• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

New Zealand Climate Summary: September 2018 Issued: 3 October 2018 A wet start to spring for some but dry for most Temperature Mean temperatures for September were near average (i.e. -0.50 to +0.50°C) across most of the country. Below average mean temperatures (i.e. -0.51 to -1.20°C) were restricted to eastern locations in Canterbury and Marlborough, as well as part of Northland, and other isolated patches in the North Island. Rainfall Rainfall was above normal (i.e. 120-149% of normal) to well above normal (i.e. >149% of normal) for eastern parts of the North Island as well as around Otago and Southland. Northland and Wellington experienced near normal rainfall totals (i.e. 80- 119% of normal) while much of the country experienced below normal (50-79% of normal) or well below normal (<50% of normal) rainfall levels. Soil Moisture As of 1 October 2018, soil moisture levels were above normal for the time of year for much of Otago, particularly toward the coast, as well as around coastal Gisborne. Drier than normal soil moistures were present from Nelson through to northern Canterbury and through much of the central and southern North Island. Soil moisture levels were generally near normal for the time of year across the rest of the country. Click on the link to jump to the information you require: Overview Rainfall Temperature September climate in the six main centres Highlights and extreme events Overview 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. Rainfall during September was above normal (i.e. 120-149% of normal) to well above normal (i.e. >149% of normal) for eastern parts of the North Island as well as Otago, Banks Peninsula, and much of Southland. In contrast, most of the remaining locations throughout the country experienced below normal (50-79% of normal) or well below normal (<50% of normal) rainfall levels except for parts of Northland and Wellington which experienced near normal rainfall totals. Near average temperatures (i.e. -0.50 to +0.50°C of the September average) were experienced across most of the country while limited areas in the Far North as well as coastal parts of Canterbury and Marlborough observed below average temperatures (i.e. -0.51 to -1.20°C of the September average). The nationwide average temperature in September 2018 was 10.5°C (the same as the 1981-2010 September average from NIWA’s seven station temperature series which begins in 1909). Further Highlights: • The highest temperature was 25.8°C, observed at Wairoa on 13 September. • The lowest temperature was -6.5°C, observed at Mt Cook Airport on 6 September. • The highest 1-day rainfall was 182 mm, recorded at Milford Sound on 29 September. • The highest wind gust was 152 km/h, observed at Akitio on 13 September. • Of the six main centres in September 2018, Christchurch was the coolest, Wellington was the wettest, Tauranga was the warmest, driest and sunniest, and Auckland was the least sunny. • Of the available, regularly reporting sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four regions in 2018 so far (1 January – 30 September) are Wider Nelson (1828 hours), Marlborough (1804 hours), Bay of Plenty (1761 hours) and Mackenzie Basin (1750 hours). • Of the available, regularly reporting low elevation rainfall sites, the two wettest locations in 2018 so far (1 January – 30 September) are Milford Sound (5569 mm) and Arthur’s Pass (3554 mm). The two driest locations in 2018 so far are Alexandra (328 mm) and Clyde (364 mm). For further information, please contact: Petra Pearce Climate Scientist, NIWA Auckland Tel. 09 375 2052 Rainfall: Very wet for Otago and the east of the North Island. Dry elsewhere. In the North Island, eastern locations bore the brunt of wet weather during early September resulting in rainfall totals that were well above normal (i.e. >149% of normal) for Hawke’s Bay and coastal Gisborne, and above normal (i.e. 120-149% of normal) in eastern Wairarapa. Notably, Hastings recorded 268% of its normal rainfall total for September, making 2018 its second-wettest September on record. Additionally, Wairoa received 233% of its September normal, the fourth-wettest September on record for this location. Near normal rainfall (i.e. 80-119% of normal) was observed in Wellington and parts of Northland however many remaining North Island locations experienced below normal (i.e. 50-79% of normal) or well below normal (i.e. <50% of normal) rainfall for the time of year. For Whakatane, this was the driest September on record with only 34% of normal September rainfall observed for the month. In the South Island, much of Otago and inland Southland experienced above or well above normal September rainfall. Above normal levels were also experienced around Banks Peninsula and eastern Marlborough while much of the remaining South Island, including coastal Southland experienced either below or well below normal September rainfall. It was the driest September on record for Arapito (northern West Coast) where