June Climate Summary - Warmest June On Record

June Climate Summary

NIWA is today officially announcing that New Zealanders have just experienced the warmest June since records began in 1909.

The June Climate Summary is attached.
Highlights include:
• An exceptionally warm start to winter
• Dozens of climate stations placed in the top four for warmest June ever recorded
• Nationwide average temperature in June 2014 was 10.3°C surpassing the previous record for warmest June in 2003.
• There have now been nine Junes since 1909 where the departure from average has been greater than 1.0°C.
• Of those 9 instances, 5 have occurred since the year 2000 and 8 since the year 1970.

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Temperature
It was an exceptionally warm start to winter in terms of both intensity and coverage with just about all of New Zealand, from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, reporting above normal (0.51-1.20°C above average) to well above normal (more than 1.20°C above average) temperatures for June. In fact, dozens of climate stations placed in the top four for warmest June ever recorded, with New Zealand’s Seven Station Series recording the warmest June on record of 10.3°C.

Rainfall
Early winter rain was above normal (120-149% of June normal) to well above normal (150% or greater of the June normal) for most of the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and coastal Bay of Plenty regions. Conversely, below (50-79% of June normal) to well below normal rainfall (less than 50% of June normal) for much of the Taranaki, interior Bay of Plenty, and south coastal Hawke’s Bay as well as much of the Manawatu-Wanganui regions. South Island rainfall was just as wide ranging with parts of eastern Canterbury, coastal Marlborough and Nelson regions receiving above or well above normal rainfall for June. Meanwhile, below or well below rainfall was recorded in a good part of the Otago and Southland regions. Most other locations in New Zealand received near normal June rainfall (within 20% of normal).

Soil Moisture
As of 1 July 2014, after a very dry summer for much of the North Island, soil moisture levels are now at typical levels for this time of year for most locations. The exception is parts of the Hawke’s Bay where some coastal areas are drier or much drier than normal for this time of year. Soils remain quite saturated for most of the eastern part of the South Island, in particular coastal Marlborough, Canterbury and northern parts of the Otago regions. All other parts of the South Island have soil moisture levels that are typical for this time of year.

Sunshine
Sunshine was near normal (90 to 109% of normal) for much of the North Island. However, the central North Island from Taumarunui to Palmerston North received well above normal sunshine (more than 125% of June normal) to begin the winter season. Most of the South Island also received near normal sunshine; however, there were also exceptions with pockets of below normal sunshine (75 to 89% of June normal) over the Otago region with spotty areas of well below normal (less than 75% of June normal) sunshine over coastal Southland.

Full summary: Climate_Summary_June_2014.docx

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