Monthly

Wednesday, 1 May 2002
Drier in western regions, above average rainfall in parts of Bay of Plenty and the eastern South Island
Warm and sunny in the west of the South Island, average or below average temperatures and sunshine elsewhere
April brought large contrasts between western and eastern areas of New Zealand. Below average rainfall with above normal temperatures and abundant sunshine occurred in the west, particularly on the South Island West Coast. Above average rainfall and below average sunshine featured in the east of the South Island.

Monday, 1 April 2002
Very dry in many eastern regions
Sunny almost everywhere
Near average temperatures for most regions
In contrast to summer, low rainfall, especially in eastern regions, along with sunny conditions almost everywhere, were the main features of the climate during March.
It was very dry in the east from Gisborne to Otago, including Bay of Plenty, Taupo and Nelson, where many sites recorded 50 percent (half) or less of their normal March rainfall. Gisborne Airport’s March rainfall was only 12 mm, the 3rd equal lowest there for March in more than 95 years.

Friday, 1 March 2002
Wet in the lower half of the North Island and North Canterbury
Dry in the northern half of the North Island and parts of the South Island West Coast
Warm and sunny on the West Coast of the South Island
Cool and cloudy in the east
A contrasting mixture of weather conditions featured in the North and South Islands during February. Many districts on the lower half of the North Island, Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay received about twice their normal rainfall. Rainfall was also above average in north Canterbury and coastal Southland.

Friday, 1 February 2002
Many thunderstorms and high-rainfall / flood-producing events
Extremely wet in Canterbury and the east, low rainfall in southern New Zealand
Warm on the West Coast, cool in Central Otago
Sunny in Taranaki and the west and south of the South Island
Low sunshine in Canterbury and coastal Otago
Thunderstorms with lightning, frequently accompanied by torrential rain that resulted in localised flooding, were a feature of the January climate.

Wednesday 2 January 2002
In the North Island very wet with warm nights
Record low sunshine hours in many regions
Dry in Canterbury
New rainfall records were set in many areas during a warm but unsettled December. Many northern and eastern North Island areas received at least twice their average December rainfall, with some locations establishing new records. Records were set at Kerikeri, Motu, Mahia, Turangi, Whakatu near Hastings, Masterton and Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes district.

Saturday 1 December 2001
Wet in many regions, especially central New Zealand
Warm in some northern and western areas
Cool in the eastern South Island, especially inland
Cloudy in Bay Of Plenty, Wellington and some eastern areas
Variability was a feature of November climate and weather. It was an unsettled month in many central New Zealand areas. Marlborough went from drought to deluge, with rainfall at least double normal. Wellington and parts of Buller also had twice the average November rainfall. It was also wetter than usual in many other regions.

Thursday 1 November 2001
One of the warmest octobers on record
Below average rainfall in the southwest of the South Island
Well above average rainfall in Nelson, Marlborough and several North Island regions
Rather cloudy in Canterbury and the south and west of the North Island
New Zealand had the 3rd warmest October on record since reliable measurements began in the 1850s, half the normal rainfall in the Southern Lakes, and double the usual rainfall in areas of the North Island, Nelson, and Blenheim.