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Spring 2004

Monday, 6 December 2004

Rainfall: Below average in Northland, and from Kaikoura to north Canterbury, but wet in parts of Otago
Soil Moisture: Significant deficits persisted in coastal Marlborough, and are showing up in Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and areas of North and Central Otago
Temperature: Close to average overall, a cool start followed by a mild end
Sunshine: Above average in most eastern regions; but a lack of sunshine in the west

For many, spring began with cold southwesterlies, was followed by average temperatures in October and concluded with a mild, although windy November. Rainfall was below average in much of Northland, and from the Kaikoura Coast to north Canterbury, and in scattered areas of central Hawke’s Bay, where in places rainfall was half or less of the normal seasonal total. As a result significant soil moisture deficits have developed in north Canterbury and coastal Marlborough, along with Hawke’s Bay and parts of Otago, with soils drying out in parts of Northland, Gisborne and Manawatu. In contrast, rainfall was above average in parts of Otago and inland areas of Southland, and it was extremely wet on Campbell Island. It was sunnier than average in the east, but cloudier than usual in many western regions. The spring climate was characterised by more anticyclones ("highs") over the southeast Australia/Tasman Sea region producing more westerly and south westerly winds over New Zealand, with very windy conditions at times.

Highlights

  • The highest spring 2004 temperature was 30.0°C, recorded in Culverden on the 7 November. This was their highest November temperature since measurements commenced in 1983. The lowest temperature for the season was -8.0°C, recorded at Snowden (Canterbury) on 29 September.
  • Significant weather events during spring included two damaging hailstorms, a tornado, four damaging wind events, at least three heavy rainfall-events with some producing floods, the worst being in parts of Napier on 18 October. Three notable spring snowfalls produced stock losses in the South Island.
  • The four main centres all had a dry spring, with Christchurch by far the driest. Christchurch was also the sunniest of the main centres, with Dunedin’s sunshine total being well above average. Sunshine hours were also above normal in the other three centres. Temperatures were below average in Christchurch, and near average in the other centres.

Rainfall

Spring rainfall was below average in much of Northland, and from the Kaikoura Coast to north Canterbury, with totals of 75 percent (three quarters) of average or less. Rainfall was also below average in parts of central Hawke’s Bay. Rainfall totals were at least 125 percent (one and a quarter) of average, in parts of Otago and inland areas of Southland, and it was extremely wet on Campbell Island, in the Southern Ocean.

Temperature

Seasonal temperatures were close to average in most regions, the spring national average temperature of 12.2°C being normal.

Sunshine

Sunshine totals were noticeably above normal in Gisborne and eastern Otago, but below average in many western regions.

Full report

Full details of Spring 2004 summary.

For further information, please contact:

Dr Jim Salinger – Principal Scientist, Climate
NIWA National Climate Centre – Auckland
Phone +64 9 375 2053
[email protected]

Stuart Burgess – Climatologist
NIWA National Climate Centre – Wellington
Phone +64 4 386 0569
[email protected]

Geoff Baird – Communications Manager
Phone +64 4 386 0543
[email protected]

Acknowledgement of NIWA as the source is required.