Oh dear, the South Island did receive the brunt of the Moon crossing the equator just before perigee week. When the Moon is in this position thunderstorms are likely, with most electrical weather occurring just after Full Moon anyway, as has been said in this column many times. For those interested in astrology, Uranus, the legendary snow-bearer, perched itself exactly over the South Island between 17th and 18th, with no Moon in the sky to protect the atmosphere. Saturn, the cold and damp planet was there as well. How much faith can be put in astrology?Ý The Moon creates the potential for weather by its position, speed and direction of movement. The planets aid and abet. In this case the Moon rounded the South Pole by Wednesday last and began hauling southerlies over the lower South Island. Its phase (Full Moon-Last Q)indicates the potential for electrical disturbance. Its angular speed as it crosses the equator magnified that disturbance spanned over about two days. Without Uranus and Saturn hanging about, the areas hit by bad weather would still have seen rain, but not as much.
Rules: Moon - potential, planets - extent, Moon above horizon - less bad weather effects, Moon below horizon - run for cover.
Auckland watchers of this site would have noted that I conjectured only variable skies over the last few days, and not the big storm that the official forecasters warned about. So we did get that right. But I was caught napping by the South Island - only predicted showery weather for most places by 19th, rather than the snowstorms that eventuated. After crossing the equator on 19th much wind energy has been spent and Auckland should be in for mainly settled conditions until 24th.
Erratic nature of these ezines
Because of my work and touring commitments I may sometimes be unable to keep regular postings up. Apologies for that. Hence I have posted weather some months ahead in the Freemonth column, and hope that helps readers. I do this entirely for the love of it, and in the hope that a better understanding of weather may emerge.
Fortunately the recent dumping has alleviated a potential drought situation that was looming in Canterbury. Little further rain is expected until mid September, and although some showers do eventuate in October and January, a drought does appear to be looming, culminating in a devastating February. Good irrigation is strongly suggested to farmers in that region.
Keen Auckland Moon-watcher Anna Whelan of Normal Intermediate School has decided to write up the lunar forecasting principle for her NIWA Science Fair project. Good luck with it, Anna!
Q: Why can we sometimes see our breath on a cold day?
(Grant Petrie, Dunedin)
A: Just like steam out of a kettle, Grant, our breath can be hotter than
the surrounding air. In order to see our breath, our body temperature has
to be 9 degrees above air temperature.
Q: Can you tell us the August monthly average rainfall figures for NZ main
centres?
(Julie Carlisle)
A: Sure. I'll give it to you in inches. The figures come from the last 10
years and some up to 30 years. In my opinion they are useful but not
gospel as they are metservice calculations which don't take the lunar
declinations into account, in which a drying takes effect every nine
years. As we are heading into that period now and will reach the midpoint
in Jan 2001, with the upper dry point around 2005/6, the below averages
may be a little higher than what actually occurs in some areas. And I will
give you September averages as well, in brackets.
Alexandra: 0.6 (0.8)
Ashburton: 1.9 (1.8)
Auckland: 4.4 (3.7)
Napier : 3.2 (2.3)
Blenheim : 2.7 (2.6)
Bluff : 2.6 (3.1)
Christchurch : 2.1 (1.8)
Dunedin: 3.0 (2.7)
Gisborne: 3.9 (2.9)
Greymouth: 8.3 (7.3)
Haast: 12.5 (11.5)
Hamilton: 4.0 (3.6)
Hastings: 2.7 (2.0)
Hokitika: 9.0 (9.0)
Invercargill: 2.4 (3.1)
Kaitaia: 5.4 (5.1)
Nelson: 3.2 (3.4)
New Plymouth: 5.6 (5.0)
Oamaru: 1.4 (1.8)
Palmerston North: 3.5 (2.9)
Queenstown: 2.5 (2.6)
Rotorua: 5.2 (4.9)
Taupo: 4.4 (3.9)
Tauranga: 4.8 (3.8)
Timaru: 1.4 (1.8)
Wanganui: 3.0 (2.5)
Wellington: 4.8 (3.9)
Westport: 7.3 (6.6)
Whakatane: 5.2 (3.7)
Whangarei: 10.1 (5.3)
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