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National Climate Summary – February 2010: Hot and dry for most of the country

Tuesday 2 March 2010, 9:59AM

By NIWA

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  • Rainfall: Well below normal rainfall in most areas of New Zealand.  A record dry February in Auckland; also very dry in the other main centres. 
  • Soil moisture:  Severe soil moisture deficits continue in Northland, and have developed in parts of Auckland, Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago.
  • Temperature:  Above average temperatures in most regions of the country, except for near average temperatures in coastal margins of Wairarapa, Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago.
  • Sunshine: Extremely sunny over much of the South Island and around Cape Reinga.  Quite cloudy in Auckland, Waikato, and Taranaki.

 

Overall, February 2010 was a very settled month, with more frequent anticyclones (‘highs’) affecting New Zealand than is usual at this time of year.  This resulted in an extremely dry and warm February, for many regions of the country.  There was a notable lack of unsettled weather during the month.  Severe soil moisture deficits continued in Northland during February, and have now developed in parts of Auckland, Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago. 

Well below normal rainfall (less than 50 percent of normal) occurred in many regions of New Zealand.  Record low February rainfall totals were observed in Auckland, with less than 10 percent of normal rainfall observed.  It was also very dry in the other main centres.  In contrast, near normal rainfall was recorded in parts of Southland, Otago, the West Coast; Taranaki, and around Cape Reinga.   

Overall, February temperatures were above average (more than 0.5°C above average) across all of New Zealand, except for a narrow coastal margin of near average temperatures, from Wairarapa right down to Invercargill.  Regions with well above average temperatures (more than 1.2°C above average) included central Auckland, Coromandel, the western Bay of Plenty, and the Central Plateau region, as well as much of the western South Island.  The New Zealand national average temperature was 17.7°C (+0.5°C above the long-term February average). 

February was an extremely sunny month over most of the South Island, with sunshine totals well above normal (above 125 percent of normal) in Southland, Otago, parts of Canterbury, parts of the West Coast, and also around Cape Reinga. It was the sunniest February on record for Dunedin and Balclutha.  In contrast, it was a rather cloudy month for Auckland, the Waikato, and Taranaki.  For the remainder of the country, February sunshine totals were close to normal.   

Further Highlights:

  • The highest temperature was 35.6°C recorded at Cheviot on the 22nd (2nd highest February temperature at this site). The lowest temperature of 0.5 °C was recorded at Omarama, central Otago, on the 19th (not a record for February).
  • The highest 1-day rainfall was 69.4 mm, recorded at Cape Reinga on the 19th (not a record).
  • The highest wind gust in February 2010 was 178 km/hr, recorded at Waipawa on the 15th (not a record).
  • Of the six main centres, Auckland was the driest, Tauranga was the warmest, and Dunedin the sunniest but also the wettest and coolest. 

 


Rainfall: very dry overall  

It was an extremely dry February overall. Well below normal rainfall (less than 50 percent of normal) occurred in many regions of New Zealand.  The exceptions were parts of Southland, Otago, the West Coast; Taranaki, and around Cape Reinga, where near normal rainfall was recorded.  Record low February rainfall totals were observed in Auckland, with less than 10 percent of the normal February rainfall observed.  It was also very dry in the other main centres.   

Record or near-record February rainfall totals were recorded at: 

Location Rainfall total (mm) Percentage

of normal

Year

records began

Comments
Kaitaia 23 30 1985 4th-lowest
Kumeu 11 15 1978 2nd-lowest
Tauranga 10 14 1898 2nd-lowest
Auckland (Airport) 5 7 1959 Lowest
Pukekohe 12 15 1944 3rd-lowest
Culverden 4 11 1921 2nd-lowest
Tara Hills 6 16 1949 4th-lowest
Lumsden 47 62 1982 4th-lowest

 


TEMPERATURES: well above average in auckland, coromandel, parts of bay of plenty and central plateau, and for many western parts of the south island.  

Overall, February temperatures were above average (more than 0.5°C above average) across all of New Zealand, except for a narrow coastal margin of near average temperatures, from Wairarapa right down to Invercargill.  Regions with well above average temperatures (more than 1.2°C above average) included central Auckland, Coromandel, the western Bay of Plenty, and the Central Plateau region, as well as much of the western South Island.  The New Zealand national average temperature was 17.7°C (+0.5°C above the long-term February average). 

