Tuesday, 1 July 2003
Temperatures: Warmest June on record
Rainfall: Very dry in Canterbury, and significantly below average rainfall in parts of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay; extremely wet in Nelson with above average rainfall in all western regions from Waikato to Fiordland
Sunshine: Sunny in most eastern regions, below average totals in the west of the North Island from Northland to Manawatu
June was the warmest ever recorded in New Zealand since records began over 150 years ago, with mean temperatures 2.0°C above normal. They reached more than 3°C above normal in some inland sheltered areas of the eastern South Island. It was dry and sunny in the east. Rainfall was extremely low for much of June throughout Canterbury. June was wetter than average in most western regions. June climate patterns were associated with warmer than normal seas and stronger than normal northwesterly winds in our region. The wind patterns were brought about by stronger than average anticyclones (‘highs’) east of the North Island and depressions (‘lows’) well southwest of New Zealand in the Southern Ocean.
Highlights:
- June 2003 temperatures ranged from a high of 22.3°C, recorded at North Clyde, Wairoa on the 6th, to a low of –8.8°C, recorded at Hanmer Forest on the 18th. The month had extended periods of exceptionally warm weather, but also a few nights of severe overnight ground frosts in the South Island, five heavy rainfall events, a few producing flooding, and also a tornado on the West Coast. There were high winds on several days.
- The four main centres were all very warm, with Christchurch being exceptionally dry for much of the month.
Temperatures
Mean temperatures were very much above average throughout much of New Zealand, and 3.0°C or more above average in some inland sheltered areas of the eastern South Island. The June national average temperature of 10.4°C was 2.0°C above normal, the warmest since reliable measurements commenced in the 1850s. Only June 1971 (10.2°C) was anywhere near as warm. Above average sea surface temperatures around much of New Zealand, especially to the north and west, contributed to the anomalously warm June land temperatures.
Rainfall
Rainfall was less than 50 percent (half) of average throughout much of Canterbury (despite wet weather on the 30th). It was also drier than average in many other eastern regions from Gisborne to coastal Otago. Rainfall was also less than 75 percent (three-quarters) of average in eastern Northland and much of Coromandel. Rainfall was exceptionally high in Nelson, and above average in all western regions from coastal Waikato to Fiordland, as well as parts of north and west Otago.
Sunshine
Sunshine hours were above average in most eastern regions from Gisborne to Southland, with extremely high June totals in eastern Otago. Totals were below average in the north and west of the North Island.
Warmest June in over 150 years
Mean temperatures were at least 2.0°C above average throughout much of New Zealand, and 3.0°C or more above average in some inland sheltered areas of the eastern South Island. Mean temperatures were 1.0–1.9°C above average in Northland, Buller, Fiordland, and coastal areas of south Canterbury and Otago.
Near or record high North Island mean June temperatures were recorded at:
| Location | Mean temperature | Departure (°C) | Records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerikeri | 13.5 | +1.5 | 1945 | 3rd highest |
| Whangarei Airport | 14.0 | +1.7 | 1968 | 3rd highest |
| Warkworth | 12.9 | +1.8 | 1972 | 2nd highest |
