Overview
| Temperature | Temperatures were above average (0.51-1.20°C above average) or well above average (>1.20°C above average) for most regions of the country. Temperatures were near average (±0.50°C of average) in eastern parts of Canterbury from Methven to Kaikōura, eastern parts of the North Island from northeastern Wairarapa to East Cape, and northeastern parts of Northland. Below average temperatures (0.51-1.20°C below average) were observed in Gisborne. |
| Rainfall | Below normal (50-79% of normal) or well below normal (<50% of normal) rainfall occurred in almost all regions of the country. Rainfall was near normal (80-119% of normal) in eastern Central Otago, Westport, and Tauranga. Isolated areas of above normal (120-149% of normal) or well above normal (>149% of normal) rainfall occurred in Nelson, southern Hawke’s Bay, and Tarapounamu (Te Urewera National Park). |
| Soil Moisture | At the end of February, soil moisture levels were lower than normal for most of the North Island, parts of the West Coast, inland northern Canterbury, coastal parts of the South Island from Dunedin to Invercargill, and Stewart Island. Soil moisture levels were typically near normal elsewhere. According to the New Zealand Drought Index, very dry or extremely dry conditions were present in western parts of Northland, Auckland, much of Waikato, Taranaki, northern and western Manawatū-Whanganui, southern Westland, Queenstown-Lakes, northern Fiordland, and Stewart Island. |
February 2025 was characterised by above normal mean sea level pressure (MSLP) over and to the south of Aotearoa New Zealand. This led to extended periods of settled weather throughout the country. For most regions of the country, temperatures were above average (0.51-1.20°C above average) or well above average (>1.20°C above average), and rainfall was below normal (50-79% of normal) or well below normal (<50% of normal). The nationwide average temperature in February 2025 was 18.2°C. This was 0.8°C above the 1991-2020 February average from NIWA’s seven station temperature series which begins in 1909, making it the 13th-warmest February on record.
Sunshine was abundant for wide swathes of the country. Queenstown and Hokitika observed their sunniest February on record, with 275 hours and 278 hours of sunshine, respectively. A further 12 locations observed near-record high sunshine hour totals (2nd-, 3rd- or 4th-highest on record) from as far north as Kaitaia to as far south as Dunedin.
Further Highlights:
- The highest temperature was 33.0°C, observed at Kawerau on 4 February and Clyde on 15 February.
- The lowest temperature was 2.1°C, observed at Manapouri on 3 February.
- The highest 1-day rainfall was 120 mm, recorded at Secretary Island on 24 February.
- The highest wind gust was 124 km/h, observed at South West Cape on 25 February.
- Of the six main centres in February 2025, Auckland was the warmest, driest and sunniest, Dunedin was the coolest, Tauranga was the wettest, and Christchurch was the least sunny.
- The sunniest four locations so far in 2025 are Taranaki (621 hours), West Coast (606 hours), Mackenzie Basin (584 hours), and Central Otago (582 hours).
