Spring 2003
Saturday, 6 December 2003
Rainfall: Above normal rainfall over much of the North Island and in coastal Marlborough and Canterbury
Temperatures: Below average in the southern half of the South Island, near average elsewhere
Sunshine: Above average in King Country and Canterbury
The spring of 2003 was wetter than usual over much of the North Island and the east of the South Island. Temperatures were near normal in the North Island and northern half of the South Island, but colder than normal in the southern half of the South Island. It was sunnier than average in King Country and Canterbury. Soil moisture deficits increased throughout Otago, inland South Canterbury, central Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay where they were significant in some areas, and spread to north Canterbury by the end of the season. The climate pattern for spring was dominated by more depressions (‘lows’) to the south of the South Island with more frequent westerlies over New Zealand overall.
Christchurch recorded one of its sunniest springs on record. Sunshine hours were also above average in Dunedin, and totals were near average in Auckland and Wellington. Rainfall was near average in Dunedin, but above average in the other three main centres. Spring temperatures were near average in Wellington, but below average in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Rainfall
Rainfall was well above normal in Wanganui, King Country, Gisborne, and Wairarapa. Totals were also higher than normal in most other North Island regions, as well as in Marlborough and south Canterbury. A few areas in inland south Canterbury recorded below normal rainfall, but elsewhere rainfall was near normal.
Temperatures
Mean temperatures were below average in south Westland, Fiordland, south Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, especially in some sheltered inland areas of Southland and Otago where they were at least 1.0°C below average. Mean temperatures were near average elsewhere. The spring national average temperature was 11.9°C (0.2°C below normal).
Sunshine
Sunshine hours were above average in King Country and Canterbury. Totals were near normal in most other regions.
Above normal rainfall over much of the North Island and in the east of the South Island
Rainfall totals were more than 150 percent of (one and a half times) normal, in Wanganui, King Country, Gisborne, and Wairarapa, and more than 125 percent of (one and a quarter times) normal in most other North Island regions, as well as Marlborough and south Canterbury. Totals were near normal in Northland, Coromandel, western Bay of Plenty, Nelson, on the west coast of the South Island, and in Southland and Otago. A few areas in inland south Canterbury recorded less than 75 percent of normal rainfall.
Near or record high spring rainfall was recorded at:
| Location | Spring rainfall (mm) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
| Motu | 1056 | 205 | 1990 | Highest |
| Hamilton Airport | 438 | 149 | 1935 | 2nd highest |
| Taumarunui | 744 | 187 | 1913 | Highest |
| Castlepoint | 410 | 213 | 1902 | 3rd highest |
| East Taratahi | 387 | 184 | 1972 | Highest |
| Ohakune, Ruapehu College | 601 | 156 | 1993 | Highest |
Below average temperatures in the southern half of the South Island, near average elsewhere
Mean temperatures were at least 0.5°C below average in south Westland, Fiordland, south Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Some sheltered inland areas of Southland and Otago recorded temperatures at least 1.0°C below average. Mean temperatures were near average elsewhere.
Near or record low mean spring temperatures were recorded at:
| Location | Mean temperature | Departure (°C) | Records began | Comments |
| Clyde | 9.8 | –1.7 | 1983 | Lowest |
| Ettrick | 9.7 | –1.8 | 9185 | 3rd lowest |
Sunnier than average in King Country and Canterbury
Sunshine hours were above average (at least 110 percent of normal) in King Country and Canterbury. Totals were near normal in most other regions.
Near record high spring sunshine hours were recorded at:
| Location | Spring sunshine (hours) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
| Christchurch | 674 | 118 | 1949 | 3rd highest |
Spring climate in the four main centres
Of the four main centres, Christchurch was by far the sunniest. Sunshine hours were also above average in Dunedin, and totals were near average in Auckland and Wellington. Rainfall was near average in Dunedin, but above average in the other three main centres. Spring temperatures were near average in Wellington, but below average in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.
| Aucklanda | Wellington | Christchurch | Dunedin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring mean temp. (°C) | 13.8 | 11.9 | 10.8 | 10.4 |
| Dep. from normal (°C) | –0.3 | –0.2 | –0.9 | –0.6 |
| Below average | Near average | Below average | Below average | |
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| Spring rainfall (mm) | 399 | 400 | 160 | 178 |
| % of normal | 134 | 135 | 118 | 101 |
| Above average | Above average | Above average | Near average | |
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| Spring sunshine (hours) | 535b | 583 | 674 | 507 |
| % of normal | 98 | 103 | 118 | 114 |
| Near average | Near average | Well above average | Above average | |
a Mt Albert, b Whenuapai
Highlights
- The lowest air temperature for Spring 2003 was –6.9°C, recorded at The Chateau, Tongariro, on the 6th of October, along with other frosts and unusually low temperatures on the same day in many other North Island and southern South Island areas. Some Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchards and Marlborough stone fruit orchards were affected by frosts.
- The highest air temperature for spring 2003 was 30.2°C, recorded at Timaru Airport on the 16th of November.
- Heavy rainfall occurred over the central North Island on the 1st of September and in Golden Bay on the 3rd and 13th. A depression produced high rainfall over the North Island from the 27th–28th, with the heaviest falls in Taranaki, Tongariro, and the Gisborne high country.
- In September there were frequent days of gales from the westerly sector, some damaging, with a top wind gust of 176 km/hr on the 18th at South West Cape.
- Cold southeasterlies brought significant snowfall settling down to 400 metres in Canterbury on the 28th of September resulting in some stock losses.
- A severe high-intensity rainfall event producing 200–300 mm in the Tararuas, along with gale-force northerly winds, occurred on 3 October, contributing to a devastating land and mudslide at Paekakariki, followed by significant snow to high country areas in and near the Canterbury foothills. Thousands of lambs were lost due to exposure.
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.