January: Hot Humid And Windy

Issued at 02:41pm 31-Jan-2006

January: Hot Humid And Windy

MetService meteorologists say the hot and humid weather of the past week has come from an anticyclone stalling over the Tasman Sea and South Island just at the right time of the year to deliver maximum heat. Alexandra topped the country, reporting 36 degrees on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The humidity triggered this month's most intense deluge measured by MetService at Taupo Airport last Saturday, where 32.4mm fell in one hour.

"January also brought several windy days that made hard work for fire fighters and power line repair staff all around the country", commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt.

Severe gales arrived with low pressure systems. On 2 January an extremely deep low with central pressure below 950 hectoPascals formed in the Southern Ocean bringing westerly gales. Trees toppled in Dunedin, fires were fanned in Canterbury, and there were power cuts in parts of Balclutha and Wellington affecting over 15,000 people. MetService measured a wind gust touching 180 km/hr at Mid Dome in Southland.

On 24 January a low deepened to 990 hectoPascals as it moved from Norfolk Island towards Northland bringing easterly gales. Power cuts in and around Auckland affecting over 7,000 people. Gusts at the Auckland Sky Tower peaked at 130 km/hr.

ENDS

© Scoop Media