Science Centres: Climate
What happened in October, how our climate outlook for the previous three months turned out, global and local sea temperatures, and our outlook for November to January.
During October 2009, lower than normal pressures and frequent southeasterly winds affected New Zealand, leading to the low temperatures around the country. Southeasterlies also led to the sunny and dry conditions experienced on the west coast of the South Island, as the Southern Alps provided shelter from the wind.
Over the coming three months, mean sea level pressures are likely to be lower than normal over the South Island and higher than normal to the north of the country. Temperatures are expected to be near average over the North Island and northern South Island, and average or below average over the rest of the South Island. Rainfall is likely to be normal or below normal in the north and east of the North Island, and near normal elsewhere. River flows and soil moistures are likely to be normal or below normal in all regions.
The climate we predicted and what actually happened.