- Rainfall: High rainfall in eastern Bay of Plenty; extremely low in parts of Northland and Auckland
- Soil moisture: Widespread deficits in the north of the North Island, and east of the South Island
- Temperature: Near average in most regions; below average in Westland
- Sunshine: Extremely sunny in the far north, normal or above normal elsewhere
A contrast of rainfall occurred in the North Island in February, with relatively high totals in eastern Bay of Plenty, and extremely low totals in parts of Northland and Auckland. The high rainfall in eastern and inland Bay of Plenty was due to two days of very wet weather over the 9th and 10th of February. Rainfall was average or below average over much of the South Island. Significant soil moisture deficits redeveloped in Northland, Auckland, and Gisborne, and persisted in Canterbury, Central Otago, and Manawatu. February was one of Kaitaia’s sunniest on record. Sunshine hours were normal or above normal in most other regions. Mean temperatures were average or above average in most regions, but below average in Westland. The national average temperature of 17.2 °C was 0.1 °C below the 1971-2000 normal. During February, mean sea level pressures were above average in the Tasman Sea and to the southeast of the South Island. In contrast, below average pressures occurred northeast of the North Island and well southwest of the South Island. This pattern produced more frequent southeasterlies over the northern half of the North Island. There were no significant wind flow anomalies elsewhere.
Other Highlights
- The highest temperatures recorded during February 2006 were 32 °C recorded at Alexandra on the 10th and 19th, and at Christchurch Airport on the 21st. The lowest temperature for the month was -1.9 °C at The Chateau, Mt. Ruapehu on the 24th.
- High rainfall, totalling 182 mm and 125 mm, was recorded at Whakatane Airport and Rotorua Airport respectively, in the 48 hours to 9am on the 11th.
- A violent thunderstorm occurred near Ashburton on the 5th, ruining millions of dollars worth of ground crops.
- The highest wind gust for the month was 137 km/h from the northwest, occurring at Castlepoint on the 28th of February.
- Of the five main centres Auckland was the driest and Wellington the wettest. Auckland was much drier than normal. Hamilton was also drier than normal. Wellington was warmer, sunnier, and wetter than normal, Christchurch had near normal rainfall, temperature, and sunshine. Dunedin was drier and sunnier than normal.
Rainfall
Rainfall was almost 300 percent of normal in parts of eastern Bay of Plenty. Totals were also above normal in inland Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Kapiti, Wellington, central Wairarapa, and isolated parts of Nelson, the Marlborough coast, north Canterbury, and Southland. In contrast, February rainfall totals were 25 percent or less of normal throughout much of Northland, Auckland, and coastal Wairarapa, and 50 percent or less of normal in Central and East Otago. It was also drier than normal in Taranaki, south Westland, and Fiordland.
Temperature
Mean temperatures were above average in parts of Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Canterbury, and Otago. They were below average in Westland, and near average elsewhere.
Sunshine
Sunshine hours were at least 120 percent of normal in northern areas of Northland. It was also sunnier than normal in western Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, King Country, Wellington, Westland, Nelson, and Otago.
Full report
- Full details of the February 2006 Climate Summary
For further information, please contact:
Dr Jim Salinger – Principal Scientist, Climate NIWA National Climate Centre – Auckland Phone +64 9 375 2053 [email protected]
Stuart Burgess – Climatologist NIWA National Climate Centre – Wellington Phone +64 4 386 0569 [email protected]
Geoff Baird – Communications Manager Phone +64 4 386 0543 [email protected]
Acknowledgement of NIWA as the source is required.