Tag Archives: tonight

Wild weather: Severe thunderstorm warnings issued for parts of South Island, strong winds for central North Island | Instant News

January 17, 2021 NewsDesk

Most of the rain that starts at 7am Monday will be the biggest on the West Coast of the South Island. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz

Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued tonight for the Canterbury Plains and North Otago, accompanied by heavy rain and hail that are likely to hit the area.

Other parts of the country will be hit by strong winds.

MetService has warned people in the Canterbury Plains and North Otago to be prepared for flash floods around low-lying areas such as rivers, streams or narrow valleys, which can cause slipping. Rainfall is expected to be more than 25mm in some areas.

A front moved eastward across the South Island overnight.

This means that heavy rain can occur with thunderstorms in the Westland region south of Otira, and in Dunedin and North Otago.

Driving conditions will also be dangerous, with surface flooding and poor visibility during heavy rain.

Heavy hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, greenhouses and vehicles.

Northwest winds can reach heavy storms from inland Canterbury to Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa.

Meanwhile, a storm likely to bring destructive winds and heavy waves centered on New Zealand’s West Coast, prompting warnings for those camping, on foot or on the water.

Weatherwatch.co.nz estimates strong winds “damaging” more than 150 km / h, waves of up to 13 meters, and one meter of snow in the Southern Alps.

There may also be over 200 mm of rain for parts of the West Coast.

Police say they have not issued a specific warning for the storm, but they always urge motorists to drive according to the conditions.

“In wet and windy weather that means slowing down and increasing the distance to follow,” said a spokesman.

Philip Duncan at weatherwatch.co.nz said the storm would be significant.

Weather and wind action today. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz

“The stormy Southern Ocean weather pattern is temporarily putting the La Nina pattern to one side with two significant lows – one today and the other around Tuesday, Wednesday.

“Sunday’s low, which still hasn’t suppressed some thunderstorms, rain and winds for parts of New Zealand, will actually be tracing out of the country today. So we don’t expect anything too serious today, although it remains up-to-date with possible MetService severe warning no matter where you are. “

Estimated wind speed on Monday evening at 7pm. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz

But the ensuing storm worries Duncan, especially for those venturing outdoors.

“The Tuesday / Wednesday event appears to be the most intense with the epicenter of this hurricane potentially crossing Southland and Otago.”

As a hurricane hits the country with its strong northwest strong winds, it will then be followed by a cool southern turn with heavy rains that will hit the West Coast.

Weather and wind types are expected on Tuesday at 13.00. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz

Auckland is expected to cool down but will not experience as violent a storm as the South Island one.

MetService meteorologist Peter Little said southwestern changes that begin on Wednesday through Thursday will bring temperatures down to 10C on the South Island.

Dunedin will drop from 25C today to 15C.

Few say that temperature changes won’t be as dramatic as on the North Island, but people will definitely feel the impact from the southwest.

Auckland will drop from 27C today to 21C on Wednesday, and 20C on Thursday.

Most of the rain that starts at 7am Monday will be the biggest on the West Coast of the South Island. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz

Until then, the hot weather will continue. Whangārei and Gisborne can expect temperatures of 30C, Auckland and Tauranga 27C and Hamilton 26C.

In today’s South Island, Kaikoura is a hot spot of 28C. Christchurch and Ashburton are set at 27C.

The front exerts its energies on the South Island, and central New Zealand – Wellington, Wairarapa – is bearing the brunt of strong winds. Bad weather warning has been issued.

-RNZ additional reporting

Wind gusts speed early Monday. Image / weatherwatch.co.nz

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New Zealand

New Zealand’s best beaches – how to nominate your favorites | Instant News

January 9, 2021 NewsDesk

Wainui Beach, Gisborne. Photo / J Dobson

Don’t miss your chance to nominate your favorite stretch of sand in our search for New Zealand’s Best Beaches 2021

We’re looking for the best beaches in New Zealand and we need your help. We want you to nominate your favorites, tell us why you love this beach and what makes it so special. Send us a photo of your favorite beach, too, and we’ll profile some of your entries over the summer. But hurry up, the nominations close at midnight [Sunday, January 10].

From there, your entries will be counted and the top 10 beaches will be named as our finalists, with the bonus of three wildcard entries chosen by the Herald Travel team.
You can then select one beach from the top 13 beaches to be crowned the ultimate winner.

