Stronger-than-normal westerly winds last month brought record or near record-breaking rainfall, temperatures and wind to Otago, especially Alexandra and Balclutha.
September was characterised by extremely low pressures over New Zealand bringing wild westerly winds, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) climate summary for September says.
Extremely warm temperatures affected the country at both the start and the end of the month but an intense southwesterly from September 17 to 24 brought snow to low levels in the South and record low temperatures there, she said.
As a result, Alexandra had a month of near records, receiving, since its records began in 1983, its second highest extreme one-day rainfall of 16mm on September 6, its third-highest September rainfall with 41mm (199% of normal) and its fourth-highest average minimum temperature of 3.5degC (1.5degC above normal).
Balclutha also reached near-record level, receiving its second-highest rainfall since records began in 1964, with 93mm (193% of normal) and its lowest daily maximum temperature of 4.5degC on September 18, since records began in 1972.
Nugget Point recorded its equal-lowest daily maximum temperature on September 18 with 2.5degC and also its equal-lowest minimum temperature of -0.8degC on the same day.
Dunedin was the coldest of the six main centres for September, even though its average temperature of 9.5degC was 0.2degC higher than normal.
Rainfall (51mm) and sunshine hours (136) were near normal.
The city also recorded its second-highest extreme wind speed since records began in 1972, with 117kmh on September 5.
