December 2010: Warm with a sting in the tail

NATIONAL CLIMATE CENTRE Thursday 6 January 2011

National Climate Summary – December 2010: Warm with a sting in the tail

• Rainfall: Below normal for central and eastern North Island and coastal Canterbury; above normal elsewhere
• Sunshine: Below normal for much of North Island; above normal in Central and South Otago
• Temperatures: Above average for the whole country

In December 2010 there were more anticyclones (‘highs’) to the east of the North Island than is typical for the time of year, resulting in more airflows from the north and northwest than normal. This resulted in above average temperatures and below average sunshine hours for most places. A severe storm passed over the country on the 27th and 28th of the month, resulting in significant rainfalls, flooding and gale force winds for many areas.

December rainfall was more than double normal (at least 200 percent) in parts of Northland, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and the Southern Alps. Much of this rain fell during a severe storm which passed over the country on the 27th and 28th of the month. Rainfall was approximately one and a half times normal (around 150 percent) in parts of Auckland, Coromandel, coastal Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Buller, West Coast, Otago and Southland. However, parts of Gisborne, Wairarapa and north Canterbury received less than half (50 percent) of their normal December rainfall, while central North Island areas, Manawatu and south Canterbury received about three quarters (75 percent) of their normal rainfall for the month. At the end of December, soil moisture was still below normal in parts of western Northland, Waikato, inland Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Manawatu, Wairarapa and north Canterbury.

Sunshine totals were below normal (less than 90 percent of normal) across most of the North Island, excluding the Manawatu and Wellington regions. Sunshine totals were above normal (greater than 110 percent) in Central Otago, parts of Fiordland and around Balclutha. Other areas received near average sunshine for the month.

Temperatures for December 2010 were well above average (at least 1.2 °C above average) for much of the country, particularly in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, central North Island, and north and central parts of Canterbury. The New Zealand national average temperature was 17.2 °C (1.6°C above the 1971–2000 December average).

Further Highlights:
• The highest temperature was 32.8 °C, recorded at both Rangiora and Christchurch Airport on the 18th.
• The lowest temperature was -2.3 °C, recorded at Tara Hills (South Canterbury) on the 8th (a new record there).
• The highest 1-day rainfall was 313 mm recorded at Mount Cook on the 27th (4th highest 1-day rainfall in December since 1928).
• The highest wind gust was 172 km/hr, recorded at Mount Kaukau (Wellington) on the 28th.
• Of the six main centres in December 2010, Auckland was the warmest, Wellington the wettest, Christchurch the driest and sunniest, and Dunedin was the coolest. All six centres experienced well above average temperatures for the month.

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RAINFALL: BELOW NORMAL FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH ISLAND AND COASTAL CANTERBURY; ABOVE NORMAL ELSEWHERE

December rainfall was more than double normal (at least 200 percent) in parts of Northland, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and the Southern Alps. Much of this rain fell during a severe storm which passed over the country on the 27th and 28th of the month. Rainfall was approximately one and a half times normal (about 150 percent) in parts of Auckland, Coromandel, coastal Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Buller, West Coast, Otago and Southland.

Parts of Gisborne, Wairarapa and north Canterbury received less than half (50 percent) of their normal December rainfall, while central North Island areas, Manawatu and south Canterbury received about three quarters (75 percent) of their normal rainfall for the month.

At the end of December, soil moisture was still below normal in parts of western Northland, Waikato, inland Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Manawatu, Wairarapa and north Canterbury.

Record or near-record December rainfall totals were recorded at:

Location / Rainfall total (mm) / Percentage of normal / Year records began / Comments
Dargaville / 193 / 239 / 1943 / 2nd-highest
Stratford / 298 / 199 / 1960 / Highest
Takaka / 494 / 365 / 1976 / Highest
Motueka, Riwaka / 242 / 244 / 1943 / 2nd-highest
Nelson / 193 / 255 / 1941 / Highest
Appleby / 180 / 243 / 1941 / 3rd-highest
Blenheim / 126 / 227 / 1927 / 3rd-highest
Arthurs Pass / 957 / 206 / 1906 / 4th-highest
Mt Cook / 1122 / 239 / 1928 / 3rd-highest
Lake Tekapo / 119 / 246 / 1925 / 4th-highest
Alexandra / 74 / 167 / 1983 / 4th-highest
Wairoa, North Clyde / 19 / 19 / 1964 / 3rd-lowest

SUNSHINE: BELOW NORMAL FOR MUCH OF NORTH ISLAND; ABOVE NORMAL IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH OTAGO

Sunshine totals were below normal (less than 90 percent of normal) across most of the North Island, excluding Manawatu and Wellington regions. Sunshine totals were above normal (greater than 110 percent) in Central Otago, parts of Fiordland and around Balclutha. Other areas received near average sunshine for the month.

