Current climate: October 2017
October 2017 was characterised by higher than normal sea level pressure over New Zealand and the surrounding seas. This consistent high pressure resulted in settled, warm conditions over much of the country during the month, but this was occasionally punctuated with rainfall events, particularly in the east of both North and South Islands.
Rainfall
Rainfall was well below normal (<50% of normal) for most of Otago as well as parts of Northland, Gisborne, Kapiti Coast, Marlborough, southern Canterbury, and Southland. Rainfall was below normal (50-79% of normal) for parts of Northland, Auckland, Manawatu-Whanganui, Wellington, Wairarapa, Canterbury and Southland. Rainfall was well above normal (>149% of normal) for parts of western Bay of Plenty, Waikato, the east coast of the South Island, West Coast, and Fiordland. Rainfall was above normal (120-149% of normal) or near normal (80-119% of normal) elsewhere.
Temperature
Temperatures were well above average (>1.20°C of average) in parts of Auckland, Coromandel, Manawatu-Whanganui, Kapiti Coast, Nelson, Canterbury, Otago, Southland, and Fiordland. Temperatures were above average (0.51-1.20°C above average) for most of the rest of the country, except for some eastern coastal areas of both Islands that recorded near (-0.50°C to +0.50°C of average) or below (-1.20°C to -0.50°C of average) average temperatures.
Sunshine
Sunshine was well above normal (>125% of normal) or above normal (110-125% of normal) for Otago and Southland as well as parts of the Wellington and Taranaki regions. Sunshine was near normal (90-110% of normal) for most other parts of the country, except for Auckland and parts of Northland where sunshine was below normal (75-89% of normal).
Soil Moisture
As at 1 November, soils were much drier than normal for the time of year for interior Otago and interior Southland, Tasman, Kapiti Coast, Taranaki, Gisborne, and Northland. Soils were wetter than normal for the time of year in Bay of Plenty, eastern Waikato, and the east coast of the South IslandOctober 2017 was characterised by higher than normal sea level pressure over New Zealand and the surrounding seas. This consistent high pressure resulted in settled, warm conditions over much of the country during the month, but this was occasionally punctuated with rainfall events, particularly in the east of both North and South Islands.