The weather was hot in Dunedin last month but it was cooler across than city than in January last year.
Niwa climate scientist Nava Fedaeff said Dunedin posted some ‘‘near-record conditions’’ last month ‘‘but it wasn’t as hot as last year’’.
The January mean temperature at Dunedin Airport last month was 16.7degC — 1.5degC above average.
‘‘This is the third-highest January mean temperature on record since they [temperature readings] began in 1962.’’
However, in January last year, the mean temperature was 19.1degC, a ‘‘whopping’’ 3.9degC above average and the highest January mean temperature on record at the airport.
The hottest day at Dunedin Airport last month was Thursday last week, when the mercury soared to 32.2degC, the airport’s eighth-highest January temperature since records began in 1972.
Temperatures hit 35degC on January 16 last year. In Musselburgh, the January mean temperature was 17degC, 1.7degC above average.
‘‘This is the fourth-highest January mean temperature on record since they began on 1947.’’
The hottest day in Musselburgh last month was 31.4degC on January 5.
On January 31 last year, temperatures hit 34.2degC, Musselburgh’s second-highest January temperature.
The highest was 35.7degC on January 28, 1981
