Mastering the weather

by Meteorologists Tahlia Crabtree, and Claire Flynn

This week (August 2017), our forecast room meteorologists have some visitors. Our current group of trainee meteorologists are sitting in on some shifts to get a feel for what real-time forecasting is like day to day. This is part of their training, which began in January 2017, and will finish at the start of next year.

What makes a cold night?

Written by April Clark, Meteorologist.

When we head towards the Winter season, the days get shorter and we can expect temperatures to start to fall. Often in New Zealand, Autumn is a very transitional season, swinging from warm tropical air from the north to cold southerly air from the South Pole.

Cyclone Cook Update 13-4-17

Cyclone Cook Update 13/4/2017

By Arno Dyason, Meteorologist.

Cyclone Cook has arrived in New Zealand coastal waters Thursday morning and MetService is following its movement very closely. Widespread rain continues over large parts of the country, although the heaviest and most significant falls remain closely wrapped around the low centre. MetService’s rain radar indicates that this area contains very heavy rainfall, which has moved onto Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty Thursday afternoon ahead of the low centre Thursday evening.

Cooking Up a Storm

by Meteorologist Sarah Sparks

The days are getting shorter and winter is indeed coming, but a burst of air from the tropics is set to affect New Zealand in the coming days. A combo of a Low in the Tasman Sea dragging a lot of humid, sub-tropical air down across New Zealand and the remains of Tropical Cyclone Cook tracking southwards are expected to bring heavy rain, heavy swells and possibly strong winds.

World Meteorological Day 2017: Understanding Clouds

by MetService communications meteorologist Lisa Murray

Each year meteorologists around the world celebrate a chosen theme to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the 23rd of March in 1950. “Understanding Clouds” is the theme of World Meteorological Day this year, to highlight the enormous importance of clouds for weather climate and water.