Dunedin might have had twice its normal rainfall for July, but it was still the driest main centre as several storms hit the country causing major damage.
And another reason Northerners should not criticise southern weather - Southland was the only location to experience average sunshine hours last month.
Niwa's national climate summary for July shows more than 200% of average rainfall was experienced in eastern Otago, Marlborough and Canterbury and 150% or more in the majority of the North Island, Tasman and Westland.
Dunedin airport experienced its second highest July rainfall total since records began in 1963, with 123mm (249% of average).
Dunedin city's rainfall was 144mm (215% of average) but less than Auckland's 249mm (170%), Hamilton's 173mm (126%), Wellington's 252mm (184%) and Christchurch's 165mm (230%).
All of the main centres had fewer sunshine hours than average for July, with the sun peeping through the cloud most often in Auckland and least often in Dunedin.
July was slightly warmer than average overall, with the national average temperature 8.3degC, .6degC above average.
Dunedin's mean temperature was 7degC, which was average for the city and above Christchurch's mean of 6.5degC.
July's persistent rainfall has continued into August, causing the Dunedin City Council to keep a close eye on conditions on Otago Peninsula.
City environment general manager Tony Avery said tree experts and geologists had inspected Portobello Rd after slips last week and judged the situation to be stable at the moment.
"We'll be keeping a close eye on it."
