National Climate Summary – June 2005

NATIONAL CLIMATE CENTRE

FRIDAY 1 JULY 2005

National Climate Summary – June 2005

- Rainfall: Extremely dry in the east of the South Island, above normal in Hawke’s Bay and Southland

- Sunshine: Well above average in the northern North Island, and the south and west of the South Island

- Temperature: Below average in the south and east of the South Island, near normal in much of the North Island

June for many was drier and sunnier than normal. Rainfall was well below normal in Marlborough, Canterbury, and parts of Otago, where many locations recorded totals ranging from 5 to 15 mm, some sites experiencing their driest June since the mid 1980s. Timaru Airport recorded a total of only 4 mm (11 percent of normal). In contrast, above average rainfall occurred in Hawke’s Bay and Southland. It was very sunny for June in northern regions of the North Island, and also the south and west of the South Island, Dunedin having its sunniest June in more than 50 years of measurement. The national average temperature for June was 8.3 °C. This was 0.2 °C below normal, and the lowest for June in a decade (7.8 °C in 1996). It was also the first June since 1998 which was not warmer than normal. Mean temperatures were near average throughout much of the North Island and the north of the South Island. They were below average in Canterbury, Southland, and Otago. During June, anticyclones (‘highs’) were often centred west of the South Island. These resulted in above average pressures over New Zealand, with more frequent cool southerlies than average, especially over the North Island.

Other Highlights:

- The highest temperature during June 2005 was 20.6°C recorded at Henderson (Auckland) on the 20th. The lowest temperature for the month was -8.6°C, recorded at Middlemarch on the 16th. Air temperatures fell to

-6.1C at Christchurch Airport on the 25th June, the lowest June temperature there in 30 years.

- Damaging winds, attributed to a tornado, toppled trees near Lake Rotoiti, Rotorua on 1 June.

- A couple (one injured) were rescued from their yacht after being caught in a severe storm over 11-12 June north of New Zealand.

- Several damaging tornados affected parts of Auckland on 25 June.

- Several Otago and Southland roads, as well as the North Islands Desert Road, were closed by snow on 2-3 June, with some motorists trapped in the snow.

- Of the four main centres Christchurch was the driest, and Auckland the warmest. Rainfall was below average in all four centres. Temperatures were above average in Auckland, near average in Dunedin, and below average in Wellington and Christchurch. Sunshine hours were well above average in Auckland and Dunedin, near average in Wellington, and below average in Christchurch.

Rainfall: Rainfall was 25 percent (quarter) of normal or less in Marlborough, Canterbury, and parts of Otago, and less than 50 percent (half) of normal in Kapiti, Horowhenua, and Wellington. Totals were also below normal in Bay of Plenty, Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wairarapa, and parts of Nelson. Rainfall was above normal in Hawke’s Bay and Southland.

Sunshine: Sunshine hours were well above average in much of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Buller, Westland, inland South Canterbury, and Otago, and also above average in Bay of Plenty. Sunshine hours were well below average in West Otago.

Temperature: Temperatures were near average throughout much of the North Island and the north of the South Island. They were below average in Canterbury, Southland, and Otago.

WELL BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL IN THE EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND

Rainfall was 25 percent (quarter) of normal or less in Marlborough, Canterbury, and parts of Otago. It was also relatively dry, with less than 50 percent (half) of normal rainfall, in Kapiti, Horowhenua, and Wellington. Totals were 75 percent of normal in Bay of Plenty, Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wairarapa, and parts of Nelson. In contrast, rainfall was 175-200 percent of normal in Hawke’s Bay and Southland. Rainfall was near normal elsewhere.

Near or record low June rainfall was recorded at:

Location / June rainfall(mm) / Percentage of normal / Year Records began / Comments

Blenheim Research 15 23 1986 Lowest
Blenheim Airport 14 22 1941 Well below average
Winchmore 11 17 1947 Lowest since 1984 (7 mm)
Darfield 17 24 1920 Lowest since 1984 (9 mm)
Christchurch Airport 12 20 1944 Well below average
Lake Tekapo 16 27 1925 Well below average
Timaru Airport 4 11 1957 3rd lowest
Oamaru Airport 9 24 1941 Well below average
Tara Hills, Omarama 11 25 1950 Well below average
Ranfurly 7 27 1975 2nd lowest
Clyde 11 30 1983 2nd lowest

VERY SUNNY IN THE NORTHERN NORTH ISLAND AND THE SOUTH AND WEST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND

Sunshine hours were at least 120 percent of average in much of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Buller, Westland, inland South Canterbury, and Otago, and at least 110 percent of average in parts of Bay of Plenty. However, they were less than 80 percent of average in West Otago. Hours of bright sunshine were near average elsewhere.

