River flows update, April 2010

Monthly and seasonal river flow information, and our outlook for the coming three months.

March 2010 river flows

March river flows were below normal everywhere except for the South and west of the South Island, which were normal to below normal.

 

River flows, January 2010 to March 2010

Flows over the last three months (January 2010 to March 2010) were normal in the south and west of the South Island, normal to below normal in the north of the South Island, and above normal in the east of the North Island. Elsewhere, river flows were below normal.


Outlook by region, April to June 2010

Northern North Island Below normal streamflows are very likely
Southwest North Island Normal or below normal streamflows are likely
Southeast North Island Below normal streamflows are likely
Northern South Island Normal or below normal streamflows are likely
West and south South Island Normal streamflows are likely
Eastern South Island Below normal streamflows are very likely

Maps and more details of our three-monthly outlook for river flows, soil moisture, rainfall, and temperature are available from NIWA's Seasonal Climate Outlook.

Our last three-monthly predictions and what actually happened

What we predicted for January 2010 to March 2010

Normal soil moistures and river flows are expected in the west of both islands. Below normal soil moistures and river flows are expected elsewhere.

What actually happened

Normal river flows occurred in the south and west of the South Island, normal to below normal in the north of the South Island, and above normal in the east of the North Island. Elsewhere, river flows were below normal.

also see New Zealand Climate Update