Climate of New Zealand

The climate of New Zealand is varied due to the country's

Weather

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The

Each year, there are 7–10 damaging tornadoes that touch down in New Zealand, occurring mostly along the west coast of both islands. Tornadoes in New Zealand most often form from

Snow falls in New Zealand's South Island and at higher altitudes in the North Island. It is extremely rare at sea level in the North Island. Snow is more common inland in both main islands, though snow to sea level does occur on average once or twice per year in the central and southern South Island.

Temperature

As with many islands in the world, the influence of the ocean curtails any extremes in coastal temperature. The greater temperature ranges are found in the interior of the

Annual mean temperature

Mean annual temperatures range from 10 °C (50 °F) in the south to 16 °C (61 °F) in the north.^[6] The coldest month is usually July and the warmest month is usually January or February. Generally there are relatively small variations between summer and winter temperatures. An example of this is Auckland which has a variation of just 9 °C or 16 °F between the average mid-winter high temperature (14.7 °C or 58.5 °F) and average mid-summer high temperature (23.7 °C or 74.7 °F). Temperature variation throughout the day is also relatively small. The exception to this is inland areas and to the east of the ranges with daily variations that can be over 25 °C and differences of up to 14 °C between the average summer and winter high temperatures. Temperatures also drop about 0.7 °C or 1.3 °F for every 100 m (300ft) of altitude.

Northern cities such as

Winter temperatures are much milder in New Zealand compared to other areas of similar latitude, with the exception of the Central Otago and Mackenzie Basin regions mentioned above. Maxima are generally 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) in the North Island, decreasing as one goes further south or inland. The South Island is a bit cooler, with maximum temperatures around 7–12 °C (45–54 °F), though sometimes lower. The lowest temperature ever recorded was −25.6 °C (−14.1 °F) at Ranfurly in Otago in 1903, with a more recent temperature of −21.6 °C (−6.9 °F) recorded in 1995 in nearby Ophir.^[7]

Severe weather events

July 1863 The blizzard and flood of 1863 was a series of consecutive natural disasters in Central Otago in New Zealand's South Island. From July to August 1863 the Otago gold fields suffered from a combination of floods, snowstorms, and blizzards that caused heavy loss of life among the gold miners. At least 40 died during the July rains and more than 11 in the August snows. Sources using the earliest reports of loss of life tend to greatly overstate the numbers who died.^[8]

1–6 February 1868: The Great storm of 1868 was a violent storm that swept across much of New Zealand wrecking 12 ships and causing extensive flooding. About 40 lives were known lost and at the time an estimated £500,000 to £1 million worth of damage was caused. The storm is currently thought to have been an ex-tropical cyclone.

16 April 1897: The storm of 1897 was a severe storm that struck the lower to central North Island of New Zealand on 16 April 1897. It caused the ship Zuleika to run aground near Cape Palliser, with the loss of 12 lives, and severe flooding. At Clive the flooding caused the loss of a further 12 lives and one person was drowned near Kapiti. There were 6 further unconfirmed reports of drowning, bringing the total loss of life directly related to the storm event to between 25 and 31. Based on descriptions of the storm, particularly that of Captain Marten of the Waiapu, it may have been an ex-tropical cyclone.

2 February 1936: The

10 April 1968:

6–10 March 1988: New Zealand is hit by a tropical cyclone once every eight to nine years. Cyclone Bola was one of the costliest cyclones in the history of New Zealand, causing severe damage as an extratropical cyclone when it passed near the country.

4 October 1997: More than 60 homes were flooded and residents in

26 June 1998: A severe thunderstorm affected Karori and Kelburn, with rain breaking all previous records and falling at a rate with a return period of well over 200 years. Rainfall at Kelburn totalled 69.5 mm between 7.35pm and 9.10pm.^[10]

13–27 October 1998: Gale force northwesterlies blew throughout the lower North Island. On 18 October, gusts of 183 km/h were recorded at Castlepoint. Winds were most severe on the following two days, when a gust of 215 km/h was recorded on a Wairarapa farm. A truck was overturned, ships ripped from their moorings in Wellington, and some houses lost their roofs.^[10]

