Impressions of weather in other countries

[ATO2]

I thought-since New Zealanders travel so widely and often work/live overseas for months or years- that it might be interesting to share how we found the weather in such places and how we found NZ's weather upon our return.
I imagine that the UK, Ireland, SE Asia, Australia, the USA, would be likely locations but there would be many others.
I am Irish, and listen to the Irish state broadcaster via the internet. Now, the other night, their weather forecast was pretty much the same as for here!
The predicted temperatures were about the same and the comment was added as to how mild the month had been!

[RWood]

I think that's very difficult for large countries, where anomalies can be markedly different across the geographic span. I was in Brazil for 3 weeks in June/July, at latitudes of Rio and a bit to the north. The southern 10% of the country was having a very cold spell (2C-3C below average), as was Argentina and part of Chile. But a vast expanse to the north and east was warmer than normal by 1C-3C. On our last morning in Rio temps were hitting 32C, so coming back to NZ was a bigger shock than it would usually be.

[ATO2]

Originally Posted by RWood

I think that's very difficult for large countries, where anomalies can be markedly different across the geographic span. I was in Brazil for 3 weeks in June/July, at latitudes of Rio and a bit to the north. The southern 10% of the country was having a very cold spell (2C-3C below average), as was Argentina and part of Chile. But a vast expanse to the north and east was warmer than normal by 1C-3C. On our last morning in Rio temps were hitting 32C, so coming back to NZ was a bigger shock than it would usually be.

Yes, I can relate to that sort of thing. After three years on the equator, I arrived back in NZ and was unprepared for the coldness of the wind, even on the sunniest of days. Even a light breeze had a refrigerator effect! And that was in early summer, too, come to think of it.

[ATO2]

[quote=ATO2;1014]
I worked on the Dingle Peninsula, in Ireland's south west.Wind speed was fairly constant and the Atlantic Gales would sweep through with great gusto. I noticed that the common garden shelter species were NZ ones: Chatham Islands ake ake , was a standout success. Cabbage trees, some well over 100 years old, lots of hebes, NZ flax. Also griselinia littoralis (kapuka) is much favoured. I checked with the local library and found a book with some maps which gave mean wind speeds of around 7m/s. Would seem about right as it felt slightly windier than Cape Egmont, in coastal Taranaki, where our farm was. Wind speeds there are around 23 kph, I think.

[RWood]

One equivalent might be SW Cape on Stewart Island - average wind run about 900km/day (37.5 kph avg speed - not bad for sea level).

[ATO2]

Originally Posted by RWood

One equivalent might be SW Cape on Stewart Island - average wind run about 900km/day (37.5 kph avg speed - not bad for sea level).

That's impressive...would that be worse than Campbell Island?

[RWood]

Originally Posted by ATO2

That's impressive...would that be worse than Campbell Island?

Yes, though the Campbell Is sites used have not been in the most exposed parts of the island. Of course if you sent up some of NZ's mountain slopes you could gte some very impressive numbers, no doubt.

[ATO2]

Originally Posted by RWood

Yes, though the Campbell Is sites used have not been in the most exposed parts of the island. Of course if you sent up some of NZ's mountain slopes you could gte some very impressive numbers, no doubt.

I spent part of June, 1974 in Sydney. I had this idea that everywhere in Australia was always warmer than NZ! Very rude shock, as I discovered that they too, get cooler patches.

[rainfan]

Originally Posted by ATO2

I spent part of June, 1974 in Sydney. I had this idea that everywhere in Australia was always warmer than NZ! Very rude shock, as I discovered that they too, get cooler patches.

June 1974 was quite cold for Sydney with average sunshine & several "wet" days during the 1st 2 weeks. Plenty of S-SE winds during the 1st half with W winds over the last half.

Listening to the ABC radio or "shoutbox" -plenty of Poms/Kiwis go to Melbourne & get a shock when they find the autumn-winter-spring weather quite "cold & cloudy" as they expect sunshine & all year around hot temperatures. Many of them often later on move up north to warmer/sunnier climes.

I work with several people who have come here from the aforementioned countries, complaints I hear a lot of is how cold it gets here at night particularly after a cold outbreak & how it cools down pretty quickly after the sun has set down & when it rains - it rains for a "long" time.

There were plenty of complaints of this year's "cool, wet and cloudy" summer. I responsed with "it's about time we had one as we've had some real stinking hot & dry summers beforehand".

[rainfan]

Speaking with a new workmate who immigrated here from South Africa (Cape Town then Johannesburg) 3 months ago, she couldn't believe how cold houses get here in the winter, I said that in spite of our "warm to hot summer" temperatures, winter is cold enough to need heating in houses here & winter can last up to 4 - 5 months.

Many people get the wrong idea of SE Australia as it's termed as a hot country, which actually applies to the N half, so people hear the word "hot" & assume that houses dont need heating.

Popular opinion is that in Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra houses with heating are absolute musts, Brisbane & Sydney - not necessary BUT it is quite necessary for Sydney and to an lesser extent Brisbane - most new houses have heaters but old Queenslander houses dont. I spent part of a winter in Brisbane in a Queenslander house - heaters were certainly much needed especially overnight.

I do wish immigrants research weather & climate facts before coming here as they often don't & usually when get here whinge about it!.