New Zealand Climate Summary: December 2015

New Zealand Climate Summary: December 2015

Overview

During December 2015, strong El Niño conditions continued in the Tropical Pacific. In New Zealand this contributed to the prevalence of high pressure over and to the west of the country while lower pressure than normal existed to the east of New Zealand. This pressure pattern resulted in more south-westerlies than normal over the South Island and more southerlies than normal over the North Island.

The dominance of high pressure throughout December meant that the month as a whole was very dry with several locations around the country observing record or near-record low December rainfall totals. Less than half of normal rainfall was observed for the majority of the North Island and below normal rainfall (50-79% of the December normal rainfall) was recorded across most of the South Island. No locations recorded above normal rainfall (120-149% of the December normal rainfall) and the only places to observe near normal rainfall (within 20% of the December normal) were parts of Southland and southern Canterbury.

Full Report: Climate Summary for December 2015

ENDS

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