Current Climate - August 2011
August 2011 was characterised by frequent southerly winds, and higher pressures than usual, over New Zealand. A polar outbreak affected New Zealand mid-month, bringing heavy snow to unusually low levels across eastern and alpine areas of the South Island, as well as Wellington. Snow also fell across the lower North Island, with flurries in unusual locations further north. The long-lived southerly winds between August 14 and 17 delivered extremely cold air over the country. Numerous August low temperature records were broken between the 14th and 17th.