8.36.14 Describe the typical associated factors for a Southerly flow onto NZ
(a) Stability;
A southerly flow onto New Zealand will deliver cold, moist maritime polar (mP) air onto the country. As this cold air
flows northward, it moves over a progressively warmer sea or land surface. Thus, the air at low-levels is warmed from
below. This destabilises the airmass.
(b) Cloud types;
Convection begins to occur within this unstable airmass, and Cumulus (Cu), Towering Cumulus (TCu), and
Cumulonimbus (Cb) clouds form in the flow. These clouds, by their very nature, form in individual, separated, but
closely spaced convection currents.
(c) Likely Precipitation;
Cumuliform clouds like this produce ‘showers’ of rain, hail, snow or sleet. These showers may be very heavy and
frequent, but they fall in short bursts with short gaps between them when the weather is often quite good.
(d) Visibility reductions;
In showers, particularly heavy showers associated with Cb clouds, the visibility may be very poor – perhaps as low as
1000 m at times. In between showers however, the visibility will generally be very good.
(e) Turbulence.
Southerly flows are often quite strong, and on occasion, they reach storm force. Over land, moderate to severe
mechanical turbulence may exist, particularly in the lee of any ranges. Within the flow itself, turbulence within
cumulonimbus cells may be severe at times as is always the case with any Cb cloud.
The modification of a Southerly flow onto New Zealand is best summarised as follows:
A southerly flow onto New Zealand…
➡ The cold air is moving over a progressively warmer sea surface…
➡ Therefore, it warms up near the surface…
➡ This results in increased instability…
➡ Pockets of air break away from the surface (convection)…
➡ Cu, TCu and Cb cloud form…
➡ Resulting in showers of rain, hail, snow & sleet
➡ Poor visibility at times…and
➡ It is often turbulent.