Science Centres: Climate

New Zealand climate in October

Rainfall (click to enlarge).

Temperature (click to enlarge).

Apart from one major storm, October weather was generally more settled than usual, a product of frequent anticyclonic conditions in the Tasman Sea. Stronger than normal westerly to southwesterly winds over the country resulted in low rainfalls in the east. Conditions were sunnier than normal in the South Island, and generally cool in the west and south of the island.

For more information see www.niwascience.co.nz/ncc/cs/mclimsum_08_10

Soil moisture deficit Soil moisture (click to enlarge). Soils in parts of eastern Northland, Hawke’s Bay, mid Canterbury, and Otago were drier than normal at the end of October. Elsewhere soil moisture levels were mostly near or above normal.

River flows River flows (click to enlarge). River flows in the southwest of the North Island were higher than normal. Elsewhere flows were normal to below normal.

August to October: the climate we predicted and what happened

(click to enlarge).

Rainfall

Predicted: Near normal in most regions; normal or below normal in the southwest of both the North and South Island.

Outcome: Above normal in the west and south of the North Island, parts of Nelson-Marlborough, and Southland.

(click to enlarge).

Air temperature

Predicted: Average or above average in most regions; average or below average in the eastern South Island.

Outcome: Above average in parts of the north and west of the North Island and north of the South Island; below average in parts of Westland; mostly average elsewhere.

(click to enlarge).

River flows

Predicted: Normal or above normal flows in the north and east of both the North and South Island; normal or below normal flows elsewhere.

Outcome: Higher than normal river flows in most of the country, apart from near normal conditions in the far north and the east coast of the North Island, and the west and south of the South Island.