Feature article

Drought finally ends

Lower than normal rainfall during the 2007–08 agricultural growing season brought drought-like conditions to much of New Zealand. Recent winter rainfall has now overcome the soil moisture deficits in most places. Below is a brief summary of the stages of the 2007–08 drought, as shown by the soil moisture deficit.

[1] October 31

[2] November 30

[3] December 31

[4] January 31

[5] February 29

[6] March 31

[7] April 30

[8] May 31

[9] June 30

[10] July 31

[1] Dry conditions started to bite in October 2007 when it was drier than average in most eastern districts from Gisborne to Otago. The impact in Hawke’s Bay was greater because the preceding autumn had been exceptionally dry.

[2] The drought made rapid progress in November when much of the country had less than 50% of normal rainfall.There was less than 10 mm of rain in parts of Nelson, Marlborough, and Central Otago.

[3] December rainfall brought some relief to Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, and East Otago but was less than normal in Waikato, Manawatu, and Southland.

[4] January was a warm dry month over much of the country. Waikato received the lowest monthly rainfall for more than a century. South Taranaki became exceptionally dry. Many east coast districts recorded less than 10 mm of rainfall.

[5] Less than 50% of normal rainfall was recorded over much of the North Island in February, aggravating the drought. Downpours relieved the dry conditions in Northland and Canterbury.

[6] Auckland, Waikato, King Country, eastern Wairarapa, and Canterbury received low rainfalls in March as the drought continued. Above average rainfall lifted soil moisture levels in eastern Otago.

[7] The north of the South Island and most of the North Island received high rainfalls in mid April, bringing an end to dry conditions. Canterbury rainfall was below normal in some places.

[8] The west of the North Island and much of the South Island recorded below normal rainfall in May. Waikato received little rainfall for three consecutive weeks. A low soil moisture zone persisted in South Canterbury–North Otago.

[9] A long period without rain in May and June meant a return to dry conditions in parts of Marlborough. Dry conditions also dragged on in South Canterbury and North Otago.

[10] Widespread heavy rainfall in July finally squeezed out what remained of the drought in Marlborough, South Canterbury, and North Otago.