Meanwhile, here are some of the nominees so far. Don’t see your favorite here? Vote below, or open nzherald.co.nz/bestbeach

May the best beaches win!

Matarangi Beach, Coromandel

This is one of the few beaches that are truly north facing in New Zealand with fine white sand, beautiful clear water. There is a wide variety of sea conditions for all – young shallow swimmers, ocean swimmers, boogie boarders, surfers, kite surfers, paddle surfers. The beach is never overcrowded and apart from that you can often see dolphins passing by.
Sally Waters

Kaiteriteri Beach, Nelson Tasman

I think Kaiteriteri beach is one of the best in New Zealand, known for its unique golden sand and crystal clear waters. An ideal and popular summer spot, it has everything you need for an action-packed day, from sailing, kayaking, bicycle tours and more. Even better, Kaiteriteri has more beautiful and unique beaches that are all located next to each other.
Yulan Black

Aramoana, Dunedin

Pumps up the surf, there’s awesome wildlife (sea lions and penguins) and some really cool cliffs and rocks.
Felix Page

Bark Bay, Abel Tasman National Park

It’s secluded (you have to get there by hiking or by boat), has a sloping white sand beach, with clear, sheltered sea water and deep enough to swim. It’s also supported by a national park, so it’s 99 percent natural.
Zoe Cromwell

Mangawhai Surf Beach, Northland

Mangawhai Surf Beach, Northland. Photo / John Anggot

Mangawhai is truly magical because the sunsets are amazing, you can surf, you can walk on the cliffs to see amazing bird’s eye views from places that cannot be caught on camera, there is local dune protection. Everyone must experience the Mangawhai miracle.

John Anggot

Cable Bay in Doubtless Bay, Northland

There’s an ice cream shop there, golden sand, blue water, happy people – the perfect place.
Parry Jay

Ruakaka, Northland

Ruakaka Beach, Northland. Photo / Koby Jonas

Soft white sand and clear clear water that stretches for miles make this beach our favorite. Ice cream in “the chilly bin” after a day in the sun is a bonus.
Koby Jonas

Campbells Bay, Kakanui, Waitaki

Campbell Bay, Waitaki. Photo / Sarah Hailes

It’s great for families, surfers, and dog-friendly. This can keep you busy or treat you as your only friend. Take a walk to All Day Bay and back, or try a small kite. I like it.
Sarah Hailes

Matapouri Beach, Northland

Matapouri Beach, Northland. Photo / Mark Gibson

This beach has soft sand, warm water, and small waves perfect for swimming and body boarding. Ample parking makes it easy to prepare for a long day at the beach.
Anushree Sen Gupta

Kano Beach, on Mapoutahi in Otago

Canoe Beach has it all – beautiful for a walk with your dog, caves to walk through at low tide, rope swings, history, pā to hike and watch surfers, lovely long beaches to walk along the other side of the headland. Kano Beach is also great for swimming as it’s sheltered – you can kayak around to Osborne bay, and now there’s even a local brewery in Waitati. Nothing is missing.
Amanda Church

Wainui Beach, Gisborne

Wainui not only greets the sun before anywhere else on mainland New Zealand, it also has a fun and nurturing community, incredible waves and beautiful clear water. There is a rock pool at each end with interesting creatures. The Okitu shop, about half way down, has excellent summer food and the most friendly staff.
J Dobson

Castlepoint, Wairarapa

Castlepoint is a superb coastal formation with a variety of coastal experiences. Wild surfing and calm and safe lagoons. Stunning rock forms, lighthouses and sand dunes. Great fishing, swimming, surfing and kayaking. Stunning views and walking opportunities. Sitting under the lighthouse after dark is also a real experience. This is an authentic Kiwi beach and bach environment, with an annual horse race on the beach.
Melissa de Souza-Correa

Wharariki Beach, Golden Bay

Wharariki Beach, Golden Bay. Photo / Patel Veerick

Wharariki only cut Mataī Bay and Castlepoint Northland for me. The three of them were very beautiful. But Wharariki won because it had exposed rocks like Cathedral Cove, providing a unique sight to behold. Has a rock pool for baby seals to swim and play. The distance is far away, which adds to its charm. There is plenty of room for multiple people to enjoy at once. Good surf. You need to take a short walk to access it, which might be considered negative, but people who tend to make an effort to reach it are less likely to litter and wreck the place. There are lots of walks, which can also expose you to a variety of wildlife.
Patel Veerick

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel. Photo / Mahdi Algargoosh

Cathedral Cove is a slice of heaven. There are stunning walks to the beach, pristine clear water, waves and waterfalls. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Mahdi Algargoosh |

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New Zealand

New Zealand: Did you see it? A very rare celestial event took place tonight | Instant News

December 21, 2020 NewsDesk

New Zealand

21 Dec, 2020 07:003 minutes to read

New Zealand stargazers will see the evening light with the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn. Video / Sky News Australia

A “very rare” celestial event will take place over the next several nights to delight Kiwi stargazers across the country.

