New Zealand Climate Update 238 - April 2019

March 2019 was characterised by higher than normal mean sea level pressure over and to the east of New Zealand.

The atmosphere continued to respond to a warm pool of water in the central and western equatorial Pacific, as evidenced by above normal rainfall and cloud cover across the region.

April–June2019 temperatures are forecast to be above average in the north and east of the North Island and east of the South Island (50% chance) and about equally likely to be above average (45% chance) or near average (40% chance) in all remaining regions of New Zealand.

The atmospheric circulation around New Zealand was forecast to be characterised by higher pressure than normal extending from the Chatham Islands to the Australian Bight.