10 January 2002: Thunderstorms over Wellington resulted in torrential rainfall, about 40 mm in 30 minutes, and flash floods in the city centre. Similar storms, some with hail and surface flooding also happened in Whanganui, Manawatu, the central and eastern North Island, Buller and Nelson. The average recurrence interval of this rainfall event was estimated at more than 100 years.^[10]

14–16 February 2004: The Valentine's Day storms left hundreds of people homeless, and silt and floodwaters inundated considerable areas of farmland. Many rivers breached their banks, bridges were damaged and stock was swept away by floodwaters. A civil state of emergency was declared in Whanganui, Manawatu and

25 July and 14 August 2011 New Zealand snowstorms: The first severe winter storm brought the coldest winter snap in fifteen years. During August snow fell consistently down to sea level in Wellington for the first time since 1976,^[12] and snowflakes even fell for a brief time in Auckland for the first time in 80 years.^[12]

20–21 June

(21 June), due to massive damage.

12-16 February 2023: The extratropical remnants of Cyclone Gabrielle passed over the North Island bringing heavy rain and damaging winds causing serious flooding in a number of regions. 11 people lost their lives and $13.5 billion dollars in damage was caused causing Gabrielle to become the deadliest cyclone since Giselle and overtake Bola as the costliest cyclone on record.

Statistics

By area

Auckland
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     75     23 15     65     24 16     94     22 15     105     20 12     103     17 10     139     15 8     146     15 7     121     15 8     116     16 9     91     18 11     93     20 12     91     22 14 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     3     74 60     2.6     75 60     3.7     72 58     4.1     68 54     4.1     63 50     5.5     59 46     5.7     58 45     4.8     59 46     4.6     61 48     3.6     64 51     3.7     67 54     3.6     71 57 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Hamilton
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     85     24 13     71     24 13     87     23 12     95     20 9     102     17 7     119     14 5     126     14 4     117     15 5     102     16 7     96     18 8     93     20 10     95     22 12 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.3     75 55     2.8     75 55     3.4     73 54     3.7     68 48     4     63 45     4.7     57 41     5     57 39     4.6     59 41     4     61 45     3.8     64 46     3.7     68 50     3.7     72 54 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Taupō
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     85     23 12     77     23 12     83     21 10     74     18 7     87     14 5     99     12 3     105     11 2     109     12 3     90     14 5     102     17 7     85     19 8     108     21 10 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.3     74 53     3     74 53     3.3     70 50     2.9     64 45     3.4     57 41     3.9     53 38     4.1     52 36     4.3     54 37     3.5     57 40     4     62 44     3.3     66 47     4.3     70 50 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Napier
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     48     24 15     62     24 15     85     23 13     75     20 10     62     17 7     81     15 5     92     14 5     67     15 5     65     17 7     55     19 9     57     21 11     56     23 13 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.9     76 58     2.4     75 58     3.3     73 55     3     68 50     2.4     63 45     3.2     58 41     3.6     57 40     2.6     59 41     2.6     62 45     2.2     67 49     2.2     70 52     2.2     73 56 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Wellington
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     72     20 13     62     21 14     92     19 13     100     17 11     117     14 9     147     12 7     136     11 6     123     12 7     100     14 8     115     15 9     99     17 10     86     19 12 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.8     69 56     2.4     69 56     3.6     66 55     3.9     62 52     4.6     58 48     5.8     54 44     5.4     53 43     4.8     54 44     3.9     56 46     4.5     59 48     3.9     62 51     3.4     65 54 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Nelson
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     72     22 13     57     22 13     78     21 11     86     18 8     77     15 5     85     13 2     86     12 2     90     13 3     73     15 5     92     17 8     82     19 10     75     21 12 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.8     72 55     2.2     72 55     3.1     69 53     3.4     65 47     3     59 41     3.3     55 36     3.4     54 35     3.5     56 38     2.9     59 42     3.6     62 46     3.2     66 50     3     69 53 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Hokitika
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     250     19 12     172     20 12     217     19 11     249     17 8     245     14 6     233     12 4     232     12 3     224     13 4     250     14 6     286     15 7     240     17 9     278     18 11 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     9.8     67 53     6.8     68 54     8.5     66 51     9.8     62 47     9.6     58 43     9.2     54 39     9.1     54 37     8.8     55 39     9.8     57 42     11     59 45     9.4     62 48     11     65 51 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Christchurch
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     42     23 12     39     22 12     54     20 11     54     18 8     56     15 5     66     12 2     79     11 2     69     12 3     47     15 5     53     17 7     44     19 9     49     21 11 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.7     73 54     1.5     72 54     2.1     69 51     2.1     64 46     2.2     58 40     2.6     53 36     3.1     52 35     2.7     54 37     1.9     59 41     2.1     63 45     1.7     67 48     1.9     70 52 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Alexandra
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     50     25 11     33     25 10     29     22 7     22     18 4     27     14 2     32     9 −2     24     8 −2     18     13 −1     21     16 2     29     19 4     31     21 7     43     23 9 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2     77 51     1.3     77 50     1.1     72 45     0.9     64 39     1.1     56 35     1.3     48 29     0.9     47 28     0.7     55 31     0.8     62 36     1.1     66 40     1.2     70 44     1.7     74 49 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Dunedin
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     73     19 11     59     19 11     70     18 10     62     15 8     67     13 6     68     10 4     61     10 3     55     11 4     48     13 6     64     15 7     67     16 9     76     18 10 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.9     66 52     2.3     66 52     2.8     64 50     2.4     60 46     2.6     55 42     2.7     51 38     2.4     50 37     2.2     52 39     1.9     56 42     2.5     59 45     2.6     61 47     3     64 51 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

