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Current climate – August 2015

August 2015 was characterised by air pressures that were much lower than normal to the west and south of the country, and pressures that were higher than normal to the north of New Zealand. This circulation pattern resulted in more northwest winds than usual over the country.

Rainfall

Rainfall was well below normal (< 50%) or below normal (50-79%) in eastern parts of both Islands. It was particularly dry in north Canterbury and eastern Bay of Plenty. Rainfall was above normal (120-149%) for the West Coast, Taranaki, and parts of the central North Island, and well above normal (>149%) in parts of Southland and Otago.  Rainfall was near normal (80-119%) elsewhere.

Temperature

It was a cool month for most of the South Island and parts of the North Island. Mean temperatures were below average (0.51°C to 1.20°C below the August average) in parts of Auckland, western Waikato, Tararua, Tasman, south Canterbury, coastal Otago and Southland. Some locations in south Canterbury and Southland recorded well below normal temperatures for August (< 1.2°C below normal). Mean temperatures were near average for the remainder of the country (between -0.50°C to +0.50°C of the August average). The nation-wide average temperature in August 2015 was 8.6°C (0.2°C below the 1981-2010 August average from NIWA’s seven station temperature series which begins in 1909).

Sunshine

Sunshine was near normal (90-109% of the August normal) for much of the country in August. Exceptions were south-west Waikato which received above normal sunshine (110-125% of the August normal) and from Taranaki to Wellington as well as Nelson and Tasman that received below normal sunshine for August (75-89% of August normal).

Soil Moisture

As of 1 September 2015, soil moisture levels were below normal for this time of year for Hawke’s Bay, coastal Wairarapa, and eastern parts of Canterbury and North Otago. 

Percentage of normal rainfall for August 2015
End of month water balance in the pasture root zone for an average soil type where the available water capacity is taken to be 150 mm.
Departure from average air temperature for August 2015.

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