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

Location / Sunshine (hours) / Percentage Of normal / Year records began / Comments
Kaitaia / 151 / 69 / 1985 / 3rd-lowest
Hamilton, Ruakura / 159 / 75 / 1936 / 4th-lowest
New Plymouth / 168 / 73 / 1972 / 2nd-lowest
Stratford / 150 / 72 / 1963 / 4th-lowest

TEMPERATURE: ABOVE AVERAGE FOR WHOLE COUNTRY

Temperatures for December 2010 were well above average (at least 1.2 °C above average) for much of the country, particularly in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, central North Island, and north and central parts of Canterbury. Many locations experienced record high temperatures for the month (see tables below).
The New Zealand national average temperature was 17.2 °C (1.6 °C above the 1971–2000 December average) [Interim monthly value.].

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

Location / Mean minimum air temperature (°C) / Departure from normal (°C) / Year records began / Comments
Kaitaia / 16.1 / 2.7 / 1985 / Highest
Kerikeri / 15.5 / 2.8 / 1981 / Highest
Dargaville / 15.8 / 2.9 / 1943 / Highest
Whangarei / 16.8 / 2.8 / 1967 / Highest
Leigh / 16.2 / 1.4 / 1966 / 3rd-highest
Whangaparaoa / 16.2 / 1.4 / 1982 / Highest
Kumeu, Auckland / 14.3 / 2.0 / 1978 / Highest
Whenuapai / 15.7 / 3.4 / 1945 / Highest
Whitianga / 15.7 / 3.3 / 1962 / Highest
Paeroa / 15.3 / 2.6 / 1947 / Highest
Tauranga / 16.4 / 3.3 / 1913 / Highest
Te Puke / 14.6 / 2.8 / 1973 / Highest
Whakatane / 15.1 / 2.5 / 1974 / 2nd-highest
Rotorua / 13.7 / 2.4 / 1964 / 2nd-highest
Taupo / 13.3 / 3.2 / 1949 / Highest
Auckland / 17.2 / 2.6 / 1959 / Highest
Pukekohe / 14.5 / 1.8 / 1969 / 2nd-highest
Whatawhata / 14.4 / 2.4 / 1952 / 2nd-highest
Hamilton, Ruakura / 14.8 / 3.3 / 1906 / Highest
Port Taharoa / 16.3 / 2.1 / 1973 / Highest
New Plymouth / 14.1 / 1.8 / 1944 / 4th-highest
Masterton / 12.2 / 2.0 / 1906 / 3rd-highest
Dannevirke / 13.4 / 2.3 / 1951 / 3rd-highest
Martinborough / 13.0 / 2.0 / 1986 / 3rd-highest
Ngawi / 15.0 / 1.6 / 1972 / 3rd-highest
Hastings / 14.5 / 1.9 / 1965 / 4th-highest
Palmerston North / 13.9 / 2.5 / 1928 / 2nd-highest
Stratford / 11.6 / 2.0 / 1960 / 2nd-highest
Hawera / 12.9 / 2.1 / 1977 / 3rd-highest
Ohakune / 10.8 / 2.3 / 1962 / 3rd-highest
Waiouru / 9.3 / 2.1 / 1962 / 4th-highest
Wanganui / 14.6 / 1.8 / 1937 / 3rd-highest
Farewell Spit / 14.5 / 2.4 / 1971 / 2nd-highest
Reefton / 12.0 / 2.4 / 1960 / 2nd-highest
Puysegur Point / 11.3 / 1.4 / 1978 / 2nd-highest
Nelson / 13.8 / 1.5 / 1943 / 3rd-highest
Blenheim / 13.3 / 1.9 / 1941 / Highest
Kaikoura / 13.2 / 1.6 / 1963 / 3rd-highest
Arthurs Pass / 9.1 / 2.5 / 1978 / 2nd-highest
Culverden / 12.2 / 2.8 / 1928 / Highest
Winchmore / 12.1 / 2.8 / 1928 / 4th-highest
Waipara West / 12.7 / 2.3 / 1973 / 2nd-highest
Orari Estate / 11.4 / 2.3 / 1972 / 3rd-highest
Alexandra / 11.1 / 2.1 / 1983 / 3rd-highest
Tiwai Point / 11.4 / 1.6 / 1970 / 2nd-highest

