The city was among many spots across Otago and Southland that came close to toppling multiple weather records during the coldest month of the year.
Niwa climate scientist Gregor Macara said a large and slow-moving high pressure system was present over New Zealand for much of July, leading to an extended period of fine and settled weather, and regular heavy frosts for inland areas.
It was a relatively mild July for much of New Zealand, with above average or well above average temperatures observed for the West Coast, and coastal parts of Southland, Otago and Canterbury.
Near-average temperatures were observed in parts of inland Southland and Otago.
There were isolated pockets of below average temperatures in Central Otago, he said.
Waimate (7.5°C), Oban (7.8°C), Balclutha (6.5°C), Nugget Point (7.6°C) and South West Cape (8.9°C) recorded their third-highest July mean air temperature, and Musselburgh, Dunedin (8.4°C) its fourth-highest.
July records for the daily maximum air temperatures were set on July 26 at Middlemarch (19.4°C), Five Rivers (18.5°C), Lumsden (18.3°C) and Cromwell (18.8°C).
Invercargill (18.6°C) and Tiwai Point (17.4°C) recorded their second-highest daily maximum temperatures.
Queenstown (16.9°C) and Oban (15.6°C) recorded their fourth-highest on the same day.
Overall, nationwide average temperature in July 2024 was 9.0°C, making it New Zealand’s eighth-warmest July since Niwa’s seven station temperature series began in 1909, Mr Macara said.
July rainfall was below normal or well below normal for central Canterbury, West Coast, and Southland; and above normal or well above normal in most of Otago and southern Canterbury.
He said in the areas that were wetter than normal, most of the rainfall occurred during two events — at the start and end of the month, respectively.
"For example, Lauder recorded 51mm of rain during July, but 46mm of that total occurred on July 1 and July 29.
"In between those events, Lauder observed a 26-day dry spell from July 2-27."
Despite the dry spell, Lauder (30mm on July 1) and Roxburgh (31mm on July 29) recorded their second-highest July extreme 1-day rainfall totals.
While Ranfurly (30mm on July 1), Dunedin Airport (59mm on July 29), Alexandra (21mm on July 1) and Balclutha (41mm on July 29) all recorded their third-highest.
From July 29-31, a prolonged dry spell at the region’s ski areas was ended by a heavy snowfall event.
Reported snowfall totals included 20cm-50cm at Coronet Peak, 67cm at The Remarkables, 41cm at Cardrona, at least 70cm at Treble Cone, and 93cm at Ōhau.
Air temperatures cooled progressively over the course of the event, with snowfall to relatively low elevations beginning on July 30, he said.
Of the six main centres last month, Auckland was the warmest, Christchurch was the driest and coolest, Hamilton was the wettest and Tauranga was the sunniest.
Dunedin was the least sunny, Niwa’s monthly climate summary said.
