Current Climate - December 2010

In December 2010 there were more anticyclones (‘highs’) to the east of the North Island than is typical for the time of year, resulting in more airflows from the north and northwest than normal. This resulted in above average temperatures and below average sunshine hours for most places. A severe storm passed over the country on the 27th and 28th of the month, resulting in significant rainfalls, flooding and gale force winds for many areas.

Rainfall

December rainfall was more than double normal (at least 200 percent) in parts of Northland, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and the Southern Alps.  Much of this rain fell during a severe storm which passed over the country on the 27th and 28th of the month.  Rainfall was approximately one and a half times normal (around 150 percent) in parts of Auckland, Coromandel, coastal Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Buller, West Coast, Otago and Southland. However, parts of Gisborne, Wairarapa and north Canterbury received less than half (50 percent) of their normal December rainfall, while central North Island areas, Manawatu and south Canterbury received about three quarters (75 percent) of their normal rainfall for the month.  At the end of December, soil moisture was still below normal in parts of western Northland, Waikato, inland Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Manawatu, Wairarapa and north Canterbury.

Air temperature

Temperatures for December 2010 were well above average (at least 1.2 °C above average) for much of the country, particularly in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, central North Island, and north and central parts of Canterbury. The New Zealand national average temperature was 17.2 °C (1.6°C above the 1971–2000 December average). 

Sunshine

Sunshine totals were below normal (less than 90 percent of normal) across most of the North Island, excluding the Manawatu and Wellington regions.  Sunshine totals were above normal (greater than 110 percent) in Central Otago, parts of Fiordland and around Balclutha.  Other areas received near average sunshine for the month. 

See our December 2010 climate summary

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