New Zealand has just experienced its warmest November on record.
Early this week, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) released its climate summary for spring.
It was a wet season for much of the North Island with above average or well above average rainfall in most regions.The majority of the South Island saw normal amounts of rainfall.
However, it was in the temperature area that the records fell. It was so warm that November became the warmest November on record. The average temperature was 1.8C above average.
But the warmth of November was not the case for September and October. NIWA said both months saw winter-like cold snaps. Snow flurries were experienced in Dunedin and snow fell in Christchurch.
Spring overview
- Highest temperature: 30.2C – Hanmer Forest on 15 November
- Lowest temperature” -9.6C – Mount Cook Airport on 6 September
- Highest 1-day rainfall: 168mm – Lake Moeraki on 1 September
- Highest wind gust: 176kmh – Cape Turnagain on 4 September
- Of the six main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Dunedin was the coolest and driest, Tauranga was the wettest, Christchurch was the sunniest, Hamilton was the least sunny
