July was a record or near-record dry month in parts of North and Central Otago and South Canterbury.
Some areas received less than 10mm of rainfall for the month, equivalent to just 20% or less of their usual for July.
In its monthly weather wrap, Niwa's National Climate Centre reported that the areas affected were sheltered from both westerly and southwesterly air flows, the predominant directions of rain-bearing weather systems in July.
Alexandra recorded its lowest July rainfall since records began in 1983, receiving only 3mm, or 14% of normal.
The 3mm of rain recorded at Ranfurly (just 9% of normal) for the month was its second-lowest reading in July since records began in 1943.
Despite a bonspiel being called in nearby Naseby, Central Otago temperatures were warmer than usual too, with Ranfurly's average temperature of 4degC for the month making July its third-warmest since records began in 1975.
The 16.7degC recorded in Ranfurly on July 27 was its second-warmest July temperature since 1975.
With 158 hours of sunshine, Queenstown recorded its second-sunniest July since 1930.
Mean temperatures were below average (by 0.51degC to 1.2degC) in parts of the West Coast, coastal South Canterbury and North Otago.
They were well above average (by 1.2degC) in parts of Central Otago.
It was particularly sunny in Marlborough, Central Otago and the Southern Lakes, where July sunshine was well above normal (125%).
Dunedin had a dry July, receiving only 44% of the normal amount of rain it gets in that month.
By comparison, Auckland received six times as much rain as Dunedin - 122% of the bigger city's usual July rain.
Of the six main centres in July, Dunedin was the driest and cloudiest, Auckland was the warmest and wettest, Christchurch was the coolest and Tauranga was the sunniest.