Record or near-record February mean maximum daily air temperatures were recorded at: 

Location Mean maximum air temperature  (°C) Departure from normal

(°C)

Year

records began

Comments
Kaitaia 26.3 1.4 1985 3rd-highest
Kerikeri 26.4 1.7 1981 Highest
Kaikohe 25.1 1.8 1973 3rd-highest
Whangaparaoa 25.2 2.7 1982 Highest
Kumeu 24.4 0.2 1978 3rd-highest
Auckland 25.5 1.6 1959 4th-highest
Wallaceville 24.7 2.5 1939 Highest
Westport 21.9 1.4 1937 4th-highest
Lake Rotoiti 23.6 2.7 1965 3rd-highest
Puysegur Point 17.5 0.7 1978 3rd-highest
Appleby 24.1 1.7 1943 2nd-highest
Nelson 24.1 1.8 1943 Highest
Cheviot 23.7 1.3 1982 2nd-highest
Mt Cook 24.0 3.2 1929 3rd-highest
Wanaka 26.5 3.8 1955 2nd-highest
Dunedin 22.3 1.6 1947 4th-highest
Cromwell 27.4 3.2 1949 2nd-highest
Alexandra 26.0 2.2 1983 4th-highest
         
Cape Campbell 18.8 -2.8 1953 3rd-lowest

 
 


Record or near-record February mean minimum daily air temperatures were recorded at: 

Location Mean minimum air temperature  (°C) Departure from normal

(°C)

Year

records began

Comments
Whangaparaoa 18.1 1.4 1982 2nd-highest
Kumeu 15.0 0.8 1978 3rd-highest
Whitianga 16.8 2.7 1962 Highest
Paeroa 16.4 2.2 1947 4th-highest
Tauranga 17.5 2.6 1913 2nd-highest
Te Puke 15.7 2.1 1973 3rd-highest
Whakatane 16.0 1.9 1974 3rd-highest
Rotorua 15.1 2.3 1964 4th-highest
Taupo 14.1 2.7 1949 3rd-highest
Auckland 17.8 1.5 1959 3rd-highest
Hamilton 15.5 3.2 1946 4th-highest
Port Taharoa 17.1 1.6 1973 4th-highest
Te Kuiti 14.7 2.0 1959 3rd-highest
Turangi 13.2 1.7 1968 Equal 4th-highest
Ohakune 11.4 2.1 1962 3rd-highest
Reefton 12.8 2.0 1960 4th-highest
         
Dunedin 7.9 -1.0 1947 2nd-lowest

 
 


SUNShine:  extremely SUNNY OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND and around cape reinga; QUITE CLOUDY FOR TARANAKI AND THE WAIKATO. 

Overall, February was an extremely sunny month over much of the South Island, with the exception of Nelson and Marlborough (where near normal sunshine totals were observed).  Sunshine totals were well above normal (above 125 percent of normal) in Southland, Otago, parts of Canterbury, parts of the West Coast, and also around Cape Reinga.  It was the sunniest February on record for Dunedin and Balclutha, since records began in 1947 and 1964, respectively.  In contrast, it was a rather cloudy month for Auckland, the Waikato, and Taranaki, with sunshine totals between 75 and 90 percent of normal.  For the remainder of the North Island, February sunshine totals were close to normal.   

Record or near-record February sunshine hours were recorded at: 

Location Sunshine (hours) Percentage

Of normal

Year

records began

Comments
Kaitaia 248 126 1985 2nd-highest
Greymouth 225 131 1947 4th-highest
Cheviot 220 114 1983 3rd-highest
Mt Cook 213 126 1930 2nd-highest
Dunedin 245 158 1947 Highest
Cromwell 269 126 1979 3rd-highest
Invercargill 204 124 1932 3rd-highest
Balclutha, Telford 269 166 1964 Highest

 


FEBRUARY CLIMATE IN THE SIX MAIN CENTRES  

Of the six main centres, Auckland was the driest, Tauranga was the warmest, and Dunedin the sunniest but also the wettest and coolest.   

