October was a cool and dry month in Otago.
Niwa's monthly climate report shows while temperatures were within 0.5degC of average for most areas of the country, there was considerable variability due to the abnormal southwesterly flow.
Temperatures were much cooler than average early in the month as the weather shifted between westerly and southerly variations.
"The later half of the month saw warmer-than-average temperatures across most of New Zealand. This effectively offset the cold start to the month,'' Niwa forecaster Chris Brandolino said.
Middlemarch recorded the country's lowest temperature at minus 4.9degC on October 25, while Dunedin was the coolest of the main centres.
Balclutha recorded its second-lowest daily maximum temperature of 7.3degC on October 3.
It was dry in places sheltered from southwesterly winds, such as Central Otago, which received less than 50% of its normal October rainfall.
Dunedin received 75% of its normal rainfall with 46mm.
It was sunny in southeastern parts of the South Island, with Dunedin at Musselburgh and Balclutha recording their third-highest sunshine hours of 208 and 219 hours respectively.
Niwa's outlook was for the cool weather to continue. A weak El Nino pattern was likely within the next few months, bringing more frequent westerly winds and drier conditions in eastern areas.
