New Zealand Climate Update 232 - October 2018

For the month as whole, September mean sea level pressure was lower than normal over and to the northeast of the North Island and higher than normal over and to the west of the South Island, resulting in more southeasterly winds than normal over the country.

For the sixth consecutive month, ENSO-neutral conditions persisted across the tropical Pacific.

October – December 2018 temperatures are forecast to be average (45% chance) for all regions of New Zealand except the north of the South Island, where temperatures are forecast to be below average (40% chance) or near average (35% chance).

The atmospheric circulation around New Zealand was expected to be characterized by mixed flow patterns along with periodic easterly quarter flows.