No mild winter for '88

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 241, 3 May 1988, Page 5 (Supplement)

No mild winter for '88

ByAlanWood The real winter snowfalls on Ruapehu's ski slopes won't be any earlier than usual, says Waiouru meteorologist John Standish. Early sprinklings don't have any special significance, in his opinion. "We are in for a normal winter, but it won't be as mild as some recent winters have been." He says the patterns in weather systems he studies to predict the the onset of winter are normal for this time of year. "I don't have any faith in theories for predicting the coming ski season by

watching for unusual behaviour in animals or changes in plants. "There's someone in Wellington who makes predictions using the different phases of the moon, but they could easily just be using reports from the Meteorological Service to make these up." The greatest influence on weather patterns in New Zealand is the difference in temperature between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, says Mr Standish. "This is called the Southern Oscillation Index and we base predictions in weather on the size of this difference."

A large difference in temperature creates intense high and low pressure zones, which lead to more unsettled weather and the prevailing westerly winds which flow over Mt Ruapehu. "These winds create 'the Rangataua Pet' - large hogback clouds that form over the mountain at times. "The mountain disturbs air flow above it to about 50,000 feet above sea level." He says that cigar-shaped clouds coming off the mountain are caused by waves of air rolling off the top, and the stronger the Turnpage 9

Snow train a comin'

A ski express train between Auckland, National Park and Ohakune will open a new era of travel to the Mt Ruapehu ski fieids this winter. The Kiwi Lager Ski Express will begin service for up to 500 passengers, with first and economy class travel and dining car facilities at Queen's Birthday Weekend and operate through until October 24. Contracts for the new service have been signed between Kiwi Lager, a ski lodge owner, Mr Don Fletcher and the New Zealand Railways Corporation.

The express will have three first class, and four economy carriages, two dining cars, a guard van and a specially branded locomotive. A host and hostess will be assigned to each carriage and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Special features will include bar service throughout the train and aircraft quality seats in the first class carriages. Kiwi Lager spokesman Miss Alexandra Lincoln said the service would begin on June 3 to coincide with the Ohakune Beer Festival to be held over the Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Tickets for the service would be available through the Kiwi Lager Ski Express booking office (09 818 7931) and Travel Agents. The express is scheduled to leave Auckland Central Railway Station at 6.00pm every Friday night from June 3 through to October 24 inclusive and to arrive at National Park and Ohakune at 11.10pm and 11.40pm respectively. The return journey is to begin at Ohakune at 5.00pm each Sunday with a call at National Park at 5.30pm and arrival in Auckland about 10.45pm. Turnpage 21