that's the weather, for now

31st December

There's a video of Dan (at his desk? If so; cool view - and tidy desk!) talking about the New Year's Eve weather in this stuff.co.nz article.

Happy New Year!

30th December

Radio New Zealand
Here's Dan on Radio New Zealand talking about the forecast rain:

It's almost imagine like somebody that's trying to blow out a fire, they finally run out of breath at the end and then they just [imitates someone out of breath] - out of breath. That's what the weather system will be like by Sunday and Monday.

You imagine taking a wet sponge, squeeze it against a wall and the moisture just comes out.

Radio New Zealand helpfully provide a range of listening options. The bit with Dan is 35s in.

hiatus?

There might not be much to post here for the next week or so. From the MetService TV page:

MetService forecast videos will be available again from Monday January 9th 2012. We wish you all the best for an enjoyable Christmas and holiday break.

While time and inclination allowed, I attempted to upload some of those recordings still languishing on my Sky box but, frustratingly, hardware and software issues have prevented this happening.

There may yet be a post with links to all the various things people have been saying about Dan on the internet. It's long overdue.
We'll see. At the moment, the post-Christmas sales are calling me...

23rd December

National
Looks like we're in pretty good shape for those weekend of barbecues, picnics, whatever you've got planned.

Our ridge of high pressure, it's almost like we've taken some sticky glue [glueing gesture], put it on the back of the high [gestures placing high on the map] and said, 'stay there for a couple of days.'

If the shock of seeing Dan in a Santa hat earlier wasn't enough;
As we work our way towards the course of the big day, well I think, of course, a visitor will be coming in - and here he is [sleigh and reindeer graphic appears on the map] and he'll be seeing some fairly quiet weather across much of New Zealand as he sort of treks about [wiggles hand]. Do remember to tell the children to leave a nice little plate, whatever it normally is, perhaps a carrot for the reindeer.

There might just be one or two showers ... but don't cancel the picnic plans, barbecues.

Auckland
Picnic plans? Barbecues? You're in pretty good shape.

Wellington
Looks like we're still in fine shape for that trip to the beach. The picnics, barbecues; good as well.

Videos are on MetService TV. The National one is well worth a watch for the sleigh graphic alone.

Merry Christmas!

Dan and his colleague Bob McDavitt bring you seasonal greetings in this short video on Facebook.

Dan even manages to slip the classic 'Grandma' -ism in.

Merry Christmas!

22nd December

New Zealand Herald
Some excellent quotes from Dan in this New Zealand Herald article about Christmas weather:

"We've got you a nice anti-cyclone for Christmas," said MetService meteorologist Daniel Corbett.

"There's just a few nibbles of moisture letting some showers to pop up - but not the ones where you'd say, 'Oh, the barbecue's off, let's all go inside'. It'll just be those quick little showers."

A large high over New Zealand was stopping "any nasty weather systems" from getting through, Mr Corbett said.

"Pack your sandwiches or whatever and head to the beach or the campground and find some shade.

Noted.

National
You are probably packing the picnic basket and getting ready for a fairly pleasant-looking weekend.

Wellington
Maybe if you are going tramping or camping, could see a few afternoon showers there.

Videos here.

21st December

National
Notice that milky colour here, like we've just gone like that [tipping gesture] with a can of milk.

Some showers:
The odd ones, not the ones you sort of pack up the picnic basket [gestures doing so] and head indoors.

Inland again there might be just that odd shower, but I wouldn't cancel those picnic plans.

Wellington, nineteen degrees. Yeah, I know where you'll be; outside.

As we work towards the weekend, the big weekend where Father Christmas comes, I think we'll all still have the beach plans and the camping plans in pretty good shape.

Auckland
The showers are the sorts that your neighbour might see one and you might not. You look at the cloud as well and we've got a few puffs here and there.

A few little dribs and drabs, almost like taking a paintbrush and you go pthoo, pthoo [flicking gesture] like that.

Hit and miss showers, you're not all going to see them if you're going to Grandma's or a picnic or to the beach.

Before you head out to that trip to the beach, the picnic, check metservice-dot-com. That's the weather, for now [with nod-point-nod?].

Christchurch
High pressure:
Think of it like a mountain of air, you just sort of stick it, put some glue on the back of the high [gestures doing so] and [clicks tongue] leave it on the weather map [gestures placing it firmly].

