Science Centres: Climate
What happened in June, how our climate outlook for the previous three months turned out, global and local sea temperatures, and our outlook for July to September.
It was the 3rd-warmest June on record, using NIWA's seven-station temperature series which began in 1909. Only June 2003 and June 1971 have been warmer. The average temperature in June 2011 was 10.0°C (1.5°C above the 1971–2000 June average). ). Several all-time June temperature records were broken in the North Island and the northern South Island on 5 June, associated with a very mild, northerly airstream brought down from the sub-tropics.
ENSO conditions in the tropical Pacific are now in the neutral range and are likely to stay neutral over the coming season. During July-September, mean sea level pressures are likely to be above normal across New Zealand, with weaker westerlies over the country and more frequent than normal easterly flow over the North Island.
During Jul-Sep, temperatures are likely to be above average in North Island regions, near average in the eastern South Island, and near or above average in other South Island regions. Seasonal rainfall is likely to be below normal in the north of the North Island, near or below normal in the west of the South Island, and near normal in all other regions.
The climate we predicted and what actually happened.
