Soil moisture

Soil moisture on 31 January

Above average soil moisture levels from Auckland to Christchurch

High January rainfalls lifted soil moisture levels in many areas from Auckland city south to the northern half of the South Island.

Northland, Otago, and Southland total soil moisture storage was mostly lower than average at the end of the month. However, top soils in south Canterbury and Otago were generally moist following the rain.

Soils in most parts of the country had more available soil moisture than at the same time last year.

Soil moisture deficit in the pasture root zone at the end of January (right) compared with the deficit at the same time last year (centre) and the long term end of January average (left). The analysis is done for an average soil type where the available water capacity is taken to be 150 mm.