November was country’s warmest

Despite the typical variable weather patterns, New Zealand has had its warmest November on record and its second-warmest spring on record.

Niwa meteorologist Seth Carrier said last month was characterised by more northeasterly winds than normal, which was associated with a developing La Nina weather pattern over the equatorial Pacific.

"These warm and humid northeasterly winds from the subtropics combined with well above average sea surface temperatures surrounding the country, resulting in New Zealand’s warmest November on record."

The nationwide average temperature in November was 15.4degC, which was 1.7degC above the 1981-2010 November average, he said.

"November 2021 surpassed November 2019 as the warmest on record, and three of the four warmest Novembers have now occurred since 2013."

The highest temperature was 31.7degC in Hastings on November 14; the lowest was -3.8degC in Cass (Canterbury) on November 4.

Tolaga Bay had the highest one-day rainfall (178mm) on November 3, and the highest wind gust was 152kmh, at Puysegur Point on November 19.

Of the six main centres in November 2021, Tauranga was the warmest, Dunedin was the coolest and sunniest, Hamilton was the wettest and least sunny, and Christchurch was the driest.

Across the entire spring season (September to November), the average temperature was 13.1degC, making it the second warmest spring on record.

Niwa forecaster Nava Fedaeff said there were extended periods of settled weather, interrupted by active weather and extreme events.

"Developing La Nina conditions resulted in a transition from a westerly air flow, near average temperatures and widespread wet weather during September to more northerly and northeasterly winds during October and November, bringing frequent warm and humid weather and contributing to what was the country’s fifth-warmest October and warmest November on record."

The warmest spring on record occurred in 1988, she said.

Across Otago and Southland, several weather records were nearly toppled during the season.

Middlemarch (11.2degC) and Dunedin (Musselburgh) (12.1degC) recorded their second-highest mean air temperatures; Middlemarch recorded the lowest temperature of the Spring with -6.3degC on September 1; and Lauder recorded its fourth-highest spring rainfall total with 170mm.

 - john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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