Ranfurly is living up to its reputation as the coldest place in New Zealand, after recording the coolest temperature in the country during April.
Niwa forecasting principal scientist Chris Brandolino said this April was characterised by lower pressure than normal, over and to the southeast of New Zealand.
"Unlike the first three months of the year, where La Nina conditions promoted more winds from a northeasterly direction, April’s pressure pattern resulted in more southwesterly winds than normal for much of the country."
As a result, several low-pressure systems and cold fronts passed over the country, bringing adverse weather to many locations, including Ranfurly which recorded -4.9degC on April 14 — the country’s lowest temperature.
Mr Brandolino said the highest temperature was 28.5degC, observed in Napier on April 4; the highest one-day rainfall was 133mm, recorded in Te Puke on April 15; and the highest wind gust was 161kmh, observed in Akitio on April 20.
Of the six main centres in April, Dunedin and Auckland were the wettest, Hamilton the driest, Auckland the warmest, Christchurch and Dunedin the coolest, Tauranga the sunniest and Dunedin the least sunny.
Despite the extreme weather events and southwesterly winds, stretches of calm weather were also observed for much of the country, resulting in near average April temperatures overall, he said.
