New Zealand Climate Update 240 - June 2019

May 2019 was characterised by higher than normal sea level pressure over and to the east of the North Island and lower than normal pressure to the south of the South Island.

During May 2019, the atmosphere continued to respond to a warm pool of water in the central and western Pacific, with anomalous rainfall and convection centred along and just west of the International Dateline.

June –August 2019 temperatures are forecast to be above average in the 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.

For the autumn season, the regional circulation for New Zealand was likely to be influenced by the tropics to the north and the Tasman Sea to the west.