All the main centres recorded well below average rainfall, with Auckland and Tauranga experiencing record or near-record low February rainfall totals.  It was also extremely warm in Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton.  Dunedin recorded its sunniest February ever, with an exceptional 245 hours of bright sunshine recorded during the month (160 percent of normal).  

February 2010 main centre climate statistics:  

Location Mean

temp.

(°C)

Departure

from normal

(°C)

  Rainfall

(mm)

% of

normal

  Sunshine

(hours)

% of

normal

 
Aucklanda 20.6 +0.7 4th highest 9 12% Lowest on record 168 84% Below normal
Taurangab 21.2 +1.7 3rd highest 10 14% 2nd lowest on record 223 106% Near normal
Hamiltonc 20.3 +1.7 Well above average 24 39% Well below normal 162 82% Below normal
Wellingtond 17.2 +0.1 Near average 33 54% Below normal 200 96% Near normal
Christchurche 16.9 +0.1 Near average 18 44% Well below normal 201 103% Near normal
Dunedinf 15.7 +0.5 Above average 37 59% Below normal 245 160% Record high

a Mangere      b Tauranga Airport   c Hamilton Airport     d Kelburn     e Christchurch Airport    f Musselburgh  g Ruakura   
 

HIGHLIGHTS AND EXTREME EVENTS 

  • Heavy rain and flooding

 


The highest 1-day rainfall for February was 69.4 mm, recorded at Cape Reinga on the 19th (not a February record).  

There were no record-high extreme 1-day rainfall totals observed in February.  However, heavy rain and high rivers on 14 February forced changes to the planned route of the ‘Coast to Coast’ Race from Kumara to Christchurch, the first time in 28 years that “Plan B” had been enacted.  
 

  • Temperature

 


The highest temperature recorded in February 2010 was 35.6°C, observed at Cheviot on the 22nd (the 2nd highest February temperature recorded at this site).   

Kerikeri, Westport, Greymouth and Milford Sound recorded their highest-ever February extreme temperatures in February 2010.  In particular, conditions on the 1st of February were record-high on the West Coast of the South Island, following on from a heat-wave in this region over the period 29-31 January, associated with easterly winds and foehn warming in the lee of the Southern Alps.   

Record or near-record high daily maximum air temperatures were recorded at:  

Location Extreme maximum

temperature

(ºC)

Date of extreme temperature Year

Records

began

Comments
Kerikeri 30.4 14th 1981 Highest
Whangaparaoa 27.3 17th 1982 2nd-highest
Westport 28.3 1st 1937 Highest
Reefton 32.3 2nd 1960 3rd-highest
Greymouth 28.7 1st 1947 Highest
Milford Sound 28.5 1st 1934 Highest
Arthurs Pass 28.0 3rd 1978 4th-highest
Cheviot 35.6 22nd 1982 2nd-highest
Wanaka 33.0 4th 1955 4th-highest
Lumsden 29.0 6th 1982 Equal 2nd-highest
Cromwell 34.2 5th 1949 4th-highest

 
 


Record or near-record daily minimum air temperatures were recorded at:  

Location Extreme minimum

temperature

(ºC)

Date of extreme temperature Year

Records

began

Comments
Dunedin 1.3 16th 1947 Lowest
Queenstown 2.1 19th 1871 4th-lowest
Balclutha, Telford 1.0 8th 1964 Lowest
         
Whangaparaoa 20.6 18th 1982 Highest
Takaka 19.5 1st 1978 2nd-highest
Puysegur Point 18.1 23rd 1978 2nd-highest
Kaikoura 20.0 25th 1972 3rd-highest
Le Bons Bay 17.9 24th 1984 4th-highest

 


The lowest temperature recorded in February 2010 was 0.5°C, observed at Omarama, Central Otago, on the 19th (not a February temperature record at this site).   

  • High winds

 


The highest wind gust in February 2010 was 178 km/hr, recorded at Waipawa on the 15th (not a record for this site, for February). 

Near-record high extreme wind gusts for February were recorded at:  

Location 
 
Extreme wind gust speed (km/hr) Date of extreme gust Year

Records

Began

Comments 
 
Kaikohe 70 19th 1986 Equal 2nd-highest
Paraparaumu 111 13th 1972 3rd-highest