Wellington
Notice this weather system, it's trying to bend its way in, but our high pressure, think of that as a big mountain of air sitting in place, so the weather systems try and push its way in [gestures doing so] and the big high says, 'uh-uh [shakes head], not a chance.'

Wellington, just some of that happy cloud that works its way in [raises arms above head to indicate cloud movement - see pic], that strato-cu-cumulus.

Watch videos on MetService TV. Sadly, not if you're using an iPhone or iPad. No spotting the continued nod-point-nods for you.

20th December

You'll have to be quick to watch the videos on MetService TV; they are usually taken down around midnight UK time. Spot the ones ending in a nod-point-nod ;-)

National
Notice our little area of cloud sitting off to the west, that is easing its way in but, hehe, it's not going to come here.

Decent-looking weather. You can pack the camping gear, get it in the back of the car.

It's almost like you take an air pump and you go shhh [pumping gesture - see pic]. You just fill the area of high pressure. Think of it like a mountain of air.

Wellington, seventeen degrees. You can already see some of the picnic baskets getting filled.

Auckland
Many of us packing for the upcoming few days, maybe packing all the kids into the back of the car.

Christchurch
How ever you want to slice it [slicing gesture], it's some decent-looking weather.

Wellington
Many people around the Wellington region probably looking outside and saying, [looks up] 'what is that thing in the sky?' Yes, some sunshine ... some pleasant-looking weather so enjoy it, yes, plan that trip to the coast, very very pleasant. Maybe you already are packing everyone in the back of the car.

19th December

National Weather Update
Doesn't seem very 'national' to me; in fact, it's identical to the Christchurch forecast.

We are encouraged to think of a ridge of high pressure 'like a big bubble' and Dan gives us two nods with his point at the end.

Auckland
After quite a soggy weekend, the low pressure, we've finally kicked it out the barn door [gestures doing so].

Not sure why I was tickled by Dan's 'towards Christmas' at the end. Tried to screengrab it, but it doesn't do the video justice.

Wellington
Some better weather? It's sitting on the doorstep, it's gonna be heading in.

Radio New Zealand
Dan appears on Radio New Zealand's Morning Report to discuss the Christmas weather prospects:

If you could think probably going back maybe five days ago, if you could imagine for all the children and Father Christmas if he was planning for his visits to New Zealand, last week he probably would've had his wet-weather gear, his wellies, packed in the back of his sleigh. At least I think maybe in the next couple of days he's probably looking at things and saying, 'ah, perhaps it's the tropical shirt, the shorts and maybe even the jandals.'

Hopefully we can just coax that high into just hanging on or almost sort of grab a coat hook, put it in the centre of the high and say, 'hey, hang on a couple of days more please.'

Radio New Zealand helpfully provide a range of listening options, including downloading this gem as MP3.

MetService TV

MetService has launched Metservice TV, not a TV channel as such, but a page on their website for all their forecast videos (instead of using YouTube).

To add to the lovely new graphics and green-screen, we now have even more forecasts! There seems to be a national forecast as well as three regional ones almost on a daily basis.

Perhaps I've been spoiled by having videos so easily accessible on YouTube, because now I'm missing a way to link to (or embed) a specific video.
Ah well, we have more Dan, we can't have everything.

16th December

Weekend Weather: Auckland
Monday, Tuesday; a tick next to those days on the calendar [gestures doing so].

Weekend Weather: Christchurch
Sunday, Monday and even Tuesday; mark those days on the calendar [tick gesture] early next week.

Weekend Weather: Wellington
When can we get some sunshine? I'd put a tick [gestures doing so] on the days early next week.

As I say, tick [gestures doing so] Monday and Tuesday and even Wednesday.

New Zealand Herald
There's a piece in the New Zealand Herald with an amazing quote from Dan:

MetService weather ambassador Daniel Corbett said: "Imagine having a stream of water moving across the Pacific. Put a big couple of boulders in the stream and what happens? All the water just gets blocked up. Think of throwing a sponge against the wall and squeezing it. That's how you can squeeze out 400-500mm of rain and get intense rain rates over the higher ground."

Excellent.

15th December

National Weather Update
This is the rain radar, it's almost bursting at the seams.

