Windy October

Issued at 11:51am 31-Oct-2007

Windy October

MetService meteorologists issued 41 severe wind warnings for land areas during the past month. This makes October 2007 the third highest month for wind warnings in New Zealand since public warnings began in 1989. Top month was October 2006, when 57 warnings were issued and second was November 2006 when 45 warnings were issued.

"The strongest gust we measured in October was 152 km/hr at Mount Kaukau near Wellington," commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "That was on Tuesday 23rd. This was the day that a lot of property was damaged in Southland when a compact and deep low whizzed by Stewart Island. During this event gusts were measured to 141 km/hr on Stewart Island and to 128 km/hr at Invercargill Airport."

"The winds of October were notable in their persistence, with several severe wind events affecting Southland, Wellington, and southern Hawke's Bay in quick succession, especially from the 14th to the 25th."

Mr. McDavitt attributed the extra wind to a combination of slightly more intense anticyclones to the northwest of New Zealand and more intense low pressure systems in the Southern Ocean.

ENDS

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