Current Climate - March 2010

More frequent anticyclones (‘highs’) were located in the Tasman Sea during March, producing enhanced southwesterly winds over New Zealand, consistent with the El Niño which has been present since November 2009. This resulted in an extremely dry March for the north and east of the North Island, and South Canterbury and Otago. Severe soil moisture deficits continue in Northland and Auckland, South Canterbury and Otago. Significant soil moisture deficits have also developed in Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Taupo and parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

Percentage of normal rainfall, March 2010.

End of month water balance in the pasture root zone for an average soil type, where the available water capacity is 150 mm.

Departure from average air temperature for March 2010.

Rainfall

Well below normal March rainfall (less than 50 percent of normal) occurred in eastern Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, parts of South Canterbury and Otago. It was also rather dry over the remainder of the North Island and Nelson, with rainfall totals between 50 and 75 percent of normal.  In comparison, it was wet in Fiordland and parts of Southland, with more than 120 percent of normal rainfall recorded.  Elsewhere, March rainfalls were near normal.

Air temperature

March temperatures were near average (within 0.5°C of the long-term average) in many regions of New Zealand.  However, Nelson, Otago, South Canterbury and the Lakes District recorded well above average temperatures (more than 1.2°C above average). The West Coast, and from Raglan to Waiouru, recorded below average temperatures (between 1.2°C and 0.5°C below average), resulting from the generally southwesterly airflow during the month.  The New Zealand national average temperature was 15.9°C (0.2°C above the long-term March average).

Sunshine

March was an extremely sunny month for the east coast of the North Island, around Wellington, and parts of the Central Plateau and the Bay of Plenty regions, with totals above 125 percent of normal. It was also rather sunny (between 110 and 124 percent of normal sunshine) for most other regions of the North Island, as well as parts of the eastern South Island.  In contrast, sunshine totals were between 75 and 90 percent of normal near Hokitika and Palmerston North.

See our March 2010 climate summary.

click here to subscribe to the Climate Update e-mail list