Weather Update: Auckland
The darker blues, the yellows, almost like we've just sort of thrown some paint at it [throwing gesture].

Weather Update: Wellington
It is gonna be one of those days where we're gonna be out-and-about with the umbrella [umbrella gesture - see pic].

You'll be there with the sunglasses [looks up], you still might need the umbrella as you work through Friday.

A couple of VHUM!s today too.

14th December

National Weather Forecast
Blimey, when I said I hoped these forecasts would become a regular feature, I wasn't expecting them to be daily. Not complaining mind.

To go with the swishy new graphics, they now have a green-screen. Chroma key!
Makes it look just like a studio-based forecast.

I'd have thought Dan would've been a little more excited, but serious weather = serious Dan; heavy rain brought flooding to northern parts of the South Island.

Think of it like taking a sponge, you push it against a wall and all the moisture comes out [some off-screen gesturing here].

There's video, below UPDATE: March 2012 - MetService recently deleted all their old video forecasts from their YouTube account.

Flooding in Nelson
Wait, what's this? Yet another extreme weather event in New Zealand?

Dan appeared on TVNZ's Breakfast to discuss the flooding. Forward to around 3m 40s.

Almost imagine taking a sponge and you push it against a wall.

It's not like we can flick a switch and say, 'nasty rain band, go away!'

He's mentioned in the NZ Herald:

"It's just a pipeline of rain coming in from the Tasman," Mr Corbett said. "Instead of the weather going straight through, it's just piling in - almost like somebody with a strong garden hose continuing to spray it on the area."

and on stuff.co.nz:

MetService's Daniel Corbett said the high had been like a big boulder in a stream blocking the flow.

13th December

National Weather Forecast
Look! Another forecast from Dan!

A bit of an accordion squeeze of sorts as this weather system continues to churn its way through.

You almost need a scorecard [scorecard gesture] to keep an eye on this weather system.

12th December

National Weather Forecast
Ooh, a new forecast. Let's hope this is going to be a regular feature.

It's humid in New Zealand:
Been to the outside today? You could almost go [swimming gesture] like that.

He refers to a weather system as 'a three-legged octopus' and, for the South Island, 'it's certainly a day for the wellies for some'.

There's video, below UPDATE: March 2012 - MetService recently deleted all their old video forecasts from their YouTube account

9th December

Weekend Weather
Oooh! Christmas has come early for Dan with some swishy new graphics.
But, wait, what's this? Oh no, a tedious tour! Ugh!

We could all be grabbing the umbrella [two-handed umbrella gesture].

High pressure building its way across like a big bubble just oozing its way across here.

Twenty-one degrees if you're out at the café or maybe out with the kids; it's a nice-looking day.

Sunday's still OK, so you still might be able to wash the car [gestures doing so].

Weekend Weather for Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough
Whichever day you pick, maybe the neighbours are coming round for the barbecue, you're in pretty good shape overall.

This is the day we're probably out with the neighbours with the barbecue in Wellington [wait - was that a glimpse of the long-lost barbecue gesture? Sigh].

You know what's going to happen on Sunday? You'll be like this [umbrella gesture] with the umbrella.

There's video, below UPDATE: March 2012 - MetService recently deleted all their old video forecasts from their YouTube account

2nd December

Weekend Weather
It's almost when you look at it you say, 'wow, he's been busy with the crayons' [gestures drawing on hand], just going the reds, the greens, the blue [gestures drawing on map].

Saturday:
If you're gonna be out-and-about, maybe that's the day all the families come round, you're gonna be heading to perhaps the coast, the beach or whatever it might be.

And of course, most of the North Island, it'll be the day for the outside, you go to the café or washing the car.

Enjoy Saturday on the North Island because Sunday, it's a different day. You might be out there with the old umbrella [two-handed umbrella gesture].

If you're thinking, 'what was he saying?', you know, which day was he talking about? Of course, metservice-dot-com for all the details on the weather ... and if you're out-and-about, of course, m-dot-metservice-dot-com [mobile phone typing gesture] for all the latest details on the weather and the radar as well. That's the weather, for now.

The video is embedded below, along with a second weekend weather video for the Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa region. UPDATE: March 2012 - These videos are no longer available; MetService recently deleted all their old video forecasts from their YouTube account.