Average maximum temperatures were 2degC to 4degC warmer throughout Otago last month, but Dunedin still came in the coldest of New Zealand's main centres.
Record or near record maximum temperatures were recorded in Wanaka, Dunedin, Queenstown, Cromwell and Alexandra, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) November climate summary says.
Niwa climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said November, as a whole, was more than 2degC above average across the entire country, due to the anticyclones, or highs, that dominated during the month.
"This was the second month in a row in which rainfall has been extremely low for most regions, resulting in unusually dry soils for the time of year."
Wanaka was the only Otago town to receive record-low rainfall, recording 3mm, 5% of normal and the lowest rainfall for that month since records began in 1927.
The maximums ranged from Cromwell's second-highest recorded average of 24degC, 3.9degC above normal, and Alexandra's highest, 23.5degC, 3.3degC above normal, to Dunedin's 19.5degC, 2degC above normal and its highest recorded, and Queenstown's 20.4degC, 2.9degC above normal and its fourth-highest recorded.
Average minimum temperatures ranged from about 1degC to 2.3degC above normal in Otago, with Dunedin recording its highest average at 10.4degC, 1.8degC above normal, Alexandra 8.9degC, 2.3degC above normal and its second-highest, and Balclutha 8.5degC, 1.4degC above normal and its second-highest.
Of the six main centres, Dunedin was the coldest with a mean temperature of 14.1degC, 1.8degC above normal.
It was also the driest, receiving only 33mm, 52% of normal, but received the least sunshine at 170 hours, near normal for the city.
