March 2010: Very dry in NE, Otago, Canterbury

NATIONAL CLIMATE CENTRE Thursday 1 April 2010

National Climate Summary – March 2010: Very dry in the northeast, Otago, Canterbury

• Rainfall: Extremely dry in the north and east of the North Island, and parts of Canterbury and Otago. A record dry March for Auckland. Wet in Fiordland and parts of Southland.

• Soil moisture: Severe soil moisture deficits continue in Northland, Auckland, South Canterbury and Otago. Dry soils have also developed in Waikato, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, and parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

• Temperature: A much warmer than average March for Nelson, Otago, South Canterbury, and the Lakes District. A cooler than usual March for the West Coast, and from Raglan to Waiouru. Near average temperatures elsewhere.

• Sunshine: Extremely sunny for the east coast of the North Island, Wellington, and parts of the Central Plateau and Bay of Plenty regions.

More frequent anticyclones (‘highs’) were located in the Tasman Sea during March, producing enhanced southwesterly winds over New Zealand, consistent with the El Niño which has been present since November 2009. This resulted in an extremely dry March for the north and east of the North Island, and South Canterbury and Otago. Severe soil moisture deficits continue in Northland and Auckland, South Canterbury and Otago. Significant soil moisture deficits have also developed in Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Taupo and parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

Well below normal March rainfall (less than 50 percent of normal) occurred in eastern Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, parts of South Canterbury and Otago. It was also rather dry over the remainder of the North Island and Nelson, with rainfall totals between 50 and 75 percent of normal. In comparison, it was wet in Fiordland and parts of Southland, with more than 120 percent of normal rainfall recorded. Elsewhere, March rainfalls were near normal.

March temperatures were near average (within 0.5°C of the long-term average) in many regions of New Zealand. However, Nelson, Otago, South Canterbury and the Lakes District recorded well above average temperatures (more than 1.2°C above average). The West Coast, and from Raglan to Waiouru, recorded below average temperatures (between 1.2°C and 0.5°C below average), resulting from the generally southwesterly airflow during the month. The New Zealand national average temperature was 15.9°C (0.2°C above the long-term March average).

March was an extremely sunny month for the east coast of the North Island, around Wellington, and parts of the Central Plateau and the Bay of Plenty regions, with totals above 125 percent of normal. It was also rather sunny (between 110 and 124 percent of normal sunshine) for most other regions of the North Island, as well as parts of the eastern South Island. In contrast, sunshine totals were between 75 and 90 percent of normal near Hokitika and Palmerston North.

Further Highlights:

• The highest temperature was 32.7°C, recorded at Cromwell on the 9th, and the lowest (non-alpine) temperature was -3.7 °C, recorded at Waiouru on the 18th. Both are new March records at the sites.

• The highest 1-day rainfall was 169 mm, recorded at Southwest Cape between 12 pm on the 30th and 8am on the 31st (a new all-time record at this site).

• The highest wind gust was 216.8 km/hr, recorded at Baring Head, Wellington, on the 12th (a new all-time record at this site). The highest wind gust ever recorded in New Zealand was 250 km/hr at Mt John, Canterbury on 18 April 1970.

• Of the six main centres, Auckland was the driest, Wellington the wettest, Tauranga was the warmest and sunniest, and Dunedin the coolest.

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RAINFALL: EXTREMELY DRY IN THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, AND PARTS OF CANTERBURY AND OTAGO. WET IN FIORDLAND AND PARTS OF SOUTHLAND.

Well below normal March rainfall (less than 50 percent of normal) occurred in eastern Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, parts of South Canterbury and Otago. It was a record dry March for the Auckland region (following on from a record-dry February), and near-record dry month for Whangarei and parts of: Coromandel, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, and Hawke’s Bay. It was also rather dry over the remainder of the North Island, with rainfall totals between 50 and 75 percent of normal. In comparison, it was very wet in Fiordland and parts of Southland, with more than 120 percent of normal rainfall recorded. Elsewhere, March rainfalls were near normal.

