Yo! Aussie & Kiwi Ladies-how is "winter"

[RoadRaven]

So, icey gusty sleet and snow in Invercargill today
Torrential downpours in the last week or so north and west of me here in the North Island.

But here in Hawkes Bay we are entering our 10th month of low/no rainfall.
We had 7mm in May, and non so far this month.
The ground is dry and brown and my son complains it is hard to hunt rabbits because of the crunching underfoot (dry grass) as he walks.

There is virtually no food left for our animals, there have been gale force westerlies for nearly a week.

This looks like the summer parching of February, or the Spring equinoxal winds ... not like the approach of mid-winter and solstice

[crazycanuck]

RR-I do hope you recieve some rain the next month or so.
I saw the news story on the NZ Herald site about the severe weather warning and didn't see any mention of rain
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10444151

I think most of the farmers in Australia understand how you feel about very little rain.

Here's hoping for rain in Hawke's bay!

C

[crazycanuck]

Hey NSW ladies,

Have you been affected by the horrible weather near Newcastle? Wow!

My thoughts are with the loved ones of the missing

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21875727-2,00.html

Bad week for accidents & weather in NSW & Vic

First the Kerang rail tragedy & now weather related tragedy.
(http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...rom=public_rss)

My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones in the accident.
C

[RoadRaven]

Wow, some nasty sad stuff across the Ditch
If anyone is connected to this, my thoughts to you from EnZed
Thanks for posting the links CC. (Today news links are loading for me!)

Strong to gale force westerly gusts continue on my part of this island... its race day today... an out and back 39km course and we will have a cross wind all the way, there and back, I think.

I woke up this morning at 5:30 as the side of the house got thumped again. Not sure how my children sleep through it!

Its 7am now and already 15'... doesn't seem like mid-winter at all.

[beetle]

CC - I think it's awful about the missing people up north. To be honest I didn't actually think the weather was that bad but I think the north has been much more effected than Sydney. We were actually heading up to Newcastle for the weekend but decided not to go due to the weather and as there are warnings suggesting not to travel unless essential. I was actually going to do a duathlon nr Nobbys Beach (right next to were the ship is grounded) - but it was cancelled yesterday due to contamination risk from the ship and the need for police access on the road. It's disappionting not to do the race but I think it was probably a good safety call from the news footage I have seen.

[crazycanuck]

I picked up a copy of The Australian this morning & saw how close that ship is to shore! Holy Sheep kapoops!

I don't think i'd want to be driving up that way this weekend! Haven't the police asked motorists heading up that way only to travel if deemed necessary?

C

[enzed]

Up along the Northern Beaches the weather is not that great.
Light rain on Thursday, caused the local council to close all the sports fields. So, I missed out on playing Ultlmate Fribee with my team ("The Beanies").

Since then it's felt like winter. It's very windy & has been raining on and off all day. I don't mind riding in the rain, i did it plenty of times in Palmy, NZ. But I'm don't feel that safe sharing the roads with the traffic over here.
Alot of Sydney drivers aren't that good at driving in the rain, and I've seen enough of their silly behaviour to know that it's safer to walk when the roads are wet.