Check out some highlights from NIWA’s October climate summary – it was a dry month for some of the country with near average temperatures for most.

Rainfall
Rainfall was below normal (50-79%) or well below normal (< 50%) for many eastern and northern areas of the South Island, Wellington, Wairarapa, the Kapiti Coast, Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty. Conversely, rainfall was above normal (120-149%) or well above normal (> 149%) for south-western parts of the South Island.

Temperature
October temperatures were near average (within 0.50°C of average) for many parts of New Zealand. Temperatures were below average (-1.20 to -0.51°C) for isolated inland parts of Southland and Otago, Waitomo and the Far North, and above average (+0.51°C to +1.20°C ) in parts of Bay of Plenty.

Soil Moisture
As of 1 November 2014, soil moisture levels for most eastern and northern parts of the South Island were below normal for the time of year, while levels for the remainder of the South Island were near normal. Soil moisture levels were above normal in the Far North, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and parts of Manawatu-Whanganui.

Sunshine
A sunny October for the lower half of the North Island as well as northern, central and south-eastern areas of the South Island, with above normal sunshine (110-125%) recorded in many of these areas. Near normal (90-109%) sunshine for most remaining areas of the country.

Read the full report, including regional summaries, here.

– NIWA

– Photo: Zelda Wynn