Record or near-record low March rainfall totals were recorded at:

Location / Rainfall total (mm) / Percentage of normal / Year records began / Comments
Whangarei / 8 / 6 / 1937 / 2nd-lowest
Warkworth / 12 / 11 / 1966 / Lowest
Whangaparaoa / 7 / 9 / 1946 / 2nd-lowest
Whitianga / 23 / 14 / 1961 / 3rd-lowest
Paeroa / 13 / 12 / 1914 / 2nd-lowest
Matamata / 19 / 21 / 1951 / 2nd-lowest
Tauranga / 17 / 13 / 1898 / 4th-lowest
Te Puke / 19 / 12 / 1973 / 2nd-lowest
Whakatane / 29 / 27 / 1952 / 3rd-lowest
Rotorua / 23 / 21 / 1963 / 3rd-lowest
Auckland (Airport) / 8 / 9 / 1959 / Lowest*
Pukekohe / 14 / 14 / 1944 / Lowest
Hamilton (Ruakura) / 15 / 17 / 1905 / 4th-lowest
Te Kuiti / 20 / 19 / 1950 / 2nd-lowest
Turangi / 15 / 12 / 1968 / 2nd-lowest
Waipawa / 6 / 8 / 1945 / Lowest
Hawera / 28 / 30 / 1977 / 3rd-lowest
Takaka / 43 / 29 / 1976 / 4th-lowest
*1 hour missing in the record

TEMPERATURES:

March temperatures were near average (within 0.5°C of the long-term average) in many regions of New Zealand. However, Nelson, Otago, South Canterbury and the Lakes District recorded well above average temperatures (more than 1.2°C above average). It was a record warm March at Whangaparaoa, Whakatane, and Cheviot, and near-record warm at several sites in Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago. In contrast, the West Coast, and from Raglan to Waiouru, recorded below average temperatures (between 1.2°C and 0.5°C below average). The New Zealand national average temperature was 15.9°C (0.2°C above the long-term March average).

Record or near-record March mean maximum daily air temperatures were recorded at:

Location / Mean maximum air temperature (°C) / Departure from normal (°C) / Year records began / Comments
Whangaparaoa / 23.6 / 2.1 / 1982 / Highest
Whakatane / 24.5 / 1.6 / 1974 / Highest
Takaka / 22.9 / 1.9 / 1978 / 2nd-highest
Motueka / 23.2 / 1.8 / 1956 / 2nd-highest
Nelson / 22.2 / 1.5 / 1943 / 2nd-highest
Appleby / 23.4 / 2.6 / 1943 / Highest
Lake Tekapo / 21.4 / 2.6 / 1927 / 3rd-highest
Cheviot / 23.1 / 2.4 / 1982 / Highest
Christchurch (Airport) / 22.2 / 2.1 / 1863 / 2nd-highest
Dunedin (Airport) / 20.7 / 1.8 / 1947 / 3rd-highest
Cromwell / 23.6 / 2.4 / 1949 / 3rd-highest
Tara Hills / 22.4 / 2.4 / 1949 / 2nd-highest
Cape Campbell / 18.4 / -1.9 / 1953 / 4th lowest

Record or near-record March mean minimum daily air temperatures were recorded at:

Location / Mean minimum air temperature (°C) / Departure from normal (°C) / Year records began / Comments
Turangi / 7.4 / -2.4 / 1968 / 4th-lowest
Appleby / 9.2 / -2.4 / 1943 / 4th-lowest

SUNSHINE: EXTREMELY SUNNY IN THE EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND

March was an extremely sunny month for the east coast of the North Island, around Wellington, and parts of the Central Plateau and the Bay of Plenty regions, with totals above 125 percent of normal. It was also rather sunny (between 110 and 124 percent of normal sunshine) for most other regions of the North Island, as well as parts of the eastern South Island. In contrast, sunshine totals between 75 and 90 percent of normal near Hokitika and Palmerston North.

Record or near-record March sunshine hours were recorded at:

Location / Sunshine (hours) / Percentage Of normal / Year records began / Comments
Turangi / 236 / 136 / 1976 / 2nd-highest
Martinborough / 242 / 129 / 1986 / Highest
Waipawa / 229 / 137 / 1945 / 3rd-highest
Wellington, Kelburn / 245 / 128 / 1928 / 4th-highest
Stratford / 231 / 131 / 1963 / 2nd-highest
Blenheim / 262 / 122 / 1947 / 2nd-highest

MARCH CLIMATE IN THE SIX MAIN CENTRES

Of the six main centres, Auckland was the driest, Wellington the wettest, Tauranga was the warmest and sunniest, and Dunedin the coolest. It was a very dry month for all of the six main centres. It was the driest March ever recorded in Auckland, and also extremely dry in Tauranga and Hamilton, with rainfalls less than a quarter of the March normal. It was a very warm March for Tauranga and Dunedin, somewhat cool for Auckland, and close to normal for Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch.

