NIWA's National Climate Centre has just released its official summary of the climate for last year.

The full text of this summary is attached. It contains extensive information, maps and tables.

Some 'topline' points are:
* Increased anticyclones ('highs') brought relatively settled conditions.
* The broad climate setting switched from moderate El Nino early in the year to a La Nina by July. The La Nina had become moderate-to-strong by September.
* 2010 was the 5th warmest year since 1900, with average annual temperature of 13.1 deg C. The four warmer years were 1971, 1998, 1999, and 2005.
* Notable climate features included two droughts, several heat waves, and three significant rainfall events.

Some 'podium finishers' (in order: 1,2,3):
* Sunniest: Whakatane, Nelson, Blenheim
* Warmest: Whangaparaoa, Whangarei, Kaitaia
* Coldest: Mt Ruapehu, Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook
* Wettest: Cropp River, Doon, North Egmont
* Driest: Clyde, Ranfurly, Alexandra
Note - these are climate stations for which all data are available. For complete lists, please see the full document attached.

Some records:
* Highest temperature: 35.6 deg C at Cheviot on 22 Feb
* Lowest temperature: -12.6 deg C at Lake Tekapo on 10 Aug
* Highest recorded wind gust: 217 km/hr at Baring Head (near Wellington) on 12 March
* Most rain in a single day: 314 mm at Milford Sound on 25 April

The main centres:
* Sunniest: Tauranga (2414 hours)
* Wettest: Wellington (1503 mm)
* Driest: Christchurch (660 mm)
* Warmest: Auckland (15.9 deg C)

ENDS

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