Huge storm hits NZ, and big surf in Australia
17 September 2010
A storm the size of Australia is hitting New Zealand with winds of 130km/h around Wellington and heavy snow falling in parts of Westland.
MetService has issued severe weather warnings for the whole country as the storm passes over.
It warned snow could fall to 100-200 metres in south Westland and Fiordland, potentially affecting Te Anau, Manapouri and Monowai as well as higher roads and passes.
Heavy rain is expected about the ranges of Buller and northwest Nelson as well as the central North Island high country, where it could turn to snow above 800 metres.
MetService warned that rivers and streams in these areas as well as Canterbury and Otago could rise rapidly.
Strong or gale-force winds are expected throughout the North Island with severe northwesterly gales predicted about northern and eastern areas, as well as Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds.
Winds of 120km/h are likely in the northern half of the North Island, accompanied by heavy squally showers and thunderstorms in western areas.
Australia's biggest wave heralds huge surf for Sydney
Paul Tatnell
September 17, 2010 - 10:19AM
Sydney's beaches can expect a weekend of dangerous conditions due to huge swells smashing the shores.
While Tasmania can now boast Australia's biggest recorded wave, 10 kilometres off shore yesterday at 18.4 metres high, Sydney is also experiencing big surf conditions thanks to the same low-pressure weather pattern.
Weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Martin Palmer said Sydney's south-facing beaches would cop most of the big surf today.
"We have four-metre swells down the south coast and peaking at about three metres in Sydney and, while it isn't quite the 18 metres Tassie is having, it is still big and heavy," he said.
"There is a southerly swell coming through and what we are expecting is a pulse coming through today and the surf to actually get bigger.
"Southern Sydney is expecting six to eight foot waves while Manly is currently experiencing four to six foot waves, but that has grown just in the last hour."
Mr Palmer said Tasmania is recording eight- to 10-metre waves
While he said yesterday's 18.4-metre wave in Tasmania was the highest ever recorded In Australia, he pointed out records go back only a short time.
"It is the highest recorded wave and some people are calling it the biggest wave on record, and that is technically correct, but it might be a bit misleading as records only go back 10 years and I am sure there has been a bigger wave," he said.
"All this has been caused by a big, big low which is now hitting New Zealand and is moving away from us for the weekend," he said.
Full article: Sydney Surf: Huge Swells | Tasmania: Biggest Wave Ever Recorded
Storm, snow causes chaos in NZ
Stadium collapses in Southland
18/09/2010
The roof of a stadium in Invercargill has collapsed after a storm dumped the largest amount of snow seen in the city for decades.
The 2000-seat Stadium Southland, which includes an indoor cycling velodrome and indoor sports arena, has been evacuated and sealed off.
Manager Nigel Skelt said the damage was ''very severe''.
Police have warned Invercargill residents to stay indoors as heavy snow continues to fall in the city and surrounding areas.
Roads are described as treacherous and police have attended numerous accidents.
About 17,000 people in the North Island are still without power after a stormy night which battered much of the country lifting roofs, bringing down trees, and cutting power to tens of thousands.
Lines company Powerco said this afternoon it had restored supply to around 28,000 customers as a severe storm continued to pound the North Island.
Network operations manager Phil Marsh said the storm had caused power cuts to around 45,000 customers through the middle of the North Island in the past 24 hours.
Overnight, winds reached hurricane force at Manukau Heads, a farming community west of Auckland Airport, WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan said.
Gusts peaked at 154kmh, and felled power lines, cutting electricity in Warkworth, Remuera, Mangere and large parts of west Auckland.
The MetService forecast a 6m swell off the North Island's west coast.
There were more than 100 lightning strikes in the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa region yesterday, setting fire to a shed and trees.
Snow was expected in the North Island's central high country today while thunderstorms and snow were also expected to continue in the South Island, with particularly heavy snowfalls south of Mt Cook.
More: Stuff.co.nz - Latest New Zealand News & World News, Sports News & NZ Weather Forecasts
Swells to ease after rough weekend Glenda Kwek September 20, 2010 - 12:54PM
Swells to ease after rough weekend
Glenda Kwek
September 20, 2010 - 12:54PM
Sydney's big swells are expected to ease after peaks of 4.5 metres over the weekend.
"It's been pretty rough seas over the weekend," said Weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Sam Terry.
Waves as high as six metres were recorded off Sydney on Friday, with four to 4.5-metre swells on Saturday, Mr Terry said.
Similarly large swells were also recorded off Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour and Eden, according to data collected by the CSIRO.
But a change in the weather pattern means the surf will drop to about three metres for the next 24 metres, before returning to normal swell conditions of about one to two metres, Mr Terry said.
