Auckland Set To Break Dry Spell Record
Auckland
is set to break a climate record on Saturday for the
region’s longest dry spell, according to NIWA
forecasters. A dry spell is defined as consecutive
days with less than 1 mm of rain and the current record for
the greater Auckland area is 39 days. With no rain forecast
before then, it is almost certain to become 40 days on
Saturday, NIWA forecaster Ben Noll says. Other recent
dry spells across the country include: Mr Noll says the permanent wilting point, or
minimum amount of water in the soil that a plant requires
not to wilt or die, is being approached in Northland,
Auckland, and Waikato. The summer of 2012-13 featured
one of the worst droughts in decades for parts of Northland,
Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, and the
western South Island. “Soil moisture deficit levels
during early 2020 are quite similar to 2013, with
Northland’s deficits even more severe this
year.” Mr Noll says the drought has been caused by
a blocking ridge of high pressure near the North Island that
has helped steer dry, westerly quarter winds from Australia
for much of the summer. The drought will end when
soil moisture levels return to normal. However, impacts of
drought can continue for some time after
that. NIWA’s climate projections indicate that
drought is likely to become more frequent and severe in
eastern and northern parts of New Zealand in the coming
decades. Meanwhile, Cyclone Uesi is expected to
approach the South Island next week, bringing a likelihood
for heavy rainfall. A moist, humid airmass coming with the
cyclone could increase the chance for showers and
thunderstorms for many parts of the country next
week.
The New Zealand Drought Index (www.niwa.co.nz/drought-index)
shows severe meteorological drought is widespread across
Northland, Auckland, and northern Waikato. Meteorological
drought has also emerged in northern Gisborne and northern
Canterbury. Much of the rest of the country is unusually
dry, except for the western and lower South
Island.