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January's climate

New Zealand climate in January

Rainfall (click to enlarge).

Temperature (click to enlarge).

January rainfall was 50% or more below normal in many eastern regions, but above normal in coastal Northland, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, near East Cape, Wellington, and Nelson. Chatham Islands rainfall was more than 200% of normal.

The east of the South Island and the south of the North Island were cool, but elsewhere conditions were warmer than normal. The national average temperature was 16.7 °C (0.4 °C below normal).

For more information on the climate in January 2007, visit the climate summaries page at www.niwascience.co.nz/ncc/cs/mclimsum_07_01

Average to high deficits

Soil moisture (click to enlarge).

Soil moisture deficits of at least 110 mm developed by the end of January in parts of Northland, Auckland, eastern Bay of Plenty, Nelson, and eastern regions of both islands. Larger deficits developed in eastern regions from Gisborne to Marlborough, and Central Otago.

 

High flows in central North Island

River flows (click to enlarge).

January river and stream flows were above normal over the central North Island and the South Island east coast, and normal to below normal elsewhere.

November to January: the climate we predicted and what happened

(click to enlarge).

Rainfall

Rainfall was higher than expected in the southwest of the North Island, and eastern South Island, and lower than expected in the southwest of the South Island.


(click to enlarge).

Air temperature

Air temperatures were below normal as predicted in many districts, but lower than predicted in the east of the North Island and north of the South Island.


(click to enlarge).

River flows

Streamflows were below normal in parts of northern New Zealand, and above normal in the southern South Island, as was predicted. The high January flows in South Island east coast streams were a consequence of a wet December.


The three outcome maps give the tercile rankings of the rainfall totals, mean air temperatures, and mean river flows that eventuated from November 2006 to January 2007, in comparison with the forecast conditions.

As an approximate guide, middle tercile rainfalls typically range from 80 to 115% of the historical normal, and middle tercile temperatures range about the average by plus or minus 0.5 °C.

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