| Auckland, Henderson | 12.4 | +1.6 | 1986 | 3rd equal highest |
| Auckland, Owairaka | 13.2 | +1.9 | 1949 | Well above average |
| Auckland, Mangere | 13.5 | +2.2 | 1853 | Equal highest |
| Auckland Airport | 13.1 | +1.8 | 1962 | Well above average |
| Pukekohe | 12.8 | +2.1 | 1971 | 2nd equal highest |
| Hamilton, Ruakura | 11.6 | +2.3 | 1907 | 2nd highest |
| Hamilton Airport | 11.0 | +1.7 | 1971 | 3rd highest |
| Paeroa | 12.2 | +2.3 | 1947 | 3rd equal highest |
| Tauranga Airport | 12.5 | +2.2 | 1913 | 2nd highest |
| Te Puke | 11.5 | +1.5 | 1973 | 2nd highest |
| Whakatane Airport | 11.2 | +2.0 | 1975 | 2nd highest |
| Rotorua Airport | 10.2 | +2.0 | 1964 | 3rd highest |
| Taupo Airport | 9.5 | +2.3 | 1976 | 2nd highest |
| Taumarunui | 9.8 | +1.8 | 1947 | 3rd highest |
| New Plymouth Airport | 12.2 | +2.1 | 1944 | 3rd highest |
| Turangi | 9.4 | +2.2 | 1968 | 2nd highest |
| Ohakune | 8.1 | +2.3 | 1994 | 2nd highest |
| Hicks Bay | 13.7 | +1.8 | 1991 | Highest |
| Gisborne Airport | 12.1 | +2.2 | 1905 | 2nd highest |
| Mahia | 12.8 | +1.6 | 1991 | Highest |
| Napier Airport | 12.1 | +2.6 | 1974 | Highest |
| Napier, Nelson Park | 12.4 | +2.9 | 1870 | 2nd highest |
| Castlepoint | 12.6 | +1.8 | 1973 | Highest |
| East Taratahi | 10.0 | +2.0 | 1906 | Highest |
| Palmerston N. Airport | 11.1 | +2.7 | 1962 | Equal highest |
| Levin | 11.6 | +2.3 | 1896 | Equal highest |
| Paraparaumu Airport | 12.2 | +3.0 | 1953 | Highest |
| Wallaceville | 11.2 | +3.0 | 1940 | Highest |
| Wellington, Kelburn | 11.6 | +2.3 | 1862 | Highest |
| Wellington Airport | 12.4 | +2.3 | 1962 | Highest |
| Normanby | 10.8 | +1.4 | 1977 | 2nd highest |
| Wanganui | 12.0 | +2.1 | 1937 | 3rd highest |
Near or record high South Island mean June temperatures were recorded at:
| Location | Mean temperature | Departure (°C) | Records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farewell Spit | 12.5 | +2.8 | 1971 | Equal highest |
| Milford Sound | 7.7 | +2.0 | 1935 | 2nd highest |
| Puysegur Point | 9.7 | +1.3 | 1978 | Highest |
| Nelson Airport | 9.7 | +2.3 | 1943 | 3rd highest |
| Nelson, Appleby | 10.2 | +2.2 | 1980 | 2nd highest |
| Blenheim Research | 10.9 | +3.1 | 1932 | Highest |
| Blenheim Airport | 9.9 | +2.5 | 1941 | Highest |
| Hanmer Forest | 7.7 | +3.2 | 1906 | 2nd highest |
| Kaikoura | 11.4 | +2.8 | 1964 | Highest |
| Christchurch Airport | 8.0 | +1.9 | 1954 | Equal highest |
| Christchurch Gardens | 8.7 | +2.0 | 1864 | 3rd highest |
| Lincoln | 8.9 | +2.2 | 1864 | Highest |
| Winchmore | 9.1 | +3.3 | 1950 | Highest |
| Tara Hills, Omarama | 6.1 | +3.9 | 1950 | Highest |
| Dunedin, Musselburgh | 8.5 | +1.4 | 1853 | 3rd highest |
| Manapouri Airport | 5.8 | +1.5 | 1992 | Highest |
| Queenstown | 7.1 | +2.7 | 1872 | Highest |
| Queenstown Airport | 6.0 | +2.6 | 1969 | Highest |
| Lauder | 6.0 | +3.7 | 1982 | Highest |
| Clyde | 6.1 | +2.2 | 1983 | Equal highest |
| Ettrick | 6.5 | +1.5 | 1985 | Highest |
| Gore | 6.5 | +1.8 | 1972 | Equal highest |
| Invercargill Airport | 7.6 | +2.0 | 1948 | Highest |
| Tiwai Point | 8.7 | +2.0 | 1970 | Highest |
| Chatham Islands | 10.1 | +1.3 | 1957 | 3rd highest |
Below average rainfall in the north and many eastern regions, especially Canterbury
High rainfall in Nelson and wetter in most western regions
Rainfall was less than 50 percent (half) of average throughout much of Canterbury, and less than 75 percent (three-quarters) of average in many other eastern regions from Gisborne to coastal Otago. Rainfall was also less than 75 percent (three-quarters) of average in eastern Northland and much of Coromandel.
