It has been a record-breaking cold winter for Dunedin and Queenstown.
Dunedin was also the driest of New Zealand's six main centres for the second year in a row, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) winter climate summary says.
Climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said winter - June to August - was characterised by more easterly winds than usual over the southern and central districts.
It meant above-normal rainfall and sunshine in some parts of Otago but below-average temperatures, especially in eastern parts of the region, she said.
Dunedin and Queenstown recorded their lowest average minimum temperatures: -0.4degC (0.8degC lower than normal) and -1.3degC (-0.5degC lower than normal ) respectively.
The two centres also recorded their third-lowest daily minimum temperatures on July 12 with -6.7degC and -7.2degC respectively.
Alexandra recorded its third-lowest mean maximum air temperature of 9.4degC (0.2degC below normal).
The cold weather meant the first national bonspiel in three years was called at Idaburn Dam on July 7 and 8 and snow closed schools and affected many roads in the Queenstown area on June 23.
Although winter was wet in parts of Otago, Nugget Point recorded its third-equal lowest rainfall since records began in 1930, just over 50% of its normal rainfall at 124mm.
Alexandra and Roxburgh recorded their second-highest one-day rainfalls on June 6 with 27mm and 28mm respectively, while Lauder, near Alexandra, recorded its highest one-day rainfall with 39mm.
Meanwhile, Balclutha recorded its highest-equal sunshine hours with 392 (132% of normal).
Of the six main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Christchurch the coolest and cloudiest, Tauranga was the wettest but also the sunniest, and Dunedin the driest.
The city's rainfall was 76% below normal at 158mm; the only city not to get more-than-normal rainfall.
Dunedin's mean temperature was near average on 7.4degC, while its sunshine hours were 121% above normal at 366 hours.
