Science Centres: Climate
May
April's climate
Global setting and climate outlook
Feature article
Beyond Reasonable Drought
Photos: Alan Porteous and Anthony Clark
Estimated annual rainfall at Grassmere, 1890 to 2007, showing the relatively low annual rainfall in recent years
The field day cavalcade drives past sloping land that has been stabilised with saltbush and other drought tolerant species.
Beyond Reasonable Drought was the name given to a field day on Bonavaree, the property of Doug and Fraser Avery, near Grassmere in Marlborough. Over 400 farmers, scientists, local government officials, and rural service providers flocked to the farm on May 14.
A monthly newsletter from the National Climate Centre.
May 2008 – Number 107
April climate – very wet in the north particularly at the end of the month. Low rainfall in the southwest of the country. Generally warm conditions in north and central New Zealand; cooler than normal in the south. Low flows over much of the country.
Outlook for May to July – above average air temperatures, but cold outbreaks at times. Rainfall normal or above normal in the north and east of the North Island, normal or below in the southwest South Island, and near normal elsewhere.
New Zealand climate in April
Rainfall (click to enlarge).
Temperature (click to enlarge).
North and central New Zealand were warmer than normal in April, while temperatures were mostly below average in inland parts of Canterbury and Otago.
Rainfall was 200% of normal in many north, central, andsouthern districts of the North Island, and in Nelson and Marlborough, and at least 150% of normal in many other North Island districts.
Global setting and climate outlook
La Niña weakening
Difference from average global SST (click to enlarge).
Monthly SOI values (click to enlarge).
La Niña is now weakening in the tropical Pacific, and is expected to ease to neutral conditions by July. At the ocean surface, temperature anomalies have eased dramatically across much of the equatorial Pacific. By the end of April, sea surface temperature anomalies were positive near the South American coast.
