National Climate Summary – February 2010: Hot and dry for most of the country
Tuesday 2 March 2010, 9:59AM
By NIWA
990 views
- 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 |