Rainfall: Exceptionally dry in the east of the South Island, especially Canterbury with record low rainfall; above average in central North Island regions
Soil moisture: Significant deficits in Otago, Canterbury, and central Marlborough
Sunshine: Very sunny in the east of the South Island, much cloudier in the north and west of the North Island
Temperatures: Average or above average in most regions except in Westland and Fiordland.
December was extremely dry with very little rainfall and very sunny in the east of the South Island, especially in Canterbury where many sites recorded only 1 mm and the driest December on record. Christchurch Garden’s rainfall was the lowest for December in more than 140 years of measurement. Soil moisture deficits are now severe throughout Otago, Canterbury and central Marlborough; and significant in the Wairarapa, Nelson and parts of Northland. Contrasting above average rainfall occurred in Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, inland Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and parts of south Westland and Fiordland. Sunshine hours were well above average in the east of the South Island. However, there was much less sunshine than average in the north and west of the North Island. Temperatures were average or above average in most regions. However, it was cooler than usual in parts of Westland and Fiordland. The December climate patterns were associated with more frequent anticyclones (‘highs’) than usual to the north of the North Island, and more depressions (‘lows’) in the Southern Ocean to the south of New Zealand. These produced more frequent and stronger westerlies than average over New Zealand.
Highlights:
- December 2003 temperatures ranged from a high of 36.0°C, recorded at Middlemarch on the 31st; the equal highest December temperature on record for the Otago region, to a low of –1.1°C, recorded at The Chateau, Ruapehu, on the 17th.
- Rainfall totalled 260 mm at Milford Sound on the 5th. High rainfall exceeding 50 mm occurred in Upper Hutt on the 27th, and in Rotorua and the Gisborne high country, on the 29th.
- Christchurch was by far the driest and sunniest of the four main centres, recording only 1 mm of rainfall. Rainfall was also below average in Wellington and Dunedin, but near average in Auckland. Temperatures were above average in Auckland and Christchurch, and near average in the other two main centres. Sunshine hours were well above average in Christchurch and Dunedin, near average in Wellington, and below average in Auckland.
Rainfall
There was little rainfall in Canterbury, and totals were less than 25 percent (quarter) or less of average in Central Otago, and 50 percent (half) or less of average in much of Northland, Nelson, Marlborough, other areas of Otago, and Southland. Rainfall was also below average throughout much of Wairarapa. Above average rainfall occurred in Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, inland Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and parts of south Westland and Fiordland.
Temperature
Mean temperatures were at least 1.0°C above average in parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Marlborough. It was also warmer than usual in Coromandel, and central Hawke’s Bay, but cooler than average in parts of Westland and Fiordland. The December national average temperature of 15.9°C was 0.3°C above normal.
Sunshine
Sunshine totals were well above average in Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. It was also sunnier than normal in most other South Island regions. Sunshine was well below normal in parts of Auckland, Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, and Manawatu.
Extremely dry in the east of the South Island, especially Canterbury Above average rainfall in central North Island regions
Rainfall was 25 percent (quarter) or less of average in Canterbury and Central Otago, and 50 percent (half) or less of average in much of Northland, Nelson, Marlborough, other areas of Otago, and Southland. Totals were less than 75 percent of average throughout much of Wairarapa. Above average rainfall occurred in Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wanganui, inland Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and parts of south Westland and Fiordland, most with between 125 percent (one and a quarter) and 175 percent (one and three quarters) of average December totals. Rainfalls were near average elsewhere.
Record low December rainfall was recorded at:
| Location | December rainfall (mm) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchmore | 1 | 1 | 1947 | Lowest |
| Rangiora | 4 | 7 | 1965 | Lowest |
| Darfield | 5 | 8 | 1919 | Lowest |
| Christchurch Airport | 1 | 2 | 1943 | Lowest |
| Christchurch Gardens | 1 | 2 | 1863 | Lowest |
| Lincoln | 1 | 2 | 1881 | Lowest |
| Le Bons Bay | 6 | 10 | 1990 | Lowest |
| Timaru Airport | 7 | 15 | 1956 | Lowest |
| Middlemarch | 1 | 2 | 1916 | Lowest |
High December rainfall was recorded at:
| Location | December rainfall (mm) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotorua Airport | 231 | 180 | 1963 | 2nd highest |
Very sunny in the east of the South Island Much cloudier in the north and west of the North Island
Sunshine totals were at least 120 percent of normal in Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, and at least 110 percent of normal in most other South Island regions. Sunshine was well below normal in parts of Auckland, Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, and Manawatu. Near normal sunshine occurred elsewhere.