However, weather forecasts have dampened the “once in a lifetime” experience, with Metservice saying heavy cloud forecasts could complicate the event.

“Most of New Zealand looks cloudy,” said Meteorvice meteorologist Tuporo Marsters.

Marsters said there could be some lag in the cloud to reveal the connection, but “I’m not going to put my money into it.”

The extremely rare event – also known as the Great Conjunction – has been happening for hundreds of years and won’t happen again until 2080, Otago Museum director and astronomer Dr Ian Griffin told RNZ’s Morning Report.

“They will be so close together, you will not be able to separate them with your eyes … you will need binoculars and a telescope to divide them.”

“Jupiter and Saturn unite roughly every 20 years, that’s not very special, but to get this close in the sky is very rare.”

Some astronomers’ calculations suggest that the last time the planets got this close was in 1226, he said.

It is also called the Star of Bethlehem because “in 7BC there was a connection between Jupiter and Saturn, and at that time the ‘wise men’ were astrologers and this would have had significance for them,” he told RNZ.

That "once in a lifetime" this event is also known as the Great Conjunction. Photo / Stardome — This “once in a lifetime” event is also known as the Great Conjunction. Photo / Stardome

It is also mentioned in the Bible.

Famous astronomer Dr Grant Christie said although the planets will be at their closest point in our sky since the discovery of the telescope, they are nowhere near in space.

“On December 21, Jupiter will be 763 million km from Earth while Saturn will be 856 million km outside.”

Rare celestial events haven't occurred for hundreds of years. Photo / Jennie McCormick — Rare celestial events haven’t occurred for hundreds of years. Photo / Jennie McCormick

When where

Griffin says the best seats in the home for viewing conjunction are anywhere with clear skies tonight or tomorrow night – however, they can be hard to come by.

The best chance of viewing is from sunset onwards for about an hour and a half later, he said.

“They disappeared at 11:15 p.m., so you have to get out after sunset.

“Jupiter and Saturn are relatively low in the southwestern sky. So go out tonight, find the moon, then look left and you will see a bright star and that is Jupiter and Saturn,” he told the Morning Report.

Graph from the Tekapo Dark Sky Project mapping the Great Conjunction. Photo Project / Dark Sky

“Then if you point your telescope or even binoculars at that bright star, you will see that there are two planets – Jupiter and Saturn with their beautiful rings.

“And if you look closely, you’ll see several moons, four Jupiter moons, and one Saturnian moon. That’s going to be seven planetary bodies, all in that one field of view.

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pakistan

Five planets simultaneously appear in the sky of Karachi tonight | Instant News

July 19, 2020 NewsDesk

“It is possible to see five planets simultaneously in the middle of the night and all five can be seen without binoculars,” explained Prof. Dr. Muhammad Jawed Iqbal, director at the Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (ISPA) – research facility at the University of Karachi. Chris Leggat/ via Unsplash

KARACHI: Five solar system planets will simultaneously appear in the city sky tonight, a leading planetary scientist announced on Sunday, in what can be seen as a magnificent space dance.

Five planets that can be seen simultaneously tonight include Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, according to Prof. Dr. Muhammad Jawed Iqbal, director at the Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (ISPA) – research facility at Karachi University.

Images taken by NASA spacecraft and struck together show (top down) Mercury, Venus, Earth and its moons, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. NASA / through News

“It is possible to see five planets simultaneously in the middle of the night and all five can be seen without binoculars,” said Dr. Iqbal. “Usually, two or three planets are seen in the night sky.”

Scientists note that the view of planets gathering together will be seen over the next few nights.

However, it will be difficult to see interesting activities in the sky due to the cloudy weather of Karachi today.

It is interesting to note that at the same time, Mercury will be on a retrograde (backward movement) for the second time this year, from 18 June to 12 July 2020, according to Forbes. In addition, the ringed Saturn will be the brightest at night on July 20, the publication added, because it would reach opposition.

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