Climate Summary for May 2009
Early start to winter. Lowest May temperatures ever in many locations and double normal rainfall for most of South Island.
- Temperature: Well below average over most of the country; many areas experiencing lowest recorded May temperatures.
- Rainfall: Well above normal rainfall in Northland, Wairarapa, Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Above normal everywhere else with the exception of western Bay of Plenty and Tasman Districts.
- Sunshine: Below normal along Taranaki and east coast of the North Island and Central Otago; above normal in Northland, Manawatu, the south-west of the North Island, and the West Coast.
Extremely low temperatures (between 2.0 and 2.5 °C lower than normal) were recorded over most of the South Island, lower parts of the North Island, King Country, Waikato, Auckland and parts of Northland. Most other locations experienced well below average temperatures (between 1.2 and 2.0 °C lower than normal). The national average temperature of 9.0°C was 1.6°C below the long-term average for May.
Double the normal rainfall for May (about 200 percent of normal) occurred in the Wairarapa, Canterbury and Otago. Much of Northland, Auckland, Wellington and Southland received at least 150 percent of normal May rainfall. Only western Bay of Plenty (about 60 percent of normal) and Tasman District (between 20 and 60 percent of normal) received below normal rainfall for the month.
Well above normal sunshine totals for May (greater than 125 percent of normal) were recorded in Northland, Manawatu, the south-west of the North Island, and the West Coast. Below normal sunshine (between 75 and 90 percent of normal) was received along the Taranaki and eastern coasts of the North Island, and in Central Otago.
There were several extreme events during the month. Many locations received record low maximum and minimum temperatures, particularly between the 9th and the 11th and on the 21st and 22nd of May. Heavy rainfall resulted in flooding in south Canterbury on the 17th, and in Otago on the 18th. High winds buffeted Wellington on the 15th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th and 31st. Snow fell to low levels periodically during the month and tornadoes damaged property in Warkworth on the 11th, and in Taranaki on the 17th.
The average pressure pattern for May 2009 was dominated by the persistence of anticyclones (“highs”) over southern Australia and more depressions (“lows”) than normal passing over and to the east of New Zealand. The average May surface pressure over New Zealand was as much as 8 hPa lower than normal. The persistent anticyclones resulted in more southerly air flows than normal over New Zealand, which led to the low temperatures experienced during the month.
Further Highlights:
- The highest temperature during May 2009 was 23.0 °C recorded at Christchurch on the 16th. The lowest temperature during May was recorded at Hanmer Forest on the 12th, where the minimum temperature was -7.0 °C.
- The highest 1-day rainfall total for May was 321 mm recorded at Mt Cook on the 16th (the highest May 1-day total for this location, since records began in 1928).
- The wind gust of 167 km/hr recorded at Brothers Island (Marlborough Sounds) on the 17th was the highest gust for May for New Zealand.
- Of the six main centres, Tauranga was the warmest, driest and sunniest, and Wellington was the wettest.
Full report
Full details of the May 2009 Climate Summary
Climate statistics tables
Climate statistics May 2009
For further information, please contact:
Dr Andrew Tait – Climate Scientist
NIWA National Climate Centre – Wellington
Phone +64 4 386 0562
Mobile +64 27 327 7948
[email protected]
Dr James Renwick – Principal Scientist
NIWA National Climate Centre – Wellington
Phone +64 4 386 0343
Mobile +64 21 178 5550
[email protected]
Acknowledgement of NIWA as the source is required.