A warm and very wet month for many locations
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Rainfall |
Above normal rainfall (120-149% of normal) or well above normal rainfall (>149% of normal) was observed across most of the central and lower North Island, along with a majority of the South Island. Below normal rainfall (50-79% of normal) or well below normal rainfall (<50% of normal) was observed in parts of the Far North, coastal Southland, and Stewart Island. Elsewhere, near normal rainfall (80-119% of normal) was observed. |
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Temperature |
Temperatures were above average (0.51-1.20°C above average) or well above average (>1.20°C above average) across nearly all of the North Island, Tasman, the West Coast, and Fiordland. However, near average (±0.50°C of average) temperatures were widespread in parts of Wellington, along with Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. In addition, small pockets of below average temperatures (0.51-1.20°C below average) were observed in Canterbury and interior Otago. |
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Soil Moisture |
At the end of February, soil moisture levels were above average in coastal Gisborne, parts of Hawke’s Bay, the lower North Island, most of the upper South Island, and much of Canterbury. Soil moisture levels were below average in most of Northland, Auckland, northern Waikato, Southland, and Stewart Island. Elsewhere, soil moisture levels were near average. |
Overview
Mean sea level pressure was higher than normal over and south of Aotearoa New Zealand and lower than normal over the Coral Sea for February 2022. This resulted in more east-northeast winds than normal, consistent with La Niña conditions. The first half of the month featured very active weather, with two atmospheric rivers bringing heavy rainfall and flooding to parts of the upper South Island and lower North Island. Then on 13 February, the landfall of ex-Tropical Cyclone Dovi caused a wide range of impacts in the North Island and upper South Island, including strong wind gusts, heavy rain, and flooding (see Highlights and extreme events section for more details). However, after Dovi passed, the prevailing pattern shifted dramatically, with the second half of February featuring frequent high pressure and generally tranquil weather.
February rainfall was above normal (120-149% of normal) or well above normal (>149% of normal) across most of the central and lower North Island, along with a majority of the South Island. Nine locations observed their wettest February on record, including 553% of normal February rainfall at Masterton, where records began in 1926, and 475% of normal at Westport, where records began in 1893. Conversely, below normal rainfall (50-79% of normal) or well below normal rainfall (<50% of normal) was observed in parts of the Far North, coastal Southland, and Stewart Island. In fact, Oban (Stewart Island) had its driest February on record, with only 20% of normal rainfall.
February temperatures were above average (0.51-1.20°C above average) or well above average (>1.20°C above average) across nearly all of the North Island, Tasman, the West Coast, and Fiordland. However, near average (±0.50°C of average) temperatures were widespread in parts of Wellington, along with Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. In addition, small pockets of below average temperatures (0.51-1.20°C below average) were observed in Canterbury and interior Otago. The first half of February featured a very humid, tropical air mass over much of New Zealand, leading in particular to very warm overnight temperatures. Sixty-eight locations set records or near-records for warm daily minimum (night-time) temperatures.
Further highlights:
- The highest temperature was 33.7°C, observed at Hanmer Forest on 3 February.
- The lowest temperature was 0.0°C, observed at Manapouri on 27 February.
- The highest 1-day rainfall was 277.4 mm, recorded at Franz Josef on 2 February.
- The highest wind gust was 159 km/h, observed at Baring Head on 13 February.
- Of the six main centres in February 2022, Auckland was the warmest, Dunedin was the coolest and driest, Wellington was the wettest, Tauranga was the sunniest, and Christchurch was the least sunny.
- Of the available, regularly reporting sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four locations so far in 2022 are Taranaki (586 hours), Bay of Plenty (550 hours), Wellington (549 hours), and Manawatū-Whanganui (547 hours).
