MORE ON THE WEATHER

With Climate Change (or Global Warming) we are getting more and more severe weather events.  Last weekend it was the turn of the  south of the North Island and the north of the South Island with flooding and slips in Wellington and other areas.  One man was missing from his house in Wellington that had water through it and, unfortunately, his body was found yesterday.

These photos are from Radio New Zealand.

A bowling club

This car was swept from a carport further up the road and came to rest on this fence

Wellington Hospital Carpark under water

We now have another heavy rain warning although, so far the front has travelled further south and has hit the area between us and Auckland.  The slip below has closed the non-tolled road between here and Auckland.  The road is between these villas and the slip.  The villas have been evacuated.  

Just came across these photos of the same slip on the Hibiscus Coast Neighbourhood Support FB page.

There has also been snow on the Desert Road and temperatures here are a lot colder.

We still have a heavy rain warning until 9 a.m. tomorrow so fingers crossed for the areas already affected by earlier storms.  

UPDATE: I have just read that tomorrow's Anzac Day Dawn Service has been cancelled due to safety concerns.

WEATHER AND FLOWERS

 Well, luckily, the storm wasn't as bad as predicted and no loss of life this time.  We ended up with a lake for a lawn but it drains away quickly.  

A lot needs doing in the garden.  I bought some broccoli, spinach and silver beet plants a few weeks  ago and they still haven't been planted out.  Hopefully in the next couple of days.  The weather and appointments keep getting in the way.

Just before the cyclone I picked some flowers as I thought they would get damaged by the weather.

Some Chrysanthemums still in bud.

Different colours of Justicia

Some small white hydrangeas at the end of the season with some white chrysanthemums in bud.

ANOTHER ONE

We are having warnings about Tropical Cyclone Vaianu which is due to hit New Zealand on Saturday (tomorrow) with heavy rain and strong winds overnight into Sunday.

There are warnings for the whole of the North Island. This was at 4.46 p.m. yesterday (Thursday).

The rain and wind watches have now been upgraded to warnings (orange at this stage and I hope they stay that way).  The soil is already sodden from all the other storms.  I can't remember having this many warnings about a coming storm before and just hope they are being over cautious.  

WALKS AND WEATHER

 In spite of the storms we had the previous week and a storm the previous night we had a wonderful day for last week's Parkinson Walk around the Town Basin.  

The shadows are starting to lengthen

At the weekend the clocks went back for the end of Daylight Savings. It is great to have some more daylight in the mornings. In spite of rain overnight we had a reasonable walk today with just a couple of showers however rain is forecast later today. We have a heavy rain warning and strong wind watch for tomorrow and a suggestion of another storm at the weekend or early next week.

BETTER DAY

We awoke to a heavy mist which has cleared to a beautiful sunny day.  26 degrees. this is the main highway (State Highway One that runs from the top to bottom of New Zealand) just north of here where flood waters have made a mess of it.  I just saw a news clip saying that a temporary fix will be put in place which is good.  

Once again a lot of damage from this storm.  In many places even moe than in the earlier storm this year.

RED RAIN AND WIND WARNINGS

 

Already the Far North (where Max and I used to live) is cut off on both highways.  There is a lot of flooding especially in the areas hit by the last floods in January.  Apparently, the heavier rain is due to arrive this afternoon.

We are pleased we don't have appointments either today or tomorrow so can stay home in the dry.  My only outing has been a quick one down the drive to collect today's newspapers.  

Doug's youngest daughter has a much needed day off as all Rural Deliveries (Mail) are cancelled due to the Red Warning.

Forecast: 

Expect 100 to 130 mm of rain on top of what has already fallen. Peaks rates initially 15 to 25 mm/h, but increasing to 25 to 40 mm/h and possibly greater from this afternoon through to early Friday morning. Thunderstorms possible from Thursday afternoon.

UPDATE THREE

 Once we changed from summer to autumn with the start of March we could feel the change of season.  Of course the days are getting shorter (Roll on the end of Daylight Savings)  but it also feels a lot cooler.  We have rain today which is very welcome.  I really must get around to starting my winter garden. 

This was actually our last Market shop in February but is the same as our most recent shop.

With the cooler weather we returned to Lake Waro for our walk on Monday and it was very pleasant.

If you enlarge the photo there are Dabchicks