Monday, 5 September 2005
One of the warmest, very dry in parts, sunny and a relatively settled winter Rainfall: Extremely low in the east from Wairarapa to Otago, including Wellington Soil moisture: Moderate deficits in parts of south Canterbury and north Otago Temperature: Above average throughout much of the South Island and the north and west of the North Island; near average elsewhere Sunshine: Rather sunny in the far north and south
Winter was warmer, drier, rather settled, and sunny in many regions. Although June was the coldest in more than a decade with frequent southerly winds, both July and August were unusually mild, with more north westerly winds. Dunedin recorded its sunniest winter ever in over 50 years, and Lincoln (in Canterbury) recorded its driest winter in more than 120 years of records.
It was the sixth warmest winter in reliable records dating back to the mid 1860s with a national average temperature of 9.1 °C, 0.7 °C above normal. Only the winters of 1984 and 2000 (9.2 °C), and 1971, 1988, and 1998 (all 9.1 °C) were warmer. Seasonal rainfall was well below average throughout much of New Zealand, especially in coastal areas of Canterbury and north Otago where totals were less than 25 percent (quarter) of normal. The dryness has resulted in significant soil moisture deficits for the end of August developing in parts of south Canterbury and north Otago. Sunshine hours were well above average in parts of Northland, inland South Canterbury, and Otago, and also above average in most North Island regions. The overall winter climate pattern was dominated by more frequent northwesterlies over the South Island, and more frequent anticyclones ('highs') over the North Island.
Major Highlights
- The highest temperatures during winter 2005 were 25.1 °C recorded at Hanmer Forest on 30 August, and 25.4 C recorded in Amberley on 31 August, both exceeding the previous all-time New Zealand maximum temperature record for August.
- The lowest temperature for the season was -8.6°C, recorded at Middlemarch on 16 June.
- There were at least eight major rainfall events – three with flooding, all occurring between 17 June and 19 July.
- Damaging winds occurred on June 1 near Rotorua that toppled trees cutting electricity. On 25 June, at least three tornados hit southeastern parts of Auckland, resulting in fallen trees.
- Only two periods of significant snowfall occurred. Over 2-3 June snow fell in Otago and Southland, and in the central North Island. Over 25-26 June, snow fall on the North Island Desert Road.
Of the four main centres Auckland was the warmest, wettest, and sunniest, while Christchurch was the coldest and driest. Rainfall was below average and temperatures above average in all four main centres. Winter sunshine hours were the highest on record for Dunedin, and they were also above average in Auckland and Wellington. Near average winter sunshine hours were observed in Christchurch.
Temperature
Seasonal mean temperatures were above average throughout Auckland, Coromandel, and the west of the North Island from Taranaki to Wellington, as well as southern Wairarapa and most South Island regions. They were more than 1.0 °C above average in north Canterbury and Nelson. Temperatures were near average in Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, south Canterbury, and parts of Fiordland.
Rainfall
Winter rainfall was less than 50 percent (half) of normal throughout Canterbury and Otago, as well as Horowhenua, southern Wairarapa and Wellington, some coastal areas in Canterbury and north Otago recording less than 25 percent (quarter) of normal winter rainfall. Rainfall was also below average throughout most central and western North Island and northern South Island regions.
Sunshine
Sunshine hours were at least 120 percent of average in parts of Northland, inland South Canterbury, and Otago. They were also above average in most other North Island regions.
Full report
Full details of Winter 2005 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.