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

Location / Mean maximum air temperature (°C) / Departure from normal (°C) / Year records began / Comments
Kaitaia / 23.6 / 1.1 / 1985 / Highest
Kerikeri / 23.6 / 1.0 / 1981 / 3rd-highest
Dargaville / 24.1 / 2.0 / 1943 / Highest
Whangarei / 24.6 / 1.9 / 1967 / 2nd-highest
Leigh / 23.1 / 2.1 / 1966 / Highest
Warkworth / 22.9 / 1.6 / 1966 / 2nd-highest
Whangaparaoa / 23.0 / 2.4 / 1982 / Highest
Kumeu, Auckland / 22.8 / 0.9 / 1978 / 4th-highest
Whenuapai / 23.5 / 1.6 / 1945 / 3rd-highest
Auckland / 23.6 / 1.9 / 1959 / 2nd-highest
Whatawhata / 23.2 / 2.0 / 1952 / 4th-highest
Hamilton, Ruakura / 24.6 / 2.5 / 1906 / 3rd-highest
Port Taharoa / 22.5 / 1.3 / 1973 / 4th-highest
New Plymouth / 21.6 / 1.9 / 1944 / 3rd-highest
Martinborough / 23.4 / 1.2 / 1986 / 4th-highest
Ngawi / 22.4 / 2.2 / 1972 / 3rd-highest
Wallaceville / 22.0 / 2.2 / 1939 / 4th-highest
Ohakune / 21.3 / 2.5 / 1962 / 2nd-highest
Waiouru / 20.0 / 2.3 / 1962 / Highest
Wanganui / 23.1 / 2.4 / 1937 / Highest
Takaka / 22.7 / 1.9 / 1978 / 3rd-highest
Westport / 20.2 / 1.9 / 1937 / 4th-highest
Lake Rotoiti / 21.2 / 2.6 / 1965 / 2nd-highest
Reefton / 23.0 / 2.1 / 1960 / 4th-highest
Motueka, Riwaka / 24.6 / 3.0 / 1956 / Highest
Appleby / 22.2 / 1.7 / 1943 / 4th-highest
Nelson / 22.5 / 2.1 / 1943 / 2nd-highest
Kaikoura / 22.1 / 3.1 / 1963 / Highest
Arthurs Pass / 17.8 / 2.0 / 1978 / 3rd-highest
Le Bons Bay / 20.0 / 2.5 / 1984 / 2nd-highest
Dunedin / 19.1 / 1.7 / 1947 / 4th-highest
Lumsden / 20.5 / 1.7 / 1982 / 3rd-highest
Nugget Point / 17.7 / 1.4 / 1970 / 3rd-highest

DECEMBER CLIMATE IN THE SIX MAIN CENTRES

Of the six main centres in December 2010, Auckland was the warmest, Wellington the wettest, Christchurch the driest and sunniest, and Dunedin was the coolest. All six centres experienced well above average temperatures for the month.

December 2010 main centre climate statistics:
Location / Mean temp. (°C) / Departure from normal (°C) / / Rainfall (mm) / % of normal / / Sunshine (hours) / % of normal /
Aucklanda / 19.9 / +1.8 / Well above average / 113 / 128%
/ Above normal / 169 / 81% / Below normal
Taurangab / 19.8 / +2.2 / Well above average / 113 / 124%
/ Above normal / 189 / 81% / Below normal
Hamiltonc / 19.4 / +2.8 / Well above average / 120 / 122% / Above normal / 159g / 72% / Well below normal
Wellingtond / 16.5 / +1.2 / Well above average / 125 / 145%
/ Above normal / 189 / 84% / Below normal
Christchurche / 17.8 / +2.0 / Well above average / 35 / 76% / Below normal / 204 / 92% / Near normal
Dunedinf / 15.3 / +1.4 / Well above average / 120 / 147% / Above normal / 167 / 99% / 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 slips
Some Marlborough mussel harvesting areas were closed on 17 December after rain, and all but one of the 19 mussel harvesting areas were closed by 22 December after rain washed sediment into the Sounds.