High December sunshine was recorded at:
| Location | December sunshine (hours) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blenheim Research | 289 | 121 | 1930 | Well above average |
| Mt Cook Village | 220 | 131 | 1930 | Well above average |
| Christchurch Airport | 274 | 125 | 1949 | 4th highest |
| Lake Tekapo | 311 | 122 | 1928 | 2nd highest |
| Duendin, Musselburgh | 230 | 131 | 1947 | Well above average |
| Invercargill Airport | 223 | 122 | 1932 | Well above average |
Low December sunshine was recorded at:
| Location | December sunshine (hours) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland,Whenuapai | 177 | 78 | 1954 | 3rd lowest |
| Hamilton, Ruakura | 170 | 75 | 1936 | 3rd lowest |
| New Plymouth Airport | 176 | 76 | 1972 | Well below average |
| Palmerston North | 138 | 73 | 1930 | Well below average |
Average or above average temperatures in most regions
Mean temperatures were at least 1.0°C above average in parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Marlborough, and at least 0.5°C above average in Coromandel, and central Hawke’s Bay, and about 0.5°C below average in parts of Westland and Fiordland. Temperatures were near average elsewhere.
Well above average December mean air temperatures were recorded at:
| Location | Mean temperature | Departure from average (°C) | Records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dargaville | 18.6 | +1.5 | 1943 | Well above average |
Mean daily maximum temperatures were at least 2.0°C above average in parts of Marlborough and coastal Otago. Mean daily minimum temperatures were at least 2.0°C above average in Waikato and Gisborne.
December climate in the four main centres
Of the four main centres, Christchurch was by far the driest, with a record low 1 mm of rainfall. Rainfall was also below average in Wellington and Dunedin, but near average in Auckland. Temperatures were above average in Auckland and Christchurch, and near average in the other two main centres. Sunshine hours were well above average in Christchurch and Dunedin, near average in Wellington, and below average in Auckland. The Christchurch December sunshine value was the 4th highest on record.
| Auckland a | Wellington | Christchurchc | Dunedin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. mean temp. (°C) | 19.2 a | 15.6 | 16.4 | 14.1 |
| Dep. from normal (°C) | +1.2 | +0.1 | +0.5 | +0.1 |
| Above average | Near average | Above average | Near average | |
|
|
||||
| Dec. rainfall (mm) | 79b | 54 | 1 | 50 |
| % of normal | 80 | 59 | 2 | 67 |
| Near average | Below average | Record low | Below average | |
|
|
||||
| Dec. sunshine (hours) | 193a | 219 | 274 | 230 |
| % of normal | 87 | 97 | 125 | 131 |
| Below average | Near average | 4th highest | Well above average | |
a Mangere bMt Albert cChristchurch Airport
Highlights and extreme events
- The highest December 2003 temperature was 36.0°C, recorded at Middlemarch on the 31st; the highest December temperature on record in the Middlemarch area, and equal highest for December for the Otago region (36.0°C at Alexandra in December 1988).
- The lowest temperature for the month was –1.1°C, recorded at The Chateau, Ruapehu, on the 17th.
- Rainfall totalled 260 mm at Milford Sound on the 5th. High rainfall, exceeding 50 mm occurred in Upper Hutt on the 27th, and in Rotorua and the Gisborne high country, on the 29th.
For further information, please contact:
Dr Jim Salinger – Principal Scientist, Climate NIWA National Climate Centre – Auckland Phone +64 9 375 2053 [email protected]
Stuart Burgess – Climatologist NIWA National Climate Centre – Wellington Phone +64 4 386 0569 [email protected]
Geoff Baird – Communications Manager Phone +64 4 386 0543 [email protected]
Acknowledgement of NIWA as the source is required.