Pack your thermals

Glenda, it's probably 3 overcoats warmer up where you are and you're still finding it chilly at night. Think I'll have to invest in some ear muffs and leg warmers. At least I'll be able to wear all my UK clothes again. Haven't worn them for ages, apart from trips home.

It's just that that photo brings back horrible memories of standing for ages in icy conditions waiting for the bus to come to take me to work.

it was roasty toasty here today..

i was bimbling around town in short sleeves most of the day...
strange looking up at the snow on the mountains whilst sitting outside a cafe enjoying a nice mixed fruit smoothie..

Autumn weather in NZ.

The temperature gauge on our north facing deck here in Morrinsville hit 29 degrees today. OK it was in the full sun, but even in the shade it was very warm. We both commented that it was like this last year and if this is a North Island New Zealand Autumn/Winter, we have no complaints.


Pam & Dave

Nevermind thermals over there; over here it is two days to June and today hasn't got much above 10 degrees here. For May its been raining most of the time and with cold winds. Talk about miserable. :(

I'd rather have a NZ winter than an attempt at UK spring tht has failed so miserably. Living in a house with no insulation and drafts we came very close to putting the heating back on but made do with thick jumpers and blankets.

Sun's out now tho so suppose can't complain too much. ::)

I'd rather have a NZ winter than an attempt at UK spring tht has failed so miserably. Living in a house with no insulation and drafts we came very close to putting the heating back on but made do with thick jumpers and blankets.

We put the heating back on last week! Our house is bloody freezing! 200 hundred year old doors that don't fit and single glazed windows that let a draft in that blows the curtains about! Still wearing 4 layers, even the Newfoundland is happy to lie in front of the radiator. Wearing bare feet in our house would have your toes frost bitten in about 10 seconds flat, even the golden blooming rape in the fields in front of our house can't convince me it's supposed to be early summer! [smiley=icon_eek.gif]

Coldest May in 10 years
6.20pm Friday June 2, 2006

Last month was the coldest May in 10 years, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says.

Principal scientist Dr Jim Salinger said the average temperature was 11C.

The lowest temperature for the month was minus 5.9C at Lake Tekapo on May 15.

The highest was 23.6C in Henderson, Waitakere City.

Dunedin was the driest of the main centres, Auckland the wettest, Hamilton the sunniest and Christchurch the coldest.

Hamilton the sunniest? [smiley=023.gif]

Wellington the windiest?......

Remember the experience I told about the wind blew open my hostel room window even though it was closed shut...? [smilie=Astonished.gif]

Oh gawd, Stevey. Hope you've got good heating in your campervan. Can't say you're not seeing NI at it's worst.

Big chill brings warning for holiday drivers
UPDATED 9.20am Monday June 5, 2006
By Anne Beston and NZPA

The North Island is bearing the brunt of a southerly storm today, prompting police to warn drivers to take extreme care as they head home after the long weekend. The freezing blast swept up the South Island overnight, with snowfalls temporarily closing roads. Most are now open but icy, making for treacherous driving conditions.

Many of the mountain roads in the South Island have been gritted and police are urging drivers to take extreme care. State Highway 6 between Inangahua Junction and Westport remains closed, due to a slip at Hawks Crag.

Weather forecaster Augie Auer told National Radio the worst of the weather had now headed out to sea off the east coast of the North Island. He described the weather system as a 'short blast' and said the worst of it should be over by this evening. Strong south-easterlies were still pounding the east coast and southern tip of the North Island this morning, with a 6m swell and 100km/h winds reported in Cook Strait. However, all Interislander sailings were reported to be departing on time.

Snow was still expected to fall on the Napier-Taupo road and the Desert Road up until noon today. Yesterday saw a fairly bleak day for most parts of the country, with periods of heavy rain or showers in both the North and South Islands from a complex low-pressure system. The low moved east in the afternoon but will be followed today by a cold front, bringing a big chill straight from the Southern Ocean.

'It has the potential to bring snow to higher roads and that's what we've been flagging to people, being the long weekend,' said MetService forecast Andy Downs. 'There will be lots of frosts and ice on the roads so that's an issue.'

Police road safety staff warned motorists to drive for icy conditions by braking and travelling slowly. Accompanying the cold front will be gusty winds which could become gale force in places, including Banks Peninsula and Cook Strait. 'It might not be enough to cancel sailings but it could be enough to make it very rough,' Mr Downes said.

Snow warnings were issued yesterday for roads through Lindis, Arthur's, Porter's and Lewis Passes for today. Showers should gradually clear in the South Island with frosty, crisp conditions, although some showers were expected to linger in Northland and eastern parts of the North Island.

With a bit of luck, Stevey's having a look at NI in the winter sun. ?Nothing like a gloss of golden sunlight to make things look better.

Chilly holiday sun up north, snow in the south
Tuesday June 6, 2006
By Anne Beston and NZPA

Cold and frosty conditions are expected this morning as clear, settled weather extends over much of the country. A cold blast that swept up the South Island yesterday brought snow to low levels in Otago and Southland but in Auckland rain and showers gave way to fine and sunny, but cool, weather. The temperature in Auckland at 2pm was 14C but Wellington caught the edge of the southerly blast and temperatures fell to around 0C as a 20-knot wind blasted the city.

Swells of 10m or more were reported in Cook Strait but no ferry sailings were cancelled. Earlier, snow closed roads and made driving conditions treacherous in the South Island but temperatures rose in the afternoon.

MetService forecaster Mark Pascoe said Wellington got a light dusting of snow on the ranges but the wind chill factor meant temperatures around the city fell below zero at times. Clear, settled conditions, from an extended ridge of high pressure, were forecast for much of the country today and most of this week. 'For most of the country it's going to be fine and frosty. There will be a lot of fine weather about but it'll be chilly overnight.'

The cold conditions brought fresh snowfalls to South Island skifields and temperatures low enough to enable artificial snowmaking to get under way but Mt Ruapehu had only light snow flurries. Mt Hutt manager Dave Wilson said the field was planning to open on Saturday. 'This is probably the best start to the season I've seen in my six years here,' he said.

Coronet Peak also planned to open on Saturday but Ruapehu Alpine Lifts marketing manager Mike Smith said Whakapapa and Turoa would open on June 16 as planned.