only 45% of normal September rainfall was observed. As of 1 October 2018, soil moisture levels were above normal for the time of year for much of Otago, particularly toward the coast, as well as around coastal Gisborne. Drier than normal soils were present from Nelson through to northern Canterbury and through much of the central and southern North Island. Soil moisture levels were generally near normal for the time of year across the rest of the country. Record1 or near-record September rainfall totals were recorded at: Location Rainfall total Percentage Year records Comments (mm) of normal began High records or near-records Hastings 155 268 1965 2nd-highest Wairoa 206 233 1964 4th-highest Low records or near-records Whakatane 31 34 1952 Lowest Arapito 99 45 1978 Lowest Te Puke 51 40 1973 2nd-lowest Taumarunui 22 15 1913 2nd-lowest Turangi 40 29 1968 2nd-lowest Takaka 55 28 1976 2nd-lowest Auckland (Western Springs) 47 45 1948 3rd-lowest Pukekohe 41 37 1944 3rd-lowest Kaitaia 45 48 1948 4th-lowest Auckland (Mangere) 45 44 1959 4th-lowest Lower Retaruke 64 42 1966 4th-lowest Farewell Spit 33 24 1874 4th-lowest Hokitika 93 39 1866 4th-lowest Temperature: Near average temperatures for most of New Zealand The nationwide average temperature in September 2018 was 10.5°C (the same as the 1981-2010 September average from NIWA’s seven station temperature series which begins in 1909). Mean temperatures for September were near average (i.e. -0.50 to +0.50°C) across most of the country with below average mean temperatures (i.e. -0.51 to -1.20°C) restricted to eastern locations in Canterbury and Marlborough, as well as part of Northland, and other isolated patches in the North Island. Only a few locations observed above average mean temperatures (i.e. +0.51 to + 1.20°C) for September. Of these, South West Cape was the only location to observe near-record warmth in this category, recording a mean temperature of 9.7°C (0.9°C above its September average) making 2018 the fourth-warmest September on record for this location. 1 The rankings (1st, 2nd, 3rd.etc) in all Tables in this summary are relative to climate data from a group of nearby stations, some of which may no longer be operating. The current climate value is compared against all values from any member of the group, without any regard for homogeneity between one station’s record, and another. This approach is used due to the practical limitations of performing homogeneity checks in real-time. A handful of locations experienced near record high mean maximum (daytime) temperatures, most notably Taupo where maximum daytime temperatures were 2.0°C above the September average, the second-highest on record for September. Record or near-record mean air temperatures for September were recorded at: Location Mean Departure from Year Comments o air temp. (oC) normal ( C) records began High records or near-records South West Cape 9.7 0.9 1991 4th-highest Low records or near-records None recorded Record or near-record mean maximum air temperatures for September were recorded at: Location Mean Departure from Year records Comments maximum normal (oC) began air temp. (oC) High records or near-records Taupo 15.9 2.0 1949 2nd-highest Hamilton (Ruakura) 18.0 1.6 1906 2nd-highest Farewell Spit 16.2 0.8 1971 2nd-highest Motu 14.4 1.5 1990 4th-highest Low records or near-records Brothers Island 13.1 -0.4 1997 4th-lowest Record or near-record mean minimum air temperatures for September were recorded at: Location Mean minimum Departure from Year records Comments o air temp. (oC) normal ( C) began High records or near-records South West Cape 7.3 1.0 1991 3rd-highest Low records or near-records Appleby 3.0 -2.4 1932 3rd-lowest Whatawhata 5.6 -1.8 1952 3rd-lowest Takaka 3.6 -1.2 1978 4th-lowest September climate in the six main centres Of the six main centres in September 2018, Christchurch was the coolest, Wellington was the wettest, Tauranga was the warmest, driest and sunniest, and Auckland was the least sunny. September 2018 main centre climate statistics: Temperature Location Mean temp. (oC) Departure from Comments normal (oC) Aucklanda 12.4 -0.7 Below average Taurangab 12.9 +0.5 Near average Hamiltonc 11.4 +0.1 Near average Wellingtond 10.7 -0.1 Near average Christchurche 9.2 -0.2 Near average Dunedinf 9.5 0.0 Near average Rainfall Location Rainfall (mm) % of normal Comments Aucklanda 45 44 Well below normal Taurangab 33 40 Well below normal Hamiltonc 57 57 Below normal Wellingtond 106 108 Near normal Christchurche 37 91 Near normal Dunedinf 50 104 Near normal Sunshine Location Sunshine (hours) Aucklanda 157 Taurangab 211 Hamiltong 176 Wellingtond 163 Christchurche 1872 f Dunedin 206 a Mangere b Tauranga Airport c Hamilton Airport d Kelburn e Christchurch Airport f Musselburgh g Ruakura 2 Missing 1 day Highlights and extreme events Temperatures The highest temperature for September was 25.8°C, observed at Wairoa on 13 September, which is also the highest September temperature on record for this location.

Load more

  12

Copy Link