Hi Team

A more autumnish day here in CHCH today with the sunshine out this afternoon. Although plenty of cloudy periods as well with NE freshening but that winter chill in the air has left us. I agree it looks to be a milder end to the week here until Saturday Afternoon with the prospect of 20 degrees on the cards. Even if it turned more NW on Saturday I think to get above 22 now would be a real good effort with the snow now on the southern alps making that NW a little fresher than normal.

In regards to next week, from a personal point of view I am seeing it as a more unsettled week rather than settled. The last couple of models runs show most of next week to be dominated by southerlies and light rain/drizzle all week with the chance of a low deepening off the coast of Canterbury mid next week bringing in some perhaps heavier rain. As we all know though it is a long way out and could easily change.

Last week saw flooding in some eastern areas from the 15mm or so rainfall that we received. We have been very lucky that we havent had any significant rain events, especially after the FEB 22nd quake. It will be very interesting to see how the drains and rivers cope with a significant event because surface flooding popped up last weekend from 15mm over a 24-30 hour period or so.

One last thing to finish on, it took me by surprise to realise that last year to this date we had 110mm at the local station where as this year so far 183mm. It must have been a warmer and drier summer because out summer this year seemed brilliant here!

Keep up the good work
Leighton