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Climate summary for June 2017

4 July 2017

Record-dry June for parts of the North Island

Rainfall

 

Rainfall was well below normal (<50%) for many stations in the North Island south of Auckland city, particularly in the central and western parts of the Island. Rainfall was also well below normal for some parts of the northern and central South Island, and below normal rainfall (50-79%) was observed in the southern and western South Island. Rainfall was near normal (80-119%) in Hawke’s Bay and near normal or above normal (120-149%) in Northland.

Temperature

June temperatures were near average for most of the country (-0.50°C to +0.50°C). Pockets of above average temperatures (0.51°C to 1.20°C) occurred in the Bay of Plenty, West Coast, and inland Otago. Below average temperatures (-0.51°C to -1.20°C) were observed in parts of the Wellington Region and the central North Island, and well below average temperatures (< -1.20°C) were observed in isolated locations in the eastern South Island.

Sunshine

Sunshine was well above normal (> 125%) in Auckland, Waikato, Kapiti Coast, Taranaki, and parts of Southland. Above normal sunshine (110-125%) was recorded in Marlborough, Nelson and West Coast. Sunshine was typically near normal (90-109%) for the remainder of the country, although some eastern parts of the South Island recorded below normal sunshine (75-89%).

Soil Moisture

As at 1 July 2017, soil moisture levels were below normal for the time of year for large parts of Southland and inland Otago. Soil moisture levels were above normal for eastern parts of the South Island. Near normal soil moisture levels were observed for the entire North Island.

Climate summary and extremes for April 2017

Overview

Overall, mean sea level air pressures were higher than normal over and to the east, west, and south New Zealand during June. This resulted in more easterlies than usual over the North Island and more westerlies than usual over the South Island. Settled weather with clear skies prevailed over much of the country during the month, leading to record-low or near-record-low June rainfall totals for some locations, and higher than usual sunshine for the North Island in particular. The settled conditions also caused foggy conditions on a number of days during the month, particularly in Auckland, where flights were affected.

Further highlights

  • The highest temperature was 22.2°C, observed at Christchurch (Riccarton) on 12 June.
  • The lowest temperature was -8.0°C, observed at Middlemarch on 26 June.
  • The highest 1-day rainfall was 131.6 mm, recorded at Hokitika on 30 June.
  • The highest wind gust was 198 km/hr, observed at Cape Turnagain on 13 June.
  • Of the six main centres in June 2017, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga was the sunniest, Christchurch was the coldest, driest and least sunny, and Wellington was the wettest.
  • Of the available, regularly reporting sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four locations in 2017 so far (1 January – 30 June) are Whakatane (1319 hours), Richmond (1279 hours), Blenheim (1266 hours), and Napier (1212 hours).

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Contact

For further information, please contact:

Mr Chris Brandolino, Principal Scientist – Forecasting, NIWA National Climate Centre
Tel. 09 375 6335