A cold start to the day. A polar blast has reached New Zealand. The culprit is the current negative SAM (Southern Annular Mode) phase pushing the belt of strong westerly winds and cold polar air northward toward New Zealand, driving severe winter storms, heavy rain, and low-level snow that normally encircles Antarctica northwards toward New Zealand.
El Nino is currently active and intensifying in the tropical Pacific but not yet affecting local weather patterns. We have that to look forward too next!
The Remutuka pass, the route to the Wairarapa and orchard from Wellington closed this morning at 5am from snow on the Remutuka ranges, the southern extension of the Tararua ranges behind us. The foothills show a little snow the higher mountains are in the clouds.
