NASA has finally managed to launch a massive weather balloon from Wanaka – and WeatherWatcher Al Bundy saw it drift above him from Waimate, Canterbury, just south of Timaru.

Windy weather prevented the launch a number of times in April.

Last year NASA launched one of its big balloons from Wanaka, it was supposed to stay up for 100 days but a leak prompted a sudden landing in eastern Australia after only a month.

“Not every day you see a weather Balloon over waimate @WeatherWatchNZ” posted @AlBundyNZ on Twitter a short time ago with this photo:

Image / Wanaka Airport Facebook page – Launching earlier today.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz