Science Centres: Climate
What happened in July, how our climate outlook for the previous three months turned out, global and local sea temperatures, and our outlook for August to October.
Low pressures were anchored south of New Zealand and the Chatham Islands during July, producing an extremely windy and stormy month overall. Mean sea level pressures over the southern half of the South Island were unusually low for the month as a whole, and the monthly "westerly wind" index for Christchurch southwards was the second-strongest for July, since records began in 1941.
ENSO conditions in the tropical Pacific are now in the neutral range and are expected to remain neutral through to spring. During the August-October season as a whole, mean sea level pressures are likely to be above normal to the south and southeast of New Zealand, with weaker westerlies over the country, on average. However, the month of August is expected to be rather different, with a continuation of the recent disturbed south-westerly flow.
During August-October, mean sea level pressures are likely to be above normal to the south and southeast of New Zealand, with weaker westerlies over the country, on average. Temperatures are likely to be near average or above average in all regions. Seasonal rainfall is likely to be normal 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.