On 18 December, heavy rain in the Eastern Bay of Plenty caused land slips, cut power, and blocked roads. Power was cut about 11 pm and restored mid-morning on 19 December. The forestry road, used as a detour for SH36, the main East Coast Rd, damaged by floods and landslides in winter and still under repair, was closed for a short time by surface flooding. The main road into the small town of Ruatoki was also blocked by slips.

On 19 December, heavy rain caused surface flooding in parts of Taranaki.

On 20 December, SH35 was closed by a slip at Maraenui Bluff (east of Opotiki).

On 21 December, SH94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound was closed by a slip. SH6 was affected by flooding between Harihari and Haast. SH3 from Renwick to Nelson was closed by slips and flooding, and several roads in the Marlborough Sounds were also closed.

On 22 December, the Department of Conservation issued a high alert for the Young Valley-Gillespie Pass circuit track, after heave rain increased the risk the dam would burst and flood the valley below.

Heavy rain hit Westland, the Southern Alps and parts of Otago on the 27th and much of the rest of the country on the 28th. Several South Island roads were closed by surface flooding, including SH60 at Takaka, cutting off much of Golden Bay, SH6 at Renwick and at Canvastown (between Blenheim and Nelson), SH6 at the Lower Buller Gorge, SH63 between Arthurs Pass and Otira, SH73 between Otira and Kumara, SH69 from Inangahua to Reefton, SH65 from Murchison to Springs Junction, SH67 from Westport to Mokihinui, and SH7 from Hanmer Springs to Springs Junction. The James Road bridge in Bainham was washed away. Bainham is on the Aorere River, near Collingwood. A bridge in the Glen Roy Valley, near Murchison, was washed out.

The Aorere River and the Anatoki and Waingaro Rivers exceeded their banks. The Riwaka River experienced average flooding. The road to Ferntown, between Collingwood and the start of the Heaphy Track, was impassable. A slip across about 300 m of Readers Road near Havelock took out power poles and cut power. At Pelorus Bridge, campers waded through waist-deep water in the dark in an emergency evacuation at 4am, as the Pelorus River overflowed. Near Omarama in the Waitaki basin, severe rain forced campers to flee a free camping site near the Ahuriri River.

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
Dargaville / 109 / 17th / 1943 / Highest
Whangaparaoa / 46 / 19th / 1946 / 4th-highest
Stratford / 95 / 27th / 1960 / 3rd-highest
Takaka / 171 / 27th / 1976 / Highest
Arthurs Pass / 252 / 27th / 1906 / 3rd-highest
Mt Cook / 313 / 27th / 1928 / 4th-highest
Lake Tekapo / 60 / 27th / 1925 / 2nd-highest
Tara Hills / 85 / 27th / 1949 / Highest
Wanaka / 51 / 27th / 1927 / 3rd-highest
Ranfurly / 46 / 27th / 1943 / 2nd-highest
Dunedin Airport (Taieri) / 52 / 27th / 1962 / Highest
Dunedin / 58 / 27th / 1918 / 2nd-highest
Queenstown / 63 / 27th / 1890 / 4th-highest
Lumsden / 40 / 27th / 1982 / 4th-highest
Cromwell / 41 / 27th / 1949 / 3rd-highest
Alexandra / 43 / 27th / 1983 / Highest
Invercargill / 44 / 27th / 1939 / 3rd-highest
Balclutha, Telford / 49 / 27th / 1964 / Highest
Nugget Point / 48 / 27th / 1930 / 2nd-highest

• Temperature

Many temperature records were broken in December 2010 (see tables below). The lowest temperature recorded in December 2010 was -2.3°C, at Tara Hills on the 9th. The highest temperature recorded in December 2010 was 32.8°C, at both Rangiora and Christchurch Airport on the 18th.

