Each month, NIWA collects climate and weather data from around the country, and produces a report with the highs, lows and in betweens around NZ.

Check out the full report, here – or take a look at some of the highlights:

Temperature

Spring temperatures were near average (-0.50°C to + 0.50°C) for much of the country.
The exception was parts of Otago and Waikato, where temperatures were below average (-1.20°C to -0.51°C), and isolated parts of the Bay of Plenty where temperatures were above average (+0.51°C to +1.20°C).

Rainfall

Rainfall was well below normal (< 50%) in Nelson and Marlborough, and below normal (50-79%) in eastern parts of Otago and Canterbury, Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Wairarapa and Bay of Plenty.
In contrast, rainfall was above normal (120-149%) or well above normal (> 149%) for south-western parts of the South Island.

Sunshine

Spring sunshine was abundant for eastern parts of Otago and Canterbury, Nelson, Wellington and Kapiti Coast where sunshine totals were above normal (110-125%), and in some cases well above normal (> 125%).

Soil moisture

As of 1 December 2014, soil moisture levels were below normal for the time of year for extensive areas of New Zealand, but especially for Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington, southern Wairarapa, the East Cape and Bay of Plenty.
Soil moisture levels were above normal in the southern and northern-most parts of the country.

Further Highlights:

* The highest temperature was 31.1°C, observed at Christchurch (Riccarton) on 22 November.

* The lowest temperature was -6.9°C, observed at Middlemarch on 28 September.

* The highest 1-day rainfall was 226 mm, recorded at Milford Sound on 21 November.

* The highest wind gust was 209 km/hr, observed at Cape Turnagain on 18 November.

* Of the six main centres in spring 2014, Auckland was the warmest, Dunedin was the coolest, Christchurch was the driest, Hamilton was the wettest and cloudiest, and Wellington was the sunniest.

* Of the available, regularly reporting sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four centres2 so far in 2014 (1 January to 30 November) are: Whakatane (2477 hours), Blenheim (2289 hours), Nelson (2283 hours) and Lake Tekapo (2255 hours).

– NIWA

– Photo: Daniel Johnston