Despite last month's snow and frosty conditions, Otago's weather made the record books for low rainfall and high sunshine hours.
Niwa climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said the month was characterised by frequent southerly winds and higher than usual pressures, bringing the snow in the middle of the month followed by anticyclones from August 19 to 24, which caused extremely icy or frosty mornings.
However, "the last week of the month was mostly dry and sunny in many regions".
The average temperature was 8.2degC, 0.5degC below the 1971-2000 August average.
Balclutha recorded 152 hours of sun, its third highest since records began in 1964.
Dunedin received 42mm of rainfall, 63% of normal.
Wanaka and Alexandra recorded their third-lowest rainfall totals with 6mm each, 10% and 24% of normal rainfall respectively.