Record or near-record daily minimum air temperatures were recorded at:
Location / Extreme minimum temperature (ºC) / Date of extreme temperature / Year records began / Comments
Tara Hills / -2.3 / 9th / 1949 / Lowest
Dunedin / 4.4 / 9th / 1947 / Equal 3rd-lowest
Manapouri / -2.1 / 9th / 1963 / Lowest
Queenstown / -0.4 / 9th / 1871 / Lowest
Lumsden / -2.0 / 9th / 1982 / Equal 2nd-lowest
Invercargill / -0.8 / 9th / 1905 / 2nd-lowest
Balclutha / 0.8 / 9th / 1964 / 2nd-lowest
Kaitaia / 20.3 / 28th / 1985 / Highest
Dargaville / 20.6 / 28th / 1951 / Highest
Whangarei / 20.5 / 28th / 1967 / 2nd-highest
Leigh / 19.7 / 28th / 1966 / 2nd-highest
Warkworth / 19.9 / 28th / 1966 / Highest
Whangaparaoa / 19.6 / 28th / 1982 / Highest
Kumeu, Auckland / 19.5 / 28th / 1978 / Highest
Whenuapai / 20.6 / 28th / 1951 / Highest
Paeroa / 21.0 / 21st / 1971 / Highest
Tauranga / 20.4 / 22nd / 1941 / Highest
Whakatane / 20.3 / 22nd / 1975 / Highest
Rotorua / 19.1 / 22nd / 1972 / Highest
Taupo / 19.4 / 22nd / 1950 / Highest
Pukekohe / 19.4 / 28th / 1969 / Equal 4th-highest
Hamilton / 21.8 / 22nd / 1940 / Highest
Port Taharoa / 20.2 / 19th / 1974 / Highest
New Plymouth / 19.2 / 19th / 1944 / 2nd-highest
Takapau Plains / 17.3 / 28th / 1972 / 4th-highest
Martinborough / 19.3 / 19th / 1986 / 2nd-highest
Gisborne / 21.7 / 22nd / 1940 / 2nd-highest
Napier / 22.4 / 22nd / 1940 / Highest
Hastings / 21.1 / 22nd / 1972 / Equal highest
Wairoa, North Clyde / 21.9 / 28th / 1972 / 2nd-highest
Paraparaumu / 18.4 / 21st / 1972 / 4th-highest
Palmerston North / 19.1 / 21st / 1940 / Highest
Wallaceville / 18.2 / 19th / 1972 / 4th-highest
Hawera / 18.9 / 19th / 1977 / Highest
Ohakune / 17.0 / 21st / 1972 / 2nd-highest
Waiouru / 16.7 / 21st / 1972 / Highest
Wanganui / 20.0 / 28th / 1987 / Equal highest
Farewell Spit / 17.8 / 19th / 1972 / 2nd-highest
Hokitika / 16.7 / 18th / 1964 / 4th-highest
Reefton / 17.6 / 21st / 1972 / Highest
Nelson / 18.6 / 19th / 1943 / 2nd-highest
Culverden / 19.1 / 22nd / 1930 / 4th-highest
Winchmore / 19.5 / 21st / 1928 / 4th-highest
Waipara West / 21.0 / 21st / 1973 / Equal 3rd-highest
Christchurch / 20.5 / 21st / 1863 / 4th-highest
Dunedin / 17.6 / 27th / 1947 / 2nd-highest
Cromwell / 18.6 / 13th / 1949 / Equal 3rd-highest
Alexandra / 17.4 / 21st / 1983 / 3rd-highest
Invercargill / 16.3 / 27th / 1948 / 4th-highest
Tiwai Point / 16.0 / 27th / 1972 / 2nd-highest

Record or near-record daily maximum air temperatures were recorded at:
Location / Extreme maximum temperature (ºC) / Date of extreme temperature / Year Records Began / Comments
Ngawi / 12.8 / 8th / 1972 / Equal 4th-lowest
Hicks Bay / 15.2 / 8th / 1972 / 3rd-lowest
Motueka, Riwaka / 14.6 / 8th / 1972 / 4th-lowest
Appleby / 14.4 / 8th / 1943 / Equal 4th-lowest
/ / / /
Dargaville / 29.8 / 13th / 1943 / Highest
Whangarei / 31.5 / 22nd / 1967 / Highest
Leigh / 27.1 / 24th / 1966 / Highest
Warkworth / 28.4 / 22nd / 1966 / Highest
Whangaparaoa / 27.1 / 22nd / 1982 / 2nd-highest
Kumeu, Auckland / 28.3 / 21st / 1978 / 2nd-highest
Whenuapai / 29.1 / 21st / 1945 / Highest
Paeroa / 29.2 / 12th / 1947 / Equal 3rd-highest
Hamilton / 30.0 / 15th / 1906 / Equal 4th-highest
Takapau Plains / 28.1 / 27th / 1962 / 3rd-highest
Hastings / 32.0 / 27th / 1965 / Equal 3rd-highest
Waiouru / 24.6 / 15th / 1962 / 4th-highest
Wanganui / 29.0 / 27th / 1987 / Highest
Farewell Spit / 24.9 / 31st / 1971 / 3rd-highest
Puysegur Point / 22.3 / 12th / 1978 / 3rd-highest
Motueka, Riwaka / 29.5 / 22nd / 1956 / Equal highest
Le Bons Bay / 29.1 / 18th / 1984 / 2nd-highest
Nugget Point / 26.9 / 21st / 1970 / 4th-highest

