MenuMain navigation

November 2006

  • Rainfall: Rather dry in eastern Northland and Gisborne; well above normal in the southwest of the North Island, and much of the South Island
  • Severe soil moisture deficits in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, significant deficits in other northern and eastern regions
  • Wind: Stormy westerlies over the South Island – especially mid-month
  • Temperature: Very warm in the east of the North Island, cold in the southwest of the South Island
  • Sunshine: Sunny in Gisborne, very cloudy in the west of the North Island

November was a month of much larger than normal contrasts in climate from west to east. It was rather dry in eastern Northland, and Gisborne, but very wet in Horowhenua, and on the Kapiti Coast, as well as much of the South Island. The month’s temperatures were more typical of mid-summer in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, rather than spring. However, it was rather cool in the southwest of the South Island. It was windier than usual in the south and east of the North Island and over much of the South Island.

Rainfall was less than 50 percent (half) of normal in eastern Northland, and Gisborne. The low rainfall in Gisborne and below normal rainfall in Hawke’s Bay has resulted in severe soil moisture deficits (more than 130 mm) there. Significant soil moisture deficits (more than 110 mm) also existed in eastern Northland, Bay of Plenty, central Marlborough, and Otago. In contrast, rainfall for the month was about 200 percent (twice) of normal in Horowhenua, on the Kapiti coast, on the West Coast, and in parts of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. In contrast, the national average temperature of 13.6 °C was 0.1 °C below normal. However, November was very much warmer than average in parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. It was noticeably cooler in the southwest of the South Island, especially in Fiordland, South Westland, and parts of Southland and Central Otago. A sunny month occurred in Gisborne and coastal Otago. However, it was very cloudy from Waikato to Manawatu. More anticyclones ('highs') predominated to the northeast of New Zealand and also well south of Australia, with below average pressures well south of New Zealand. This pattern produced more frequent westerlies and northwesterlies over New Zealand

Other Highlights

  • The highest temperature during November 2006 was 29.4 °C recorded at Timaru Airport and Musselburgh (Dunedin) on the 23rd. The lowest air temperature for the month was -4.6 °C recorded at Murchison on the19th.
  • There were several high rainfall events (most affecting the West Coast) with at least 50 mm in 24 hours, during 4, 7, 11, 13, 16-17, 23-24, and 28-29 November. High rainfall affected Wellington, Taranaki, and Golden Bay on the 17th.
  • A wind gust of 159 km/h from the northwest was recorded at South West Cape on the 3rd. High winds from the southwest buffeted Auckland and parts of Bay of Plenty over 9/10 November, damaging roofs, along with fallen trees and broken power lines. Severe northwest gales occurred throughout Canterbury, Marlborough, and the lower North Island on 14 November. A man was killed by a fallen tree in North Canterbury.
  • Cold southerlies brought snowfall to 200 m in the South Island, including Queenstown and Geraldine on the 8th, with hail to other eastern regions and the central North Island on the 9th.
  • Wellington was the wettest, Dunedin the driest, and Christchurch the sunniest of the five main centres. Temperatures were near normal in Auckland, Hamilton, and Dunedin, and below normal in the two other main centres. Rainfall was above normal in Wellington and Christchurch, near normal in Auckland and Hamilton, and below normal in Dunedin. Sunshine hours were above normal in Dunedin, well below normal in Hamilton, and near normal in the other main centres.

Rainfall

November rainfall totals were less than 50 percent (half) of normal in eastern Northland, and Gisborne. Rainfall was also below normal in Western Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, and along the Kaikoura Coast. In contrast, rainfall was about 200 percent (twice) of normal in Horowhenua, on the Kapiti coast, the West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, and parts of Southland. Rainfall was also above normal in King Country, Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson, the Marlborough Sounds, and Canterbury.

Temperature

Mean temperatures were near normal in the north and west of the North Island, and much of the eastern South Island. However, they were more than 1.5 °C above average in parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. Temperatures were also above average in central Marlborough. It was much cooler in the southwest of the South Island, with mean temperatures more than 1.0 °C below average in Fiordland, South Westland, and parts of Southland and Central Otago.

Sunshine

Sunshine hours and/or solar radiation were at least 110 percent of normal in Gisborne, and coastal Otago, but were well below normal in the west from Waikato to Manawatu.

Full report

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.