May Climate Summary

Overview

During the month of May, air pressure was lower than normal over and to the south-west of the South Island while higher than normal pressures existed to the northeast of the country. This pressure set up led to a prevalence of north-westerly wind flow throughout the month. In addition to frequent northwesterlies, warmer than usual sea surface temperatures, particularly to the west of the country persisted throughout May. It is the combination of these two factors that contributed to the exceptional warmth felt across New Zealand throughout the month. Virtually every climate station in New Zealand recorded well above average (>1.20°C) temperatures during May, with numerous locations experiencing record or near-record warmth (particularly in the North Island). The nationwide

New Zealand Climate Summary: May 2016 Issued: 3 June 2016

average temperature in May 2016 was 12.9°C 1(2.1°C above the 1981-2010 May average from NIWA’s seven station temperature series which begins in 1909), making May 2016 the warmest May on record using this series. The first 5 months of 2016 have all been warmer than normal, and January-May 2016 is the equal warmest January-May period in the seven station temperature record (equalled by 1938).

The full report is available here

ENDS

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