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December 2003

Rainfall: Exceptionally dry in the east of the South Island, especially Canterbury with record low rainfall; above average in central North Island regions

Soil moisture: Significant deficits in Otago, Canterbury, and central Marlborough

Sunshine: Very sunny in the east of the South Island, much cloudier in the north and west of the North Island

Temperatures: Average or above average in most regions except in Westland and Fiordland.

December was extremely dry with very little rainfall and very sunny in the east of the South Island, especially in Canterbury where many sites recorded only 1 mm and the driest December on record. Christchurch Garden’s rainfall was the lowest for December in more than 140 years of measurement. Soil moisture deficits are now severe throughout Otago, Canterbury and central Marlborough; and significant in the Wairarapa, Nelson and parts of Northland. Contrasting above average rainfall occurred in Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, inland Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and parts of south Westland and Fiordland. Sunshine hours were well above average in the east of the South Island. However, there was much less sunshine than average in the north and west of the North Island. Temperatures were average or above average in most regions. However, it was cooler than usual in parts of Westland and Fiordland. The December climate patterns were associated with more frequent anticyclones (‘highs’) than usual to the north of the North Island, and more depressions (‘lows’) in the Southern Ocean to the south of New Zealand. These produced more frequent and stronger westerlies than average over New Zealand.

Highlights:

  • December 2003 temperatures ranged from a high of 36.0°C, recorded at Middlemarch on the 31st; the equal highest December temperature on record for the Otago region, to a low of –1.1°C, recorded at The Chateau, Ruapehu, on the 17th.
  • Rainfall totalled 260 mm at Milford Sound on the 5th. High rainfall exceeding 50 mm occurred in Upper Hutt on the 27th, and in Rotorua and the Gisborne high country, on the 29th.
  • Christchurch was by far the driest and sunniest of the four main centres, recording only 1 mm of rainfall. Rainfall was also below average in Wellington and Dunedin, but near average in Auckland. Temperatures were above average in Auckland and Christchurch, and near average in the other two main centres. Sunshine hours were well above average in Christchurch and Dunedin, near average in Wellington, and below average in Auckland.

Rainfall

There was little rainfall in Canterbury, and totals were less than 25 percent (quarter) or less of average in Central Otago, and 50 percent (half) or less of average in much of Northland, Nelson, Marlborough, other areas of Otago, and Southland. Rainfall was also below average throughout much of Wairarapa. Above average rainfall occurred in Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, inland Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and parts of south Westland and Fiordland.

Temperature

Mean temperatures were at least 1.0°C above average in parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Marlborough. It was also warmer than usual in Coromandel, and central Hawke’s Bay, but cooler than average in parts of Westland and Fiordland. The December national average temperature of 15.9°C was 0.3°C above normal.

Sunshine

Sunshine totals were well above average in Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. It was also sunnier than normal in most other South Island regions. Sunshine was well below normal in parts of Auckland, Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, and Manawatu.

Extremely dry in the east of the South Island, especially Canterbury
Above average rainfall in central North Island regions

Rainfall was 25 percent (quarter) or less of average in Canterbury and Central Otago, and 50 percent (half) or less of average in much of Northland, Nelson, Marlborough, other areas of Otago, and Southland. Totals were less than 75 percent of average throughout much of Wairarapa. Above average rainfall occurred in Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, inland Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and parts of south Westland and Fiordland, most with between 125 percent (one and a quarter) and 175 percent (one and three quarters) of average December totals. Rainfalls were near average elsewhere.

