March
February's climate
Global setting and climate outlook
Feature article
The 2007–08 drought: some comparisons of regional moisture deficits
Summer soils in 2007–08 were the driest for many years at Ruakura climate station, following lower than normal rainfall since September.
Napier was unusually dry by late October, although above average rainfall was recorded in December.
Kaikoura recorded 93 DSMD during November 2007 to February 2008.
A monthly newsletter from the National Climate Centre.
March 2008 – Number 105
February climate – locally wet in Northland and Canterbury. Else where sunny and generally dry. Low stream and river flows apart from Northland and Canterbury.
Outlook for March to May – air temperatures are likely to be average or above average across the country. Near normal rainfall in most places, although Northland may be wetter than normal.
New Zealand climate in February
Rainfall (click to enlarge).
Temperature (click to enlarge).
Rainfall was 50% or less of normal over much of the North Island from Manukau southwards, and in coastal Otago and parts of Southland. Twice normal rainfall was recorded in Northland, and parts of Canterbury.
February temperatures were above average in western areas, and near average over the north of the South Island and the northeast of the North Island. The national average temperature of 17.7 °C was 0.5 °C above normal.
Global setting and climate outlook
La Niña likely to remain until autumn
Difference from average global SST (click to enlarge).
Monthly SOI values (click to enlarge).
A mature La Niña event continues in the tropical Pacific, and is very likely to persist through autumn 2008. Below normal sea surface temperatures (SSTs) extend across most of the equatorial Pacific, with anomalies of –2.0 °C or more over the central equatorial region (Date Line to 120° W, approximately).
