By Meteorologist Emma Blades All times are in NZST
Infrared satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Amos at midday 23 April 2016
TC Amos was located about 95km north-northeast of Wallis Island, or 450km northwest of Apia, Samoa, at 6am 23 April 2016. At that time the central pressure was 965hPa and the sustained winds close to the centre were 148km/h; a category three tropical cyclone.
Day-to-day weather features such as fronts and troughs, highs and lows constantly wash against New Zealand in the global atmospheric circulation. Sometimes the weather in New Zealand is highly changeable, changing from heavy rain to blue skies with an almost daily frequency. Other times the weather can seem to be stuck one way or another for days. In this blog we discuss the reason for this: Planetary waves, also known as Rossby waves. We will also look at the tools forecasters have to analyse them, and the implications for New Zealand.
by Meteorologists Angus Hines and Claire Flynn
Celebrating the increased participation of women in meteorology
March 2016
International Women’s Day is held every year in March and to mark this occasion we want to give a big shout out to all the great women working here at MetService. Since 2001 we have trained 34 women and 30 men to be World Meteorology Organisation (WMO) qualified meteorologists. Twenty years ago the statistics were very different.
From “The New Zealand Weather Book” by MetService Expert Meteorologist Erick Brenstrum
Blog published by Lisa Murray Communications Meteorologist
Satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Bola, before moving south towards New Zealand and evolving into a mid-latitude Low. Image from NOAA-9
25 Feb 2016 update
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed in the text below are New Zealand local time
Visible satellite image of former Tropical Cyclone Winston at 12.30pm today (Thursday 25thFebruary).
24 Feb 2016 update
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed in the text below are New Zealand local time
Infrared satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Winston at 11.00am today (Wednesday 24thFebruary). Note that the “eye” of the TC can no longer be seen as it is covered by cloud, this happens as the TC becomes less intense.
23 Feb 2016 update
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed in the text below are New Zealand local time
Infrared satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Winston at 1.30pm today (Tuesday 23rd February 2016).
Latest position Tuesday 7am
22 Feb 2016 update
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed in the text below are New Zealand local time
Infrared satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Winston at 2.20pm today (Monday 22nd February 2016).
Latest position Monday 1pm
By MetService Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray
Please note: all times listed in the text below are New Zealand local time
Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston was the strongest category 5 tropical cyclone to make landfall over Fiji. TC Winston made landfall in Viti Levu, Fiji earlier yesterday evening. Prior to landfall the estimated central pressure was 915hPa, with maximum winds near 230km/h.