^[13]

Location	January mean (°C)[14]	July mean (°C)[14]	Annual rainfall (mm)[15]
Kaitaia	19.5	12.1	1351
Whangarei	19.9	11.6	1304
Auckland	19.1	10.9	1212
Tauranga	19.4	10.2	1181
Hamilton	18.4	8.9	1108
Rotorua	17.7	7.8	1342
Gisborne	19.2	9.7	996
Taupō	17.0	6.5	960
New Plymouth	17.8	9.5	1386
Napier	19.5	9.4	785
Wanganui	18.3	9.5	918
Palmerston North	17.8	8.6	917
Masterton	18.1	7.6	928
Wellington	16.9	8.9	1207
Nelson	17.8	7.2	960
Blenheim	18.0	7.0	711
Westport	16.3	8.7	2121
Kaikoura	16.4	8.1	710
Hokitika	15.6	7.4	2901
Christchurch	17.5	6.6	618
Mount Cook	14.7	2.2	4485
Lake Tekapo	15.2	1.4	592
Timaru	15.9	5.0	548
Milford Sound	14.7	5.3	6715
Queenstown	15.8	3.0	749
Alexandra	18.0	2.9	359
Manapouri	14.7	3.8	1129
Dunedin	15.3	6.6	738
Invercargill	14.2	5.3	1149
Chatham Islands	14.9	8.2	911

Records

Record	Measurement	Location	Date
Highest temperature	42.4 °C (108.3 °F)	Rangiora, Canterbury	7 February 1973
Lowest temperature	−25.6 °C (−14.1 °F)	Ranfurly, Otago	17 July 1903
Highest rainfall in an hour	134 mm (5.3 in)	Cropp River, West Coast	8 January 2004
Highest rainfall in 24 hours	758 mm (29.8 in)	Cropp River, West Coast	27–28 December 1989
Highest rainfall in a calendar year	16,617 mm (654.2 in)	Cropp River, West Coast	1998
Lowest rainfall in a calendar year	212 mm (8.3 in)	Alexandra, Otago	1964
Highest wind gust	250 km/h (160 mph)	Mount John , Canterbury	18 April 1970
Highest sunshine in a month	356 hours	New Plymouth, Taranaki	January 2015
Highest sunshine in a calendar year	2840 hours	Richmond, Tasman	2016
Lowest sunshine in a month	27 hours	Taumarunui	June 2002
Lowest sunshine in a calendar year	1333 hours	Invercargill	1983

