the state of our environment | June 2013

Hawke’s Bay was a haven from the wild weather that hit other parts of the country in June (Wellington almost got blown off the map) but we had an interesting month weather-wise nonetheless. For the first time since August last year I can say we had above average rainfall. Soil moisture levels and water resources are all improving as a result. Our temperatures held up despite a cold southerly blast towards the end of the month. A few more southerly gales might have helped clear the air – sadly no airshed was spared the odd day of poor air quality in June. The month started and ended badly for Hastings and it wasn’t too flash for a couple of days in between. Although Napier had just the one day of exceeding the standard for PM, it was disappointing given that last year Napier kept a clean slate. Our Awatoto airshed also recorded its first exceedance for the year, at a time when heavy seas were battering our coastline. And why the heavy seas? Check out the fetch in the image below, courtesy of ocean wind measurements from NOAA Oceansat-2. What appears to be dragon-fire extending from Hawke’s Bay out to 120°W is a band of mostly 30-50 knot easterly winds pushing those waves right in the direction of you and me!

P.S. (The flow level statistics are not included in this issue of the report but will be updated on our website copy next week. Our MPI comment is also taking a break and will be back with us next month)

20130703_HBRC_SOE_June2013.pdf