Near or record high June sunshine hours were recorded at:

Location / June sunshine (hours) / Percentage of normal / Year Records began / Comments

Dargaville 125 137 1943 Well above average
Auckland, Mangere 141 126 1963 3rd highest
Takaka 183 134 1986 Highest
Hokitika Airport 138 136 1964 Well above average
Dunedin, Musselburgh 141 162 1948 Highest
Queenstown 58 77 1930 Well below average

BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND

Temperatures were near average throughout much of the North Island and the north of the South Island. They were about 0.5°C below average in Canterbury, and Southland, and about 0.5 to 1.0°C below average in Otago.

JUNE’S CLIMATE IN THE FOUR MAIN CENTRES

Of the four main centres Christchurch was the driest, and Auckland the warmest. Rainfall was below average in all four centres. Temperatures were above average in Auckland, near average in Dunedin, and below average in Wellington and Christchurch. Sunshine hours were well above average in Auckland and Dunedin, near average in Wellington, and below average in Christchurch.

Location / June Mean Temp.(°C) / Dep. from normal (°C) / June rainfall (mm) / % of normal / June Sunshine (hours) / % of normal

Auckland 12.0a +0.3 Above average 115b 83 Below average 141a 126 Well above average
Wellington 9.1 -0.4 Below average 49 34 Well below average 97 99 Near average
Christchurch 5.6c -0.5 Below average 12c 20 Well below average 109 91 Below average
Dunedin 6.9 -0.1 Near average 49 67 Below average 141 162 Record high

a Mangere b Mt Albert c Christchurch Airport

HIGHLIGHTS AND EXTREME EVENTS

- Temperature

The highest temperature during June 2005 was 20.6°C recorded at Henderson (Auckland) on the 20th. The lowest temperature for the month was -8.6°C, recorded at Middlemarch on the 16th.

Near or record low June minimum air temperatures were recorded at:

Location / Min. temperature °C / Date of occurrence / Records Began / Comments

Whakatu, Hastings -4.9 28 June 1983 Lowest for June
Appleby, Nelson -5.5 27 June 1932 Lowest for June
Culverden -8.2 25 June 1983 Lowest for June
Christchurch Airport -6.1 25 June 1954 2nd lowest (-7.2°C in 1975)

- High rainfall

17 June

Rainfall totalling 50 to 90 mm occurred in the Bay of Islands, western Nelson, and South Westland.

24 June

Rainfall totalling about 70 mm occurred in Whitianga.

28 June

Rainfall totalling 65-90 mm occurred in South Westland and Fiordland, and western Southland.

- High winds, rough seas, and tornadoes

1 June

Damaging winds, attributed to a tornado, toppled trees – cutting electricity to over 1000 homes near Lake Rotoiti, Rotorua.

11-12 June

A couple (one person was injured) and their yacht were caught in a severe storm in high winds and 7 to 8 metre swells about 750 km north of New Zealand. They were safely rescued and brought back to New Zealand.

25 June

At least three tornados hit southeastern parts of Auckland, resulting in fallen trees (trapping several people), and surface flooding.

- Snowfall

2-3 June

Several Otago and Southland roads were closed by snow on 2-3 June, with sleet and hail elsewhere in the region. As much as 15 cm of snowfall lay in parts of eastern Southland, with lesser amounts in the Catlins and along the South Otago coast, including the motorway north of Dunedin. Several central North Island roads were also closed due to snowfall, about 20 cars and two trucks being trapped in the snow. The Desert Road was closed by ice on 5 June.

25-26 June

Snow fall on the North Island Desert Road, and on the Orongorongo Ranges east of Wellington

ENDS

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