March 2010 main centre climate statistics: /

Location / Mean temp. (°C) / Departure from normal (°C) / / Rainfall (mm) / % of normal / / Sunshine (hours) / % of normal /
Aucklanda / 18.0 / -0.6 / Below average / 13 / 15% / Driest on record / 198 / 107% / Near normal
Taurangab / 19.0 / +1.1 / Above average / 17 / 13% / 4th lowest since 1898 / 260 / 132% / Well above normal
Hamiltonc / 16.8 / -0.1 / Near average / 20 / 22% / 4th lowest since 1935 / 206 / 111% / Above normal
Wellingtond / 16.0 / +0.2 / Near average / 50 / 55% / Below normal / 245 / 128% / 4th highest since 1928
Christchurche / 15.4 / +0.3 / Near average / 22 / 40% / Well below normal / 195 / 107% / Near normal
Dunedinf / 15.0 / +1.2 / Well above average / 23 / 33% / Well below normal / 152 / 109% / Near normal
a Mangere b Tauranga Airport c Hamilton Airport d Kelburn e Christchurch Airport f Musselburgh g Ruakura

HIGHLIGHTS AND EXTREME EVENTS

• Heavy rain and flooding

The highest 1-day rainfall in March was 169 mm, recorded at Southwest Cape between 12 pm on the 30th and 8am on the 31st (both a new March and all-time record at this site since this station opened in 1991). Wanganui recorded its highest March daily rainfall total, 27 mm, since records began there in 1987.

Heavy rain on 22 March caused slips in Fiordland, closing the Milford Sound Road. About 200 trampers were stranded in huts on the Kepler, Milford, and Routeburn tracks after landslides blocked the tracks.

Surface flooding and thunderstorms were reported on the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington, on 24 March.

Record or near record high extreme 1-day rainfall totals were recorded at:

Location

/ Extreme 1-day rainfall (mm) / Date of extreme rainfall / Year Records Began / Comments
Wanganui / 27 / 22nd / 1987 / Highest

• Temperature

The highest temperature recorded in March 2010 was 32.7°C, observed at Cromwell on the 9th. This is a new March record at this site. The lowest (non-alpine) temperature was -3.7 °C, recorded at Waiouru on the 18th (also a March record).

The storm on 12 March caused plunging temperatures in Wellington and Kaikoura. MetService reported Wellington Kelburn temperatures plummeted from 18.5 °C to 8.5 °C within ten minutes, with a similar drop recorded at Wellington Airport.

Record or near-record daily maximum air temperatures were recorded at:

Location / Extreme maximum temperature (ºC) / Date of extreme temperature / Year Records began / Comments
Kaikohe / 26.5 / 28th / 1973 / Equal 3rd-highest
Leigh / 26.6 / 20th / 1966 / 2nd-highest
Whangaparaoa / 27.0 / 5th / 1982 / Highest
Whakatane / 28.3 / 11th / 1975 / 3rd-highest
Auckland / 27.4 / 1st / 1959 / 3rd-highest
Takaka / 27.7 / 19th / 1978 / 4th-highest
Motueka / 28.2 / 26th / 1956 / 4th-highest
Appleby / 27.8 / 15th / 1943 / 3rd-highest
Arthurs Pass / 25.8 / 8th / 1973 / 4th-highest
Mt Cook / 28.4 / 15th / 1929 / Equal 4th-highest
Le Bons Bay / 27.1 / 14th / 1984 / 2nd-highest
Wanaka / 30.0 / 8th / 1955 / 2nd-highest
Cromwell / 32.7 / 9th / 1949 / Highest
Alexandra / 32.0 / 9th / 1983 / 4th-highest
/ / / /
Port Taharoa / 17.8 / 18th / 1974 / 4th-lowest
Castlepoint / 12.1 / 17th / 1972 / 2nd-lowest
Hokitika / 12.0 / 24th / 1964 / 2nd-lowest
Greymouth / 12.5 / 24th / 1972 / 2nd-lowest
Haast / 12.8 / 25th / 1949 / Equal 4th-lowest
Arthurs Pass / 5.0 / 9th / 1978 / 2nd-lowest
Arthurs Pass / 7.2 / 24th / 1973 / 4th-lowest
Le Bons Bay / 10.4 / 17th / 1984 / 2nd-lowest

Record or near-record daily minimum air temperatures were recorded at:

