Thursday, 11 March 2010

Nor'west Arch

As we started our drive northwards to explore the North Island, we got to experience one of Canterbury's more remarkable weather features - the nor'west arch.

A mountain lee wave - very good for gliding purposes - it forms behind the huge mountain range creating swirling patterns of cloud on an otherwise blue day:



You can see the foothills of the Alps to the West, causing the up draughts that create the arch.







It stretched all the way up the coast as far as Kaikoura:

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