May's climate
New Zealand climate in May 2006
May was very wet in parts of Northland and Auckland, and in coastal Canterbury. In contrast, well below normal rainfall was recorded in Central and East Otago.
May was warmer than average in much of the north and west of the North Island, and in Nelson and the west of the South Island, but cooler than average in parts of Wairarapa, South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. The national average temperature of 11.0 °C was 0.3 °C above the 1971-2000 average.
For more information on the climate in May, visit the climate summaries page at www.niwascience.co.nz/ncc/cs/mclimsum_06_05
Soil near saturationSoil moisture levels at the end of May were near saturation in many areas of both the North and South Islands. Parts of coastal Marlborough and inland Otago remained drier than normal. |
High river flows in the north and eastRiver flows were above normal in the north and east of the North Island, and the east of the South Island. River flows in the west and south of both islands were normal or below normal. |
March 2006 to May 2006: the climate we predicted and what happened
Rainfall
Rainfall was above normal in the north and central North Island, and normal or above normal as was predicted in the east. Conditions in the southwest of the South Island were drier than predicted; in the east, the predicted dry conditions ended abruptly in April.
Air temperature
Air temperatures were above average as predicted in parts of the North Island, and average, as predicted, in much of Canterbury and Otago. Elsewhere conditions were mostly cooler than expected.
River flows
Streamflows were above normal to normal in the north and east of both islands, and normal or below normal in the west and south of both islands.