• High winds

The highest gust observed during December 2010 was 172 km/hr, recorded at Mount Kaukau (Wellington) on the 28th.

On 21 December, high winds in central Christchurch downed a tree and crushed a parked vehicle. Spencer Beach Holiday Park in North Canterbury lost power after lines came down. Throughout Canterbury and North Otago, firefighters were called out to numerous vegetation fires started by the wind. In Timaru, gusts brought down power lines and power poles, cutting power to 3500 customers for about three hours. In Stafford Street, Timaru, a pole holding a string of Christmas decorations snapped and fell over, leaving lights and two angels suspended above the road, with just enough room for cars to pass underneath. Trees were brought down across the Waitaki District, and wind-fanned fires closed SH82 near Waimate. High wind warnings were in force for high sided vehicles on SH77 from Darfield to Ashburton, SH75 from Halswell to Akaroa, SH7, the Lewis Pass, and SH73 from Springfield to Arthurs Pass. In Dunedin several flights were unable to land because of the strong northwesterly winds. Customers in the city and surrounding area lost power, roofs were lifted off homes, and firefighters tackled many fires triggered by the hot windy weather and arcing or downed power lines. In Opoho a large pine tree smashed a water main, cutting supply to 200 homes overnight. In Marlborough, several large tree branches were brought down, blocking Kenepuru Road in the Marlborough Sounds. In the Rai Valley fierce winds blew a 10-m square shed from its foundation and threw it up to 40 m on to power lines in the Ronga Valley. The power lines were severed and arced cutting power to the area, and the shed was destroyed. In Wellington, wind blew over a tree which brought down trolley bus lines in Thorndon near the Botanic Gardens, blocking both lanes and causing traffic chaos, and in Mt Victoria, a toppled tree damaged a car. The Zephyrometer wind sculpture at the south end of Evans Bay was horizontal across the road at times in the northwesterly gales. One early-afternoon flight from Blenheim to Wellington was forced to turn back when strong winds at Wellington Airport prevented it from landing.

On 22 December, high winds, heat, and downed power lines, set off a spate of fires from Invercargill to North Canterbury. At Leithfield Beach near Amberley, a large fire forced the evacuation of two households, and about 20 homes were evacuated near Rolleston until another fire was contained. The fires were extinguished by the 26th.

On the 24th, a landboarder died when high winds flung him into a tree near Nelson.

Several locations experienced very high winds on the 28th. Gales caused havoc for emergency services around the lower North Island, bringing down trees and power lines. Police in Wellington said they received a call every two minutes between 7am and midday from people seeking information as the strong winds caused havoc in the city. A large pine tree fell over SH1 south of Mangaweka, between Taihape and Hunterville, and the road was down to one lane. The Rimutaka Hill Road was closed by high winds.

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

Location / Extreme wind gust speed (km/hr) / Date of extreme gust / Year records began / Comments
Castlepoint / 150 / 24th / 1972 / Equal highest
Napier / 91 / 28th / 1973 / Equal 3rd-highest
Hawera / 93 / 28th / 1986 / Highest
Westport / 100 / 28th / 1973 / 3rd-highest
Puysegur Point / 145 / 21st / 1986 / Equal 2nd-highest
Winchmore / 100 / 21st / 1970 / Highest
Dunedin / 104 / 21st / 1981 / Equal highest
Lauder / 102 / 24th / 1981 / Equal 4th-highest

• Lightning and hail
On 18 December, severe thunderstorms affected Hawkes Bay between the Ruahine Ranges and Waipukurau.

• Fog
In Rotorua, six flights were cancelled because of low-lying cloud, two on the 18th and four on the 19th.

On 21 December, passengers were stranded when low cloud and sea fog closed New Plymouth airport.

ENDS

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