A mild month, dry in the North and wet in the South.
| Temperature | Temperatures were above average (0.51-1.20°C above average) for inland parts of Southland, Otago, southern and central parts of Canterbury, southern Taranaki, southern Waikato, the western Bay of Plenty, and southern and western parts of Northland. Temperatures were generally near average (±0.50°C of average) for the remainder of the country. |
| Rainfall | Rainfall was below normal (50-79% of normal) or well below normal (<50% of normal) for most of the North Island, Nelson, and Tasman. Rainfall was above normal (120-149% of normal) or well above normal (>149% of normal) for southern, inland, and eastern parts of the South Island, northern parts of the West Coast, and southern parts of the Wellington region. |
| Soil moisture | At the end September, soil moisture levels were higher than normal for southern, eastern, and inland parts of the South Island. Soil moisture was lower than normal for eastern parts of Northland. Near normal soil moisture levels were typical for the remainder of the country. |
Overview
Mean sea level air pressure was higher than normal over the Tasman Sea, and lower than normal to the south and east of Aotearoa New Zealand. This pattern led to more frequent southwesterly airflows across the country. By the end of September, very strong El Niño conditions were present in the tropical Pacific. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) around New Zealand were mostly near average or above average, except east of the North Island where cooler-than-average SSTs were present. Marine Heatwave (MHW) conditions persisted to the west and south of the South Island, although their extent and intensity decreased compared to preceding months.
The nationwide average temperature in September 2026 was 11.0°C. This is 0.4°C above the 1991-2020 September average, making it New Zealand’s equal-22nd warmest September since Earth Sciences New Zealand’s seven station temperature series began in 1909. The month was relatively warm for eastern and inland parts of the South Island south of Christchurch, where temperatures were above average (0.51-1.20°C above average). Temperatures were also above average for western parts of Tasman, southern Taranaki, Taupō, western Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, southern parts of Northland, and Kaipara. Temperatures were mostly near average (±0.50°C of average) for remaining parts of the country.
September was a dry month for much of the North Island, and northern parts of the South Island. Rainfall was below normal (50-79% of normal) or well below normal (<50% of normal) in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, inland parts of Manawatū-Whanganui, Nelson, and northern Tasman. In contrast, it was a wet month for much of the South Island, and southernmost parts of the North Island. Rainfall was above normal (120-149% of normal) or well above normal (>149% of normal) in Southland, Otago, much of Canterbury, eastern Marlborough, and southern parts of the Wellington region. September rainfall was mostly near normal (80-119% of normal) for remaining parts of the country, including about Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, central parts of the West Coast, northern Wairarapa, and coastal Manawatū-Whanganui.
Further highlights
- The highest temperature was 24.8°C, observed at Whakatu on 27 September.
- The lowest temperature was -6.1°C, observed at Pukaki Aerodrome on 24 September.
- The highest 1-day rainfall was 154 mm, recorded at Mt Cook Village on 3 September.
- The highest wind gust was 222 km/h, observed at Cape Turnagain on 10 September.
- Of the six main centres, Tauranga was the warmest and driest, Christchurch was coolest and sunniest, Wellington was the wettest, and Hamilton was the least sunny.
- The sunniest four locations in 2026 so far are Nelson (2056 hours), Whakatāne (2019 hours), New Plymouth (1958 hours) and Richmond (1954 hours).
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