Current climate – September 2015

September 2015 was characterised by air pressures which were higher than normal over the South Island and southwest of New Zealand, and lower than normal to the south and east of the country.

This circulation pattern resulted in more south-easterly airflows than normal over New Zealand.

Rainfall
Rainfall was well above normal (>149%) for many parts of the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, eastern Manawatu-Wanganui, eastern Marlborough and northern Canterbury. Conversely, Taranaki, western Manawatu-Wanganui, Tasman, Westland, Southland and Otago received below normal rainfall (50-79%).

Temperature
Mean temperatures were below average (-0.51°C to -1.20°C) for virtually the entire country. The exceptions were parts of Northland, Auckland, northern Waikato, coastal Westland and western Southland, where near average (-0.50°C to +0.50°C) temperatures were recorded for the month.

Sunshine
Near normal sunshine hours (90-109% of the September normal) were recorded across much of the country. The exceptions were Nelson, Tasman and Westland where above normal sunshine hours (110-125% of the September normal) were recorded.

Soil Moisture
As of 1 October 2015, soils were notably drier than normal in coastal Hurunui, South Canterbury and northern Otago. Soils are now wetter than normal in coastal Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne as well in the district of Kaikoura. Elsewhere, soil moisture levels were typically near normal for this time of year.