19/06/2016 12:09am
> From the WeatherWatch archives
It’s also known as the ‘shortest day of the year’ with the least amount of available sunlight and our longest night(s) of the year.
The meteorological start to winter is June 1st, but the astronomical start is on the Winter Solstice.
The weather pattern has been unusual for some areas this year – we want to gauge how New Zealanders are feeling right now –
Let us know in this week’s poll, below, and tell us where you’re from in the comments section!
Before you add a new comment, take note this story was published on 19 Jun 2016.
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David on 19/06/2016 9:42am
Hi there
I found the classification terms used for the start of Winter interesting.
I have long cringed when media and meteorologists refer to the start of the season as being the 1st of the month. Surely, I thought, the latter in particular would know that the seasons start and finish with the soltices and the equinoxes. To suggest that the seasons start based on calendar markings that started being used around the end of 1582 seems ridiculous – the seasons have been around a lot longer than our calendar.
To have this referred to as the astronomical start is at least an acknowledgement of this. My question is why there is a need for a meteorlogical start at all? It is innaccurate and misleading.
Best regards
David
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WW Forecast Team on 19/06/2016 11:23pm
Hi there David, you prompted us to write a detailed story about it! Here you go: http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/winter-starts-again-tuesday-we-explain-why-there-are-2-starts-each-season
Cheers
Philip Duncan
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Derek on 19/06/2016 1:22am
Hi WW, I could tick a box as us usual but there are not any to tick,,haha think you have missed them off.
II am in Whangarei and for me some days it’s winter and some days it’s quite summery. Very nice actually and there have been no real cold days so far. For me that is. Like today, it is very pleasant out there.
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WW Forecast Team on 19/06/2016 4:26am
Hi Derek, apologies about that – we seem to have a bug in the display box in that story. Until we get it fixed just go to our homepage as you can vote there 🙂
Thanks for your update from Whangarei – the gloomy weather has just returned to Auckland after an on again off again day with the sun! (better than Saturday’s all-gloom though!)
Cheers
Phil D
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