Record low December rainfall was recorded at:

Location December rainfall (mm) Percentage of normal Year records began Comments
Winchmore 1 1 1947 Lowest
Rangiora 4 7 1965 Lowest
Darfield 5 8 1919 Lowest
Christchurch Airport 1 2 1943 Lowest
Christchurch Gardens 1 2 1863 Lowest
Lincoln 1 2 1881 Lowest
Le Bons Bay 6 10 1990 Lowest
Timaru Airport 7 15 1956 Lowest
Middlemarch 1 2 1916 Lowest

High December rainfall was recorded at:

Location December rainfall (mm) Percentage of normal Year records began Comments
Rotorua Airport 231 180 1963 2nd highest

Very sunny in the east of the South Island
Much cloudier in the north and west of the North Island

Sunshine totals were at least 120 percent of normal in Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, and at least 110 percent of normal in most other South Island regions. Sunshine was well below normal in parts of Auckland, Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, and Manawatu. Near normal sunshine occurred elsewhere.

High December sunshine was recorded at:

Location December sunshine (hours) Percentage of normal Year records began Comments
Blenheim Research 289 121 1930 Well above average
Mt Cook Village 220 131 1930 Well above average
Christchurch Airport 274 125 1949 4th highest
Lake Tekapo 311 122 1928 2nd highest
Duendin, Musselburgh 230 131 1947 Well above average
Invercargill Airport 223 122 1932 Well above average

Low December sunshine was recorded at:

Location December sunshine (hours) Percentage of normal Year records began Comments
Auckland,Whenuapai 177 78 1954 3rd lowest
Hamilton, Ruakura 170 75 1936 3rd lowest
New Plymouth Airport 176 76 1972 Well below average
Palmerston North 138 73 1930 Well below average

Average or above average temperatures in most regions

Mean temperatures were at least 1.0°C above average in parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Marlborough, and at least 0.5°C above average in Coromandel, and central Hawke’s Bay, and about 0.5°C below average in parts of Westland and Fiordland. Temperatures were near average elsewhere.

Well above average December mean air temperatures were recorded at:

Location Mean temperature Departure from average (°C) Records began Comments
Dargaville 18.6 +1.5 1943 Well above average

Mean daily maximum temperatures were at least 2.0°C above average in parts of Marlborough and coastal Otago. Mean daily minimum temperatures were at least 2.0°C above average in Waikato and Gisborne.

December climate in the four main centres

Of the four main centres, Christchurch was by far the driest, with a record low 1 mm of rainfall. Rainfall was also below average in Wellington and Dunedin, but near average in Auckland. Temperatures were above average in Auckland and Christchurch, and near average in the other two main centres. Sunshine hours were well above average in Christchurch and Dunedin, near average in Wellington, and below average in Auckland. The Christchurch December sunshine value was the 4th highest on record.

Auckland a Wellington Christchurchc Dunedin
Dec. mean temp. (°C) 19.2 a 15.6 16.4 14.1
Dep. from normal (°C) +1.2 +0.1 +0.5 +0.1
Above average Near average Above average Near average

Dec. rainfall (mm) 79b 54 1 50
% of normal 80 59 2 67
Near average Below average Record low Below average

Dec. sunshine (hours) 193a 219 274 230
% of normal 87 97 125 131
Below average Near average 4th highest Well above average

a Mangere    bMt Albert    cChristchurch Airport

Highlights and extreme events

  • The highest December 2003 temperature was 36.0°C, recorded at Middlemarch on the 31st; the highest December temperature on record in the Middlemarch area, and equal highest for December for the Otago region (36.0°C at Alexandra in December 1988).
  • The lowest temperature for the month was –1.1°C, recorded at The Chateau, Ruapehu, on the 17th.
  • Rainfall totalled 260 mm at Milford Sound on the 5th. High rainfall, exceeding 50 mm occurred in Upper Hutt on the 27th, and in Rotorua and the Gisborne high country, on the 29th.

For further information, please contact:

Dr Jim Salinger – Principal Scientist, Climate
NIWA National Climate Centre – Auckland
Phone +64 9 375 2053
[email protected]

Stuart Burgess – Climatologist
NIWA National Climate Centre – Wellington
Phone +64 4 386 0569
[email protected]

Geoff Baird – Communications Manager
Phone +64 4 386 0543
[email protected]

Acknowledgement of NIWA as the source is required.