Temperature records broken around the country

Temperature records broken around the country

This month’s cold snap has broken a swathe of temperature records around the country.

NIWA data shows at more than 30 weather stations from Cape Reinga in the north to Stewart Island, had daily maximum temperature recordings that were either the lowest ever recorded, or at least in the top four coldest for July.

At South West Cape, the southernmost point on Stewart Island the temperature reached just 5.2°C on July 6. This was the third lowest for July for this location since records began in 1991.

At the opposite end of the country at Cape Reinga the temperature was a comparably balmy 10.8°C on July 10, but this was the lowest daily maximum July temperature there since 1971.

Lowest daily maximum temperatures were also recorded at Kaitaia, Port Taharoa, Waione and Ngawi.

Suspicions that the early mornings for the first half of July have been especially chilly have also been confirmed at several locations.

In particular Northlanders have been feeling the cold with Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Warkworth all recording the lowest July temperature on record. Kaitaia’s lowest daily minimum was 0°C on July 11, Kerikeri’s -0.7°C on July 12 and Warkworth’s -2.3°C also on July 12.

Te Kuiti plummeted to -4.9°C overnight on July 13, marking it as the coldest July temperature for the town since records began in 1959. In fact, Te Kuiti has observed its two-lowest July temperatures on record over the past three days: -4.5°C was recorded on July 11 which is its second-lowest July temperature.

And in Greymouth -2.6°C on July 9 put it in the record books as the coldest July temperature there since records begin in 1947.

NIWA climate scientist Gregor Macara said the cold weather was caused by a cold southerly flow that brought icy showers and snow last week, followed by a high pressure system bringing clear skies and little wind to most of the country.

“Clouds act like a blanket at night and trap heat over the Earth’s surface, whereas clear skies enable enhanced night-time cooling as this heat escapes the atmosphere. This process has contributed to the severe frosts observed lately,” he said.
The current list of July 2015 record breakers is:
Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature Extremes

LOCATION Daily Tmax (°C) Date Year records began Ranking
Cape Reinga 10.8 10th 1971 Lowest
Kaitaia 9.6 10th 1971 Lowest
Dargaville 9.4 9th 1951 2nd-lowest
Mokohinau 10.0 10th 1994 Equal lowest
Warkworth 9.8 9th 1966 4th-lowest
Whangaparaoa 9.9 10th 1982 Equal 2nd-lowest
Whitianga 9.8 9th 1971 2nd-lowest
Paeroa 8.8 9th 1971 4th-lowest
Te Puke 8.6 8th 1973 4th-lowest
Whakatane 9.3 8th 1975 Equal 4th-lowest
Rotorua 7.1 8th 1972 Equal 3rd-lowest
Motu 3.8 8th 1990 3rd-lowest
Port Taharoa 9.0 8th 1974 Lowest
Te Kuiti 6.3 9th 1959 2nd-lowest
Turangi 5.7 9th 1968 4th-lowest
Takapau Plains 3.8 9th 1972 2nd-lowest
Dannevirke 4.0 9th 1951 2nd-lowest
Waione 4.9 9th 1993 Lowest
Castlepoint 6.5 8th 1972 3rd-lowest
Ngawi 6.9 8th 1972 Lowest
Hicks Bay 8.1 8th 1972 Equal lowest
Gisborne 6.9 9th 1940 3rd-lowest
Napier 7.5 9th 1940 4th-lowest
Hastings 6.6 9th 1972 2nd-lowest
Wairoa 7.6 8th 1972 2nd-lowest
Mahia 7.4 9th 1990 Equal 2nd-lowest
Ohakune 2.2 9th 1972 Equal 3rd-lowest
Haast 6.1 6th 1949 4th-lowest
Secretary Island 5.9 6th 1989 3rd-lowest
Le Bons Bay 3.4 8th 1984 2nd-lowest
South West Cape 5.2 6th 1991 3rd-lowest

Lowest Daily Minimum Temperature Extremes

LOCATION Daily Tmin (°C) Date Year records began Ranking
Kaitaia 0.0 11th 1948 Lowest
Kerikeri -0.7 12th 1981 Lowest
Warkworth -2.3 12th 1966 Lowest
North Shore, Auckland 1.0 12th 1994 Equal 3rd-lowest
Port Taharoa 0.9 10th 1973 Equal 2nd-lowest
Te Kuiti -4.9 13th 1959 Lowest
Taumarunui -5.9 12th 1947 Equal 4th-lowest
Mahia 1.8 9th 1990 2nd-lowest
Westport -1.3 9th 1937 4th-lowest
Greymouth -2.6 9th 1947 Lowest
Puysegur Point 1.1 7th 1978 4th-lowest
Appleby -5.6 11th 1932 4th-lowest
Waiau School -7.3 12th 1974 Equal 4th-lowest
Dunedin (Musselburgh) -3.1 13th 1947 Equal 2nd-lowest
Alexandra -8.7 12th 1983 4th-lowest
Balclutha -6.1 13th 1964 2nd-lowest

ENDS

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