Earth Sciences New Zealand climate scientist Gregor Macara said temperatures were well above average for most of the country, including Otago and Southland, where many areas observed their highest June mean air temperatures on record.
Wānaka (6.3˚C), Ranfurly (5.2˚C), Oamaru (8.8˚C), Dunedin (Musselburgh) (9.6˚C), Invercargill (8.1˚C), Oban (9.0˚C), Nugget Point (8.4˚C), Tautuku (8.9˚C) and South West Cape (10.3˚C) were among 30 locations across the country that observed their warmest June on record.
A further 53 locations observed near-record high June temperatures.
Mr Macara said the nationwide average temperature in June was 10.6°C, 1.9°C above the 1991-2020 June average and was the highest June average since measurements began in 1909.
‘‘The month began on a very warm note, with a northerly airflow of subtropical origin delivering exceptionally high daily minimum temperatures across the country.
‘‘From June 19-20, a strong and very warm northwesterly airflow saw temperatures surge, over the South Island in particular.’’
The Christchurch suburb of Bromley reached a maximum temperature of 26.0°C on June 20, New Zealand’s highest June temperature on record, he said.
‘‘Unusually, some of the daily maximum temperatures were registered overnight.
‘‘For example, Queenstown reached 19.4°C between midnight and 1am on June 20, which was the town’s third-highest June temperature since records began in 1871.’’
Rainfall was above normal or well above normal for northern Otago, central and western parts of Southland, but below normal for the West Coast and eastern Otago.
Soil moisture levels at the end of June were lower than normal for eastern parts of Otago, particularly about Dunedin, but near normal for the rest of the southern regions.
New Zealand’s wettest location relative to normal was Tara Hills, near Omarama, where 255% of normal June rainfall was recorded.
‘‘New Zealand’s driest location relative to normal was Akaroa, where 48% of normal June rainfall was recorded,’’ he said.
The only other records which were nearly broken were extreme wind gust records.
Gore recorded its second-highest extreme wind gust when speeds reached 126kmh on June 12 and Clyde had its third-highest on June 9 when speeds hit 77kmh.
