A warm start to the year for the North and wet for many.
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Temperature |
January temperatures were well above average (>1.2°C) or above average (0.5-1.2°C) in most parts of the North Island and north and west of the South Island. Temperatures were well below average (<-1.2°C) or below average (-0.5°C to -1.2°C) in the eastern and southern South Island. |
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Rainfall
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Rainfall was well above normal (>149%) or above normal (120-149%) in most parts of the north and east of both Islands. Rainfall was below normal (50-79%) or well below normal (<50%) in isolated parts of Taranaki and Queenstown-Lakes. Near normal rainfall (80-120%) was observed elsewhere. |
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Sunshine |
Sunshine was near normal (90-109%) or below normal (75-89%) for the North Island, and below normal or well below normal (<75%) for the South Island. |
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Soil Moisture |
As of 1 February 2016, soil moisture levels were above normal for the time of year for eastern Northland, Coromandel, northern Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, northern Tasman, Nelson and coastal Canterbury. Drier than normal soils were evident in the remainder of the North Island, southern Tasman, Otago, and Southland. |
Overview
During January 2016, strong El Niño conditions continued in the Tropical Pacific. However, rather than the typical south-westerly flow anomaly over New Zealand that is associated with El Niño at this time of year, high pressure anomalies to the east of New Zealand, as well as to the south and west of the South Island caused northeast flow anomalies over the North Island and southeast flow anomalies over the South Island in January.
Temperatures
The northeast flow anomaly over the North Island during January caused warm and humid tropically-derived air masses (including two ex-tropical cyclones) to affect New Zealand during the month. Above average (+0.51°C to +1.20 °C above the January average) and well above average (> +1.20 °C above the January average) temperatures were observed for the entire Island, as well as the north and west South Island. In contrast, the predominant southeast flow anomaly over the South Island caused below average (-1.20°C to -0.51°C below the January average) or well below average (<-1.20°C below the January average) temperatures for the east and south of the South Island. The nation-wide average temperature in January 2016 was 17.6°C (0.6°C above the 1981-2010 January average from NIWA’s seven station temperature series which begins in 1909)[1].
Rainfall
The moist tropical air masses (including ex-tropical cyclones Ula and Victor) that affected New Zealand in January not only brought warm temperatures and high humidity, but also brought significant rainfall. Rainfall totals for January were well above normal (>149% of January normal) in northern and eastern regions of both Islands. Notably, Timaru received almost three times its normal rainfall for January (296% of January normal rainfall), with over half of that occurring in one day (81 mm, the highest 1-day rainfall total for January in Timaru, in records going back to 1881). Rainfall was above normal (120-149% of January normal) for many other locations in the North Island. Few locations recorded below normal (50-79% of January normal) or well below normal (<50% of January normal) rainfall in January – this only occurred in isolated parts of Taranaki Region and Queenstown-Lakes District.
Soil moisture
At the end of December 2015, soil moisture levels were extremely low for many parts of the country, particularly in the North Island and the north and south of the South Island. However, numerous rainfall events throughout the country in January alleviated soil moisture deficits, and as of 1 February 2016, soil moisture levels were above normal for the time of year for eastern Northland, Coromandel, northern Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, as well as northern Tasman, Nelson, and coastal Canterbury. Drier than normal soils were present in the remainder of the North Island, south Tasman, Otago and Southland. Near normal soil moisture conditions were evident elsewhere.
Sunshine
Sunshine was near normal (90-109% of January normal) or below normal (75-90% of January normal) for the North Island in January. Sunshine was below normal or well below normal (<75% of January normal) for the South Island. The wet and stormy conditions across much of the country during the month caused sunshine totals to be lower than normal for most places.
Highlights
Further Highlights include:
- The highest temperature was 34.4°C, observed at Gisborne on 24 January.
- The lowest temperature was -1.2°C, observed at Manapouri on 4 January.
- The highest 1-day rainfall was 195 mm, recorded at Milford Sound on 23 January.
- The highest wind gust was 183 km/hr, observed at Cape Turnagain on 10 January.
- Of the six main centres in January 2016, Auckland was the warmest, wettest, and sunniest, Dunedin was the coolest, Hamilton was the driest, and Christchurch was the cloudiest.
- Of the available, regularly reporting sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four locations in 2016 so far (1 January – 31 January) were New Plymouth (279 hours), Richmond (275 hours), Auckland (North Shore, 256 hours), and Appleby (250 hours).
Download
Download the January 2016 Montly Climate Summary [568KB PDF]
Climate Statistics for January 2016 [66KB PDF]
Contact
For further information, please contact:
Mr Chris Brandolino Principal Scientist – Forecasting, NIWA National Climate Centre Tel. 09 375 6335, Mobile (027) 886 0014