February 2007

• Rainfall: Well below normal in most regions, flood producing rainfall in Northland
• Soil moisture: Severe deficits in eastern regions from Gisborne to Otago, as well as Auckland, Waikato, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wellington, and Nelson
• Temperature: Above average in western and inland South Island regions, below average in many northern and eastern regions
• Sunshine: Extremely sunny in the west of the South Island

February was very dry with 50 percent (half) or less of normal rainfall in many regions of New Zealand. Ranfurly (North Otago) had no measurable rainfall in February. Rainfall totalled only 0.4 mm (1% of normal) at Lake Tekapo, making it the driest February there in over 80 years. Mt Cook Village recorded its driest February in over 75 years. Less than 10 mm of rain occurred in parts of Auckland, Nelson, Tekapo, and in North and Central Otago. Severe soil moisture deficits (of at least 130 mm) occurred in February in all eastern regions from Gisborne to Central Otago, as well as Auckland, Waikato, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wellington, and Nelson (all more severe than normal for the time of year). Significant soil moisture deficits (at least 110 mm) affected many other North Island regions. Only in Northland was rainfall well above normal due to three days of wet flood-producing weather from the 5th through 7th. Temperatures were above average for the second month running in parts of Westland and the Southern Lakes district. Temperatures were also above average in Buller and Nelson. However, temperatures were below average in many northern and eastern regions, and in north Canterbury they were below average for the third consecutive month. The national average temperature of 17.0 °C was 0.2 °C below normal. Sunshine hours were well above normal in the west of the South Island, Hokitika recording its sunniest February in 93 years of measurement, and more February sunshine than most other major towns and cities. Anticyclones ('highs') were very much more frequent than normal southwest of the South Island, extending ridges of high pressure onto New Zealand. This pattern produced more frequent southeasterlies than usual over much of the country.

Other Highlights

• The highest temperatures during February 2007 was 33.4 °C recorded at Murchison on the 7th.
• The lowest air temperature during the month was 0.3 °C recorded at Manapouri Airport on the 24th.
• Very high flood-producing rainfall (over 200 mm in some areas) occurred throughout Northland and parts of Waikato over the 5-7th.
• A wind gust of 141 km/h from the northwest was recorded at Southwest Cape on the25th.
• Auckland was the warmest and driest, and Wellington the sunniest, of the five main centres. Rainfall was below normal in all five main centres. Temperatures were near normal in Hamilton, and below normal in the other four centres. Sunshine hours were above normal in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, and near normal in the other main centres.

Rainfall

Rainfall totals were 25 percent (a quarter) or less of normal in parts of Auckland, Taupo, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, inland South Canterbury, North and Central Otago, and 50 percent (half) or less of normal in many other regions. In contrast, rainfall was 200 percent (twice) or more of normal throughout much of Northland, and also above normal in Tauranga.

Temperature

Mean temperatures were 0.5 °C or more above average in Buller, parts of Westland, Nelson, Central Otago, and the Southern Lakes district. In contrast, temperatures were 0.5 °C or more below average in many eastern regions from Gisborne to north Canterbury, as well as Northland, and Wellington.

Sunshine

Sunshine hours were above normal in many northern and western regions, especially in the west of the South Island, as well as Otago and Southern Lakes, and below normal along the Kaikoura Coast.

Full report

• Full details of the February 2007 Climate 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.