Cold and dry during June

Dunedin has again broken its own weather records - but last month, rather than being too wet, as it was in May, was too dry, making Dunedin the coldest and driest of New Zealand's six main centres.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) figures for June show rainfall was well below normal across most of the South Island. Many towns in Central Otago reached record or near record lows for the month.

Temperatures were also well below normal for June. especially in Central Otago. The national average temperature was 7.5degC, .7degC below the long-term average for the month.

John Bradley, of Dunedin, who measures rainfall for Niwa, said a 33-year record low for June of 21.9mm was recorded at Balaclava last month - "one-tenth of that recorded for May, 213.5mm".

Niwa's climate summary figures showed Dunedin recorded its second lowest rainfall since records began in 1918 at both its recording sites, with 12mm (23% of normal) at the airport and 17mm at Musselburgh (24% of normal).

Ranfurly experienced no rainfall, the only time since records began in 1943.

Queenstown recorded 7mm of rain, equal to the lowest rainfall since records began in 1871 and Cromwell 6mm, the third-lowest since records began in 1949.

When compared with the other six main centres, Dunedin was the coldest and driest with its temperature of 5.2degC, .2degC below normal and behind Christchurch's 5.6degC, Wellington's 8.8mm and Auckland's 10degC.

The city's rainfall was also below that of other centres at 12mm, compared to Christchurch's 19mm, Wellington's 54mm and Auckland's 111mm.

Temperatures around Otago were also low, with Wanaka experiencing its third-lowest maximum daily air temperature since records began in 1955 at 6degC and Balclutha, its fourth-lowest at 8.4degC.

Queenstown experienced its second-lowest mean minimum daily air temperature since 1871 with -2.1degC.

The lowest extreme daily maximum air temperatures for the month included Wanaka .3degC (equal third-lowest), Dunedin 4degC (equal third-lowest) and Balclutha 2.7degC (second-lowest).

Otago was also hit by snow and ice on June 16. Schools and roads were closed and flights cancelled.

- rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz

 

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