Location / Extreme minimum temperature (ºC) / Date of extreme temperature / Year Records began / Comments
Whangaparaoa / 10.6 / 18th / 1982 / 3rd-lowest
Taupo / -1.2 / 18th / 1949 / 2nd-lowest
Hamilton / -0.3 / 18th / 1946 / 2nd-lowest
Port Taharoa / 5.4 / 18th / 1973 / Lowest
Te Kuiti / 0.0 / 18th / 1959 / Lowest
Taumarunui / -2.8 / 18th / 1947 / Lowest
Turangi / -2.1 / 18th / 1968 / Lowest
Martinborough / 1.1 / 18th / 1986 / Lowest
Paraparaumu / 2.0 / 18th / 1953 / 4th-lowest
Hawera / 0.3 / 18th / 1977 / Lowest
Ohakune / -1.0 / 18th / 1962 / 4th-lowest
Waiouru / -3.7 / 18th / 1962 / Lowest
Wanganui / 4.1 / 18th / 1937 / Equal 4th-lowest
Kaikoura / 3.5 / 13th / 1963 / Lowest
Arthurs Pass / -9.0 / 23rd / 1978 / Lowest
Cheviot / -1.5 / 18th / 1982 / 2nd-lowest
/ / / /
Puysegur Point / 16.2 / 31st / 1978 / Equal 4th-highest
Cheviot / 18.4 / 22nd / 1982 / Highest
Le Bons Bay / 17.0 / 27th / 1984 / Equal 4th-highest
Tara Hills / 16.6 / 27th / 1949 / Equal 2nd-highest
Cromwell / 19.3 / 31st / 1949 / 2nd-highest

• High winds and tornadoes

The highest wind gust was 217 km/hr, recorded at Baring Head, Wellington, on the 12th (a new all-time record at this site, although the record only extends back to 1991). Milford Sound recorded 141 km/hr wind gusts on March 22nd, a new March record since measurements began there in 1974. Note; the highest wind gust ever recorded in New Zealand was 250 km/hr at Mt John, Canterbury on 18 April 1970.

On 12 March a southerly storm moved up the east coast, with gale force winds in Wellington and Kaikoura. Trees fell across rail lines, blocking the Hutt Valley line north of Waterloo station, and damaging the overhead power and signalling. Fallen trees also blocked Paekakariki Hill Road. Trains and flights in and out of Wellington were disrupted, and a tug was used to manoeuvre the Cook Strait ferries in Wellington harbour. Power lines were blown down from Island Bay to Upper Hutt, and across to Paekakariki. Falling trees injured people in Carterton, and Rarangi near Blenheim. The course was shortened in an annual fundraising sailing race by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club. Of the 13 keel boats taking part, three needed to be towed to shore, and three had to wait out the storm. One person fell overboard but was quickly rescued. Roofs were blown off buildings at St Bernard's College in Lower Hutt, and Samuel Marsden College in Wellington, and Time Cinema in Lyall Bay. Furt
her south, Stewart Island Flights had to put on three extra flights, because all ferry sailings from Bluff to Oban were cancelled.

On 22 March, severe gales disrupted flights in and out of Wellington Airport, and brought down trees and phone lines. Two Cook Strait ferry sailings were cancelled, and the Eastbourne ferry service between Queens Wharf and Days Bay was also cancelled. At the Basin Reserve, during the cricket test match against Australia, the wind was strong enough to blow a pitch roller along the ground, along with several workers, when they attempted to remove a pitch cover.

On 24 March, gale force winds and heavy rain battered Wellington, delaying flights and damaging windows, roofs and power lines. A tornado was reported at Rutherglen, near Greymouth, felling trees and damaging property.

Near-record high extreme wind gusts for March were recorded at:

Location

/ Extreme wind gust speed (km/hr) / Date of extreme gust / Year Records Began / Comments

Baring Head / 217 / 12th / 1991 / Highest
Farewell Spit / 89 / 12th / 1973 / Equal 3rd-highest
Milford Sound / 141 / 22nd / 1974 / Highest
Christchurch / 98 / 22nd / 1972 / 2nd-highest
Tara Hills (Central Otago) / 85 / 22nd / 1985 / 2nd-highest

• Lightning and Hail

On 12 March, hail was reported in Culverden, North Canterbury, and Ward in Marlborough.

A thunderstorm struck Fiordland and Otago on 22 March. In the Queenstown Lakes region it blew up lightning protection arrestors, cutting electricity supply for about five hours in some areas.

ENDS

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