Near record low June rainfall was recorded at:
| Location | June rainfall (mm) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Bons Bay | 25 | 26 | 1984 | 2nd lowest |
It was extremely wet in Nelson with rainfall totals at least 200 percent (twice) average. Rainfall was at least 125 percent (one and a quarter) of average in all western regions, from Waikato to Kapiti, and at least 150 percent (one and a half) of average in the west of the South Island from Buller to Fiordland, as well as parts of north and west Otago.
Near or record high June rainfall was recorded at:
| Location | June rainfall (mm) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Airport | 198 | 249 | 1941 | Highest |
| Nelson, Appleby | 249 | 293 | 1932 | Highest |
| Reefton | 357 | 207 | 1961 | 2nd highest |
Very sunny in most eastern regions
Sunshine and solar radiation totals were well above average (about 110 percent of normal or more) in most eastern regions from Gisborne to Southland. Below normal sunshine occurred in the north and west of the North Island with near normal sunshine totals were recorded in most other regions.
Well above average June sunshine hours were recorded at:
| Location | June sunshine (hours) | Percentage of normal | Year records began | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellington, Kelburn | 119 | 120 | 1928 | Well above average |
| Nelson Airport | 160 | 112 | 1949 | Above average |
| Dunedin, Musselburgh | 119 | 132 | 1948 | 2nd highest on record |
| Invercargill Airport | 97 | 130 | 1932 | Well above average |
June climate in the four main centres
June temperatures were above average in all the main centres. Christchurch City was the driest, receiving only 19 mm. The other main centres had near, or below average rainfall. Dunedin had its 2nd sunniest June on record. It was also sunnier than average in Wellington and Christchurch, but rather cloudy in Auckland.
| Auckland | Wellington | Christchurch | Dunedin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June mean temp. (°C) | 13.6 | 11.6 | 8.7 | 8.5 |
| Dep. from normal (°C) | +2.2 | +2.3 | +2.0 | +1.4 |
| Equal highest | Highest | 3rd highest | 2nd highest | |
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| June rainfall (mm) | 97 | 144 | 19* | 45 |
| % of normal | 75 | 104 | 38 | 64 |
| Below average | Near average | Well below average | Below average | |
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| June sunshine (hours) | 81 | 119 | 133 | 119 |
| % of normal | 74 | 120 | 111 | 132 |
| Well below average | Well above average | Above average | 2nd highest | |
* Airport
Highlights and extreme events
- June 2003 temperatures ranged from a high of 22.3°C, recorded at North Clyde, Wairoa on the 6th, to a low of –8.8°C, recorded at Hanmer Forest on the 18th.
- The first eight days of June were exceptionally warm, with maximum temperatures exceeding 20°C somewhere in New Zealand on most days, especially in eastern regions.
- Severe overnight ground frosts occurred in many eastern South Island areas after the 10th, with –15.9°C recorded in Mt Cook Village on the 18th. Christchurch Airport recorded grass minima of –10.4°C on the 17th, and –10.7°C on the 26th, both breaking the previous all-time record there, in measurements that began in 1954.
- High rainfall occurred in Manawatu and Nelson on the 3rd, was widespread over much of the North Island over the 8th and 9th (with surface flooding in Auckland and Hamilton) and again between the 15th and 17th. Floods and land slips occurred in the Golden Bay–Nelson region during high rainfall (100 mm or more) over the 28th and 29th (207 mm at Takaka and 170 mm at Appleby).
- Southerly gales buffeted Wellington over the 9th and 10th of June, and periods of wintry southwesterlies affected the lower South Island about the middle of the month and during the last week of June.
- High winds associated with a tornado resulted in property damage in Greymouth on the 17th.
- High rainfall occurred in Wellington on the 30th, with surface flooding in places.
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.