Rain in late December failed to upset the country'slowest rainfall locations in Central Otago - with Clyde recording 389mm last year, Ranfurly 434mm and Alexandra 442mm, the National Institute of Atmospheric Research (Niwa) national climate summary for 2010 said.
Niwa principal climate scientist Dr James Renwick said the increased prevalence of anticyclones (highs) near New Zealand produced a relatively settled climate for the year, with average, or above average temperatures and normal, or above normal sunshine hours with drought at either end of the year.
Notable climate features of 2010 around the country involved two droughts - one in Otago in April; several heatwaves - one in Central Otago in March; and three significant rainfall events, including flooding in Lake Wakatipu in April, coastal Otago in May, and the southern lakes in December.
Central Otago, particularly Alexandra, the southern lakes district and South Otago all set a number of other records in the past 12 months.
Alexandra recorded its third-highest annual rainfall with 442mm, 121% of normal and its second-highest one-day extreme rainfall of 43mm, on December 27.
Alexandra and Cromwell recorded their highest annual average temperate at 11.6degC (1.1degC higher than normal) and 12.4degC (1.6degC higher than normal) since their records began in 1983 and 1949 respectively.
Cromwell also recorded its highest mean maximum temperature of 18.5degC (1.8degC above normal) with Alexandra and Wanaka recording their fourth-highest with 17.8degC (0.9degC above) and 16.9degC (1.1degC above).
At the other end of the scale, Cromwell and Alexandra also recorded their highest average minimum temperatures of 6.3degC (1.5degC above) and 5.4degC (1.3degC above).
Last year was notable for seven warmer-than-normal months (February, April, May, August, September, November and December), which led to records of extreme monthly maximum temperatures, he said.
In Otago, Wanaka, Cromwell and Alexandra recorded high temperatures in February, March and November. Record highs were set by Cromwell in March - 32.7degC on March 9 - and in November - Wanaka 31.4degC, Cromwell 32.2degC on the November 28, and Alexandra 31.6degC on on November 29.
A temperature extreme was recorded by Queenstown, which achieved its second lowest minimum of -7.2degC on July 12. It also recorded its lowest December minimum of -0.4degC on December 9, and its highest one-day rainfall total of 62mm on December 25.
Wanaka recorded its lowest November rainfall since 1927 with 3mm - 5% of normal.
In South Otago, Balclutha recorded its second-highest number of sunshine hours at 2062, 127% of normal, contributed to by its highest monthly sunshine hours in October (268), July (146) and February (269).
Nugget Point recorded its fourth-lowest rainfall of 677mm, 72% of normal and its lowest maximum was 2.5degC on September 18.
Dunedin recorded above average temperatures, at 11.6degC (0.5degC above), near normal rainfall with 728mm, and above normal sunshine hours at 1879 (118% above), for the year.
The city also recorded its highest sunshine hours in February with 245 (158% of normal) and again in October with 235 hours (156% of normal).
Extreme low minimum temperatures were also recorded in Dunedin and Balclutha at Telford in February of 1.3degC on February 16, and 1degC on February 8 respectively.
2010 WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS
NEW ZEALAND
• Moderate El Nino at start of year to La Nina by July.
• Mean annual temperatures above average.
• Six months of year wetter and six months drier than normal.
• Driest rainfall-recording stations all in Central Otago.
• Highest recorded temperature 35.6degC at Cheviot.
• Lowest temperature -12.6degC at Lake Tekapo, August 10.
• Highest recorded wind gust 217kmh at Baring Head, Wellington.
• Whakatane sunniest with 2561 hours.
OTAGO
• Record average temperatures in Cromwell and Alexandra.
• Record mean daily-maximum temperatures in Cromwell and Tara Hills.
• Record mean daily-minimum temperatures in Cromwell and Alexandra.
• Lowest daily-maximum temperature on record at Nugget Point.
• Balclutha records higher-than-normal sunshine hours.
• Dry in March and November.
• Floods in April and May.
• Record or near record one-day rainfalls recorded late December.
