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.
Overall, October 2010 was extremely sunny and very dry in most regions. More anticyclones (‘highs’) covered New Zealand than is typical for the time of year, resulting in a rather settled climate during the month. The exceptions were an extremely cold southerly event which affected the country on the 11th and 12th, and a subsequent wet period for the east coast of the North Island between the 13th and 15th.
The equatorial Pacific is in a moderate to strong La Niña state, which is expected to continue to at least the autumn of 2011. During Nov-Jan, mean sea level pressures are likely to be above normal over and south of New Zealand.
During Nov-Jan, mean sea level pressures are likely to be above normal over and south of New Zealand. Temperatures are very likely to be above average in all districts. Seasonal rainfall is likely to be near normal or above normal in the north and east of the North Island, near normal over the southwest North Island and the northern South Island, and normal or below normal over the rest of the South Island.
The climate we predicted and what actually happened.