March's climate

New Zealand climate in March

March temperatures were well above average in most places. The national average temperature of 16.5 °C was 0.8 °C above normal. Heatwave conditions occurred mid month across inland and eastern areas of the South Island, with temperatures of 30 °C or more.

Canterbury, Fiordland, Auckland, Waikato, the King Country, and parts of eastern Wairarapa recorded 30–50% of normal rainfall. Conditions were wetter in Wellington, the north of the South Island and eastern Otago.

For more information see www.niwascience.co.nz/ncc/cs/mclimsum_08_03

Soil moisture deficit Soil moisture (click to enlarge). At the end of March soils were unusually dry in the Waikato and central North Island, South Taranaki to Manawatu, and much of the east coast of the country. Late rain improved moisture levels in Taranaki and Manawatu.

River flows River flows (click to enlarge). Stream flows were above normal in Northland, below normal inthe rest of the North Island and the eastern South Island including Marlborough, and near normal in the west and south of the South Island.

January to March: the climate we predicted and what happened

Rainfall

Predicted: Above normal in northern North Island, below normal in the west, south, and east of the South Island, and near normal elsewhere.

Outcome: Above normal in the far north, below normal overmost of the rest of North Island and some South Island districts; near normal elsewhere.

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Air temperature

Predicted: Above average in all districts.

Outcome: Above average over much of New Zealand; near average in parts of the North Island east coast.

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River flows

Predicted: Above normal in the north of the North Island, and below normal in the southwest of the North Island and the west, south, and east of the South Island.

Outcome: Above normal in Northland, and below normal elsewhere. Extremely low flows occurred in much of the North Island.

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