Annual extremes

Year	Hottest	Coldest	Wettest	Driest	Windiest
2018[16]	38.7 °C (101.7 °F) Alexandra 30 January	−10.4 °C (13.3 °F) Mount Cook Airport 3 June	9,817 mm (386.5 in) Cropp River	526 mm (20.7 in) Clyde	197 km/h (122 mph) Akitio 21 May
2019[17]	38.4 °C (101.1 °F) Hanmer Forest 31 January	−9.2 °C (15.4 °F) Lake Tekapo 3 June	14,227 mm (560.1 in) Cropp River	417 mm (16.4 in) Clyde / Cromwell	197 km/h (122 mph) Cape Turnagain 15 May
2020[18]	38.2 °C (100.8 °F) Gisborne 31 January	−12.3 °C (9.9 °F) Middlemarch 14 June	11,532 mm (454.0 in) Cropp River	205 mm (8.1 in) Hakataramea Valley	198 km/h (123 mph) Cape Turnagain 31 January
2021[19]	39.4 °C (102.9 °F) Ashburton 26 January	−10.8 °C (12.6 °F) Tara Hills 27 May	14,090 mm (555 in) Cropp River	402 mm (15.8 in) Alexandra	222 km/h (138 mph) Cape Turnagain 10 September
2022[20]	34.7 °C (94.5 °F) Lake Karapiro 3 January	−11.6 °C (11.1 °F) Mount Cook Airport 17 July	11,034 mm (434.4 in) Cropp River	368 mm (14.5 in) Roxburgh / Middlemarch	223 km/h (139 mph) Cape Turnagain 14 June
2023[21]	35.6 °C (96.1 °F)Middlemarch 4 February	−10.6 °C (12.9 °F)Tara Hills 10 June	11,717 mm (461.3 in)Cropp River	359 mm (14.1 in) Ranfurly	246 km/h (153 mph) Cape Turnagain 17 September

Historical climate

Data collection for determining the New Zealand climate began in the late 19th century, although European explorers made valid observations of climate indicators such as glaciers and moraines early in that century. Scientific study of early New Zealand climate is quite recent and ongoing. It has settled some of the debate regarding links between the

microorganisms (some flourish in warm temperatures, other in cooler temperatures) and historical carbon dioxide ratios.^[22]

Evidence found that the climate was more strongly influenced by the impact of tropical air masses in warm periods and polar air masses in cool periods. Recent (2010) studies by

Southland. The dominant temperature influence here was the relative warmth of the sea to the south of New Zealand during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). From about 1350 this region was notably warmer but then cooled relatively quickly from 1450. This cooling may have had a substantial impact on population in those areas. The limited historical record suggests that from 1450 the population of New Zealand underwent significant cultural change which may have links to climate cooling and dramatic changes in food supplies.^[22]

Climate change

This section is an excerpt from Climate change in New Zealand.[edit]

Climate change in New Zealand involves historical, current and future changes in the climate of New Zealand; and New Zealand's contribution and response to global climate change.^[24][25] Summers are becoming longer and hotter, and some glaciers have melted completely and others have shrunk. In 2021, the Ministry for the Environment estimated that New Zealand's gross emissions were 0.17% of the world's total gross greenhouse gas emissions. However, on a per capita basis, New Zealand is a significant emitter, the sixth highest within the Annex I countries, whereas on absolute gross emissions New Zealand is ranked as the 24th highest emitter.^[26][27]

Almost half New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions are from

carbon removals from land use and forestry) increased by %25 since 1990.^[28]

Climate change is being responded to in a variety of ways by civil society and the

Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill which created a Climate Change Commission responsible for advising government on policies and emissions budgets.^[30][31]

New Zealand made a number of pledges on climate change mitigation in 2019: to reduce net carbon emissions to zero by 2050, to plant 1 billion trees by 2028, and to bring pastoral agriculture (farmers) into an emissions price policy by 2025. Already in 2019, New Zealand banned new offshore oil and gas drilling and decided that climate change issues would be examined before every important decision.[32] In early December 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared a climate change emergency and pledged that the New Zealand Government would be carbon neutral by 2025. Key goals and initiatives include requiring the public sector to buy only electric or hybrid vehicles, government buildings will have to meet new "green" building standards, and all 200 coal-fired boilers in public service buildings will be phased out.^[33][34]

See also

• Nor'west arch
• Weather Channel (New Zealand)
• Climate change in New Zealand

References

1. ^ Walrond, Carl (March 2009). "Natural environment – Climate". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
2. ^ Mean monthly rainfall Archived 6 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, NIWA.
3. ^ "NIWA Climate Data". NIWA. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
4. ^ nzcpe (4 April 2019). "Robbing the bank: land use change". Planetary Ecology. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
5. ^ "Tornadoes in New Zealand - FAQs". National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
