Climate Update 113 - November 2008

Soil moisture deficit (mm)at 9am on 11/11/2008

Soil moisture levels dip on the east coast
Soils in Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and parts of Canterbury and Otago are drier than normal (at the time of publication). As shown in the accompanying figures, the modelled soil moisture deficit (red curve) at Napier Airport and Rangiora reached 50% depletion of available water (75 mm deficit) by early or mid October, which is 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. This is likely to have slowed pasture production and increased demand for irrigation earlier than is usual for spring.

A monthly newsletter from the National Climate Centre.
November 2008 – Number 113
October climate – mostly settled and sunny,with cool conditions in the west and south of the South Island. Lower rainfalls than normal in the east of the country. River flows lower than normal over much of the South Island.
Outlook for November to January – Above average temperatures are likely in most places, apart from average temperatures in Canterbury and coastal Otago. Rainfall is likely to be normal or below normal everywhere.