Current Climate - March 2012
March was characterised by higher pressures than usual to the east of the Chatham Islands, and more lows than normal to the north of the North Island. This produced more easterly winds than usual over the country. The frequent easterly winds resulted in an extremely cool March for eastern areas of both Islands, and produced wetter conditions for many areas of the North Island and some eastern South Island regions. It was also much cloudier than usual for the northeast of the North Island, as well as the northern South Island.