Current Climate - December 2011
More northeast winds than normal affected New Zealand during December 2011, producing warm, dry and sunny conditions in the southwest of the country and cool, wet and dull conditions in the north.
What happened in December, how our climate outlook for the previous three months turned out, global and local sea temperatures, and our outlook for January to March.
More northeast winds than normal affected New Zealand during December 2011, producing warm, dry and sunny conditions in the southwest of the country and cool, wet and dull conditions in the north.
A moderate La Niña is in place in the tropical Pacific and should persist into early autumn 2012. For the January to March season, mean sea level pressures are likely to be above normal across the South Island, but below average to the north of New Zealand, with more north-easterly air flow than normal over the North Island.
A moderate La Niña is in place in the tropical Pacific and should persist into early autumn 2012. Mean sea level pressures for late summer are likely to be above normal across the South Island and southern North Island, but below average to the north of New Zealand. Temperatures are likely to be average or above for the east South Island, and above average in all other regions. Late summer rainfall is likely to be above normal for North Island regions, normal or above in Nelson-Marlborough, and below normal for the remainder of the South Island.
La Niña conditions were (correctly) predicted to redevelop in the tropical Pacific Ocean during October to December 2011. Mean sea level pressures were (correctly) projected to be above normal across much of New Zealand, with weaker westerly winds than normal prevailing for the period.
Predicted rainfall: Rainfall is likely to be normal or below normal in all regions.