Soil moisture

High soil moisture levels in most areas

At the end of December, soil moisture levels were generally above average across the country, apart from near average conditions in Gisborne, Marlborough, and Kaikoura. Soils were very wet in the central and western North Island, and in Westland and Southland.

 

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