KEY POINTS:
If you're like me you're probably well and truly sick of the strong winds. I love a good storm, don't get me wrong, but day after day of winds - especially sou'westers which are colder and usually showery - really get to me - in fact I'm sure they give me this low, dull, headache! They're only fun when they're spiced up with a dash of hail and a flash of lightning!
But lightning isn't on the cards for the weekend and for those wanting to enjoy the sun then that's good news. It may not be our warmest weekend but conditions still look ok and definitely a lot better than we had this week!
(By the way, for those watching Bathurst this weekend we'll be updating you on the latest weather conditions at Mt Panorama - with daily weather updates Friday and Saturday - and regular updates for the big race on Sunday - bookmark our Bathurst Weather link!)
A large high, responsible for the strong sou'westers over us for the past 2 or 3 days, will spread over the North Island Friday and across much of the country during the weekend. The Squeeze Zone, that this week was over the North Island, falls southwards so Southland, Otago and maybe Canterbury may still feel the stronger winds but other regions should have a break - for at least 2 or 3 days. Even Wellington is likely to have a calm weekend!
In Auckland the sou'westers will continue into Saturday but will turn easterly on Sunday. That means a few clouds - and the tiny risk of a shower. Inland areas will have cold nights but warm days. And a reminder - the burn times are quickly creeping up. We're already in the "high" zone and that means the UV rays can burn you or do damage to your skin in under half an hour. One problem about New Zealand at this time of the year is that the cooler sou'westers mean you might not think the sun has any strength to it - but believe me it does.
If you're planning on going skiing this weekend Mt Ruapehu is looking pretty good, especially Sunday.
October last year was incredibly stormy, this year it seems a little quieter - granted we still have just under 3 weeks left, so maybe I'm being a bit premature in that judgement.
The strong winds this week - and our coverage of it - lead to a few 'grumpys' sending me emails about blowing things out of proportion... hmm, excuse the pun. My goal is to try and get people more interested in the weather - I have a passion for it and I'm sure you do to.
Some of the observations we talked about were in remote places, now sometimes that is relevant and other times it isn't. For example, a weather station placed on the top of Mt Cook would definitely create some sensational headlines, like "250km/h winds in the South Island")or maybe "-30 degree wind chill this morning". Interesting? Maybe. Relevant? Probably not.
We want to bring weather information that is relevant to you and help you better plan your day outdoors. So when we reported that winds gusted to 160km/h on the Rimutaka Ranges and the hills around Wellington we felt this was definitely relevant. Granted people don't live there - but State Highway 2 crosses right over it, the main link between Wellington and Wairarapa, and it turned out that the highway was closed for a quarter of the day during the peak of the storm.
West of Auckland around the Manukau Heads gale force winds blew a shed on to a man and injuring him. People do live here although granted not a lot. The locals will know when the wind speed for Auckland city is 40km/h that it could be 100km/h there - so we reported on it. In fact we predicted gusts on the Manukau Heads to 150 or 160km/h - didn't quite reach that speed, but it did clock 139km/h. Quite a bit stronger than the 90km/h gusts recorded in West Auckland - and certainly stronger than the 75km/h recorded at Auckland Airport during the peak of the storm.
Occasionally we'll throw in a wind speed from Castlepoint or maybe Stewart Island - especially if the weather is very quiet everywhere else. Some critics commented that by me releasing these wind speeds to the public we were perhaps "crying wolf". Well, the figures on their own don't do that. And certainly the more often we talk about these remote places the more the general public will accept that gusts to 160km/h do happen on the Rimutaka Ranges - but it doesn't mean Wellington will be receiving the same speeds. I'm a big fan of sharing all information - that's what a free society is! But hey - I certainly don't speak for all New Zealanders.
So what do you think? Do you think the Weather Watch Centre - and therefore the media - should be reporting on these "extreme" wind speeds in isolated areas? Do you think it dilutes the seriousness of wind warnings for populated areas? (which are usually lower). Should we talk about extremes in places that people don't live? Or do you think it's all interesting - and that you understand that extremes in remote places don't equate to extremes in nearby populated places?. Love to hear your comments!
Have a great weekend!
Philip Duncan
Pictured above: Works Infastructure staff secure plastic road barriers at Plimmerton after gale force winds and driving rain hit the Wellington region. Photo / Mark Mitchelle
For the latest weather news keep up to date with The Radio Network's new Weather Watch Centre or the NZ Herald weather section.
