, near the Karitane turn-off, after a car was badly damaged by a tree, and the driver seriously injured. Photo by Gerard O'Brien. Sigurd Wilbanks, of Broad Bay, contacted ODT Online to say a public 'thank you' to a Good Samaratan who helped him out at the Anderson Bay causeway during the gales. "When I was foolish enough to start across the causeway (instead of detouring around the far side of the inlet), this unknown motorist was kind enough to slow to a crawl, giving me shelter from the wind and spray as we crossed together.," Mr Wilbanks said. "I was a bit caught up with the weather at the time, so did not say it then, but I want to say it now - 'Thanks for looking out for me'." MetService chief forecaster Peter Kreft said the highest wind speeds in Dunedin occurred between 10am and 11am, with gusts of 115kmh recorded in the city and at the airport. Higher wind speeds could have been felt in parts of the city where there were no recording devices, he said. (Abridged) Wet weather blamed for large potholes ROB MAETZIG Taranaki Daily News 13/05/ THOMAS BUSBY/Taranaki Daily News POTHOLES GALORE: Overnight wet weather caused the appearance of these potholes in the Waiwhakaiho Valley yesterday. Wet weather is behind the appearance of large potholes along SH3 in New Plymouth's Waiwhakaiho Valley. Motorists have complained all week that the holes have continued to appear even after contractors have spent the previous day filling them (Abridged)

41 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 41 Torrential rain storm hammers Wellington JOANNA NORRIS AND SHANE COWLISHAW Dom Post 15/05/ Ken McFarlane Flooding at a property in Papakowhai. Wellington emergency services were stretched to capacity today as wild weather lashed the city. Police communications spokesman Marty Edghill said about 50 calls have been received from 7am relating to severe flooding., especially in the Hutt Valley A slip near the Johnsonville line has caused delays for services. Storms to sweep country KIRSTY JOHNSTON Stuff 16/05/ Wild weather in NZ Jo Leary TAKING A DIP: Jo Leary's daughters Kasey, Jesse and Jayde check out the flooding on Miro Street in Miramar. Storms bringing severe gales and heavy snowfall are expected to pummel the country today, with farmers warned to shelter stock and drivers to take extra caution. (Abridged) Lucky phone call saves man's life Tornadoes wreak havoc LAURA BASHAM AND TRACY NEAL Nelson Mail 16/05/ Tornadoes-wreak-havoc PATRICK HAMILTON WRECKED: Eyvonne Walsh of Burgess and Crowley inspects the damage to their shed after Saturday's storm. A violent storm in Nelson early yesterday morning spawned a series of mini tornadoes which ripped off roofs in Atawhai, smashed down trees, flung outdoor furniture through the air and frightened pets into hiding. The sudden and intense storm which unleashed incessant lightning and deafening thunder was accompanied by unusual and extreme wind gusts which several residents said were tornadoes. 3 News Tue, 17 May :20p.m. Default.aspx Mike Murray's son was inside the crushed caravan and he had phoned him seconds before the tree came down By Charlotte Shipman A man has had a narrow escape when the caravan he was in was crushed by a falling tree in Motueka. Powerful gusts of wind funnelling down the Motueka Valley caused havoc in the area. Mike Murray's son was inside the crushed caravan and he had phoned him seconds before the tree came down. 3 News (Abridged)

42 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 42 Gales rip off roofs in Hawke's Bay NZPA, Hawke s bay Today 17th May Damage at the Port of Napier. Photo / Nzpa A large roof was ripped off a Port of Napier building overnight as high winds buffeted the lower North Island. The strongest gusts were 180km/h recorded at a very exposed station on Cape Turnagain. (Abridged) 'Dynamite' wind hits Wairarapa Seamus Boyer Wairarapa Times Age 18th May Lucky Escape: Truck driver Kane Wallace looks at the wreckage of his four-tonne glass transport truck after it blew over in high winds near Mt Bruce yesterday morning. Mr Wallace feared for the worst Photo / Lynda Feringa Winds gusting up to 130km/h caused chaos in Wairarapa yesterday, cutting power to homes, bringing down branches and blowing a four-tonne truck off the road. MetService officials said gale force winds of km/h were recorded between the Rimutaka Hill and Masterton early yesterday, with gusts of km/h sweeping through some areas in north Wairarapa. (Abridged) Mountain gets its first big dump of snow ROB MAETZIG Taranaki Daily News 20/05/ ANDY JACKSON/Taranaki Daily News NEW SNOW: Mt Taranaki displays its new winter coat in this view taken from Port Taranaki yesterday. There's plenty of snow on Mt Taranaki, but not quite enough to open the Manganui skifield. Taranaki woke yesterday to clear skies that revealed that the winter's first real dump of snow had coated its mountain. Snow had actually fallen to well below the Stratford Mountain House at East Egmont, and up at the upper carpark there was a snow base at least 8cm deep. But while there is a good coating of the white stuff further up the mountain at the Manganui skifield, things are not ready for the facility to be opened for use, said Stratford Mountain Club spokesman Justin Keenan yesterday. - Taranaki Daily News (Abridged)

43 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 43 Upper South Island flooding causes evacuations 26/05/ KIRSTY JOHNSTON/Stuff, and KAREN GOODGER/Nelson Mail, HAYLEY GALE/Nelson Mail The Aorere River, Tasman region, in full flood. LATEST: Flooding in the top of the South Island forced evacuations and closed roads overnight, with further wet and windy weather expected to lash the country today. Heavy rain saw around 15 families evacuated early this morning in the Nelson region, where at least one river burst its banks and water levels threatened to inundate homes. Twelve houses were evacuated in Hope, near Richmond, after the Waimea River rose rapidly and burst its confines. A further four homes were evacuated in Brightwater. Overnight deluge closes roads MICHEAL BERRY Marlborough express 26/05/ Siobhan Skinner Looking across the Pelorus Valley from Kaiuma Bay Road Rain gauges and river banks overflowed following heavy rain west of Havelock and in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough last night and early this morning. Pelorus River peaked at a 12-year flood level, while the Wairau River was expected to reach five-year flood levels by noon, Marlborough District Council assets and services Opouri Valley resident Pam Harvey said the rain had started late on Tuesday night and had continued without pause. Her gauge, which holds 483 millimetres, had overflowed, she said. - The Marlborough Express (Abeidged),

44 Meteorological Society of New Zealand Newsletter - June Page 44 Floods, landslides, road chaos By Elizabeth Binning and Jamie Morton Herald Friday May 27, news/article.cfm? c_id=1&objectid= Roads were closed, farms flooded and homes evacuated as heavy rain hammered much of New Zealand yesterday and overnight. Drivers deal with a flooded SH10 west of the Whangaroa Bridge in the Far North. / APN Two people were injured, one seriously, when a tree fell on their car at Cooks Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula about 5pm yesterday. In Northland, many roads - including the main link between Kaeo and Kaitaia - were closed by flooding, and many farms were under water. Wild weather batters the Bay of Plenty By John Cousins and Kiri Gillespie 27th May 2011 Bay of Plenty Times Wild weather at Mount Maunganui main beach. Photo / John Borren. Trees were downed, power was cut and roads flooded as wild weather lashed the Western Bay of Plenty in the 24 hours to this morning. And power was cut to about 7500 homes in the Ohauiti/Welcome Bay area at 6.10pm, with PowerCo blaming a fault on its 33,000 volt line supplying the Welcome Bay substation. MetService said 36mm of rain fell in the 24 hours to midnight last night at the airport, with barely any rain falling for the rest of the night Elsewhere in the Western Bay, rainfall ranged from 110mm at the summit of the Kaimais to 78mm at Pongakawa. (Abridged)

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