January's climate

New Zealand climate in January

January was an unusually warm month, with temperatures 2 °C or more above average in Waikato, King Country, Nelson, and in inland South Island. The national average temperature of 18.3 °C was 1.3 °C above the historical normal.

Extremely low rainfall occurred in many areas, with totals of less than 10 mm recorded in the Hauraki Plains, Waikato, King Country, coastal Marlborough and parts of north Canterbury. InWaikato it was the driest January in over 100 years of records.

For more information see www.niwascience.co.nz/ncc/cs/mclimsum_08_01

Soil moisture deficit Soil moisture (click to enlarge). By the end of January soil moisture deficits of more than 130 mm had developed in many North Island districts. Similar deficits persisted during January in the South Island from Marlborough to central and inland south Canterbury.

River flows River flows (click to enlarge). River flows were variable across Northland with some flooding, but below average to very dry everywhere else in the country

November to January: the climate we predicted and what happened

Rainfall

Predicted: Normal or above normal in the northern North Island, normal or below normal over most of the South Island, and near normal elsewhere.

Outcome: Abovenormal in parts of Northland, normal in some eastern regions of the North Island and Otago, below normal elsewhere

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Air temperature

Predicted: Above average or average in all regions.

Outcome: Many districts above average, with average temperatures elsewhere

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River flows

Predicted: Normal or above normal stream flows in the northern North Island; normal or below normal in the west, south, and east of the South Island; normal elsewhere.

Outcome: Stream flows were mostly below normal, except in Northland.

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