Climate Summary for February 2015

A dry month in the east of both Islands and widespread dry soils.

Rainfall	Rainfall was well below normal (< 50%) for eastern areas of both Islands, particularly partsof Northland, eastern Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, Canterbury, and northern Otago. Rainfall was below normal (50-79%) for most other parts of the country, the exception being Central Otago and Southland, where rainfall was above normal (120-149%) or well above normal (> 149%) in some areas.
Soil Moisture	As of 1 March 2015, soil moisture levels were below normal for the time of year for extensive areas of New Zealand, with the exception of the Central Plateau and Whanganui areas of the North Island and Central Otago and northern Southland in the South Island.
Temperature	February temperatures were near average (within 0.5°C of the monthly average) for most of the country, with some areas experiencing below average temperatures (-0.51°C to -1.20°C). It was a cool month for the central North Island and southern Hawkes Bay, with temperatures well below average (< -1.20°C) in some parts.
Sunshine	It was a sunny month for western and central areas of the South Island, where well above normal sunshine totals for February were recorded (> 125%). For the remainder of the country, sunshine totals were mostly near normal (within 10% of February normal).

Overview

February 2015 was characterised by higher air pressures than normal over and to the south and west of New Zealand, which caused a weak south-westerly airflow anomaly over the country. This pressure pattern resulted in dry conditions for many areas but especially in the east of both Islands, and near average temperatures for much of the country. The predominance of anticyclones (highs) during the month was reflected in rainfalls for the month as a whole, which were well below normal (< 50% of the February normal) or below normal (50-79% of the February normal) for most of New Zealand, except for parts of the South Island around Central Otago and Southland, where rainfall was above normal (120-149% of the February normal) or well above normal (> 149% of February normal). The low rainfall, in addition to a very dry January, contributed to soil moisture levels that were much lower than normal for the time of year in many areas. Specifically, as of 1 March 2015, soils were much drier than normal for most of the North Island (aside from Central Plateau and Whanganui areas) and north-western, central, and southern areas of the South Island. Central Otago soils were wetter than normal for the time of year.

February temperatures were near average overall for most of the country (within 0.5°C of the February average). However, pockets of well below average temperatures (< 1.20°C below the February average) occurred in the King Country, Ruapehu, and southern Hawkes Bay. Temperatures were also below average (0.51-1.20°C below the February average) in scattered parts of: Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wairarapa, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Westland, Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago. The nation-wide average temperature in February 2015 was 17.0°C (0.2°C below the 1981-2010 February average from NIWA’s seven station temperature series which begins in 1909)^[1].

It was a sunny month for much of the South Island, with the prevailing pressure pattern of anticyclones (highs) giving rise to clear skies and sunny days. Western and central areas of the South Island recorded well above normal sunshine totals for February (> 125% of February normal). Above normal sunshine (110-119% of February normal) was recorded in the King Country, Marlborough, and Southland. Most other areas of the country recorded near normal sunshine hours (within 10% of February normal).

Further Highlights:

• The highest temperature was 33.5°C, observed at Waiau (North Canterbury) on 1 February.
• The lowest temperature was -1.5°C, observed at Ranfurly on 26 February.
• The highest 1-day rainfall was 194 mm, recorded at North Egmont on 1 February.
• The highest wind gust was 150 km/hr, observed at South West Cape on 4 February.
• Of the six main centres in February 2015, Auckland was the warmest, Dunedin was the coolest and wettest, Hamilton was the cloudiest, and Christchurch was the driest and sunniest.
• Of the available, regularly reporting sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four centres so far in 2015 (1 January to 28 February) are: New Plymouth (636 hours), Appleby (583 hours), Paraparaumu (576 hours) and Nelson (572 hours).

Download the full report:

Monthly Climate Summary - February 2015

Climate statistics table:

Climate statistics for February 2015 [68Kb PDF]

For further information, please contact:

Mr Chris Brandolino
NIWA Forecaster – NIWA National Climate Centre
Tel. 09 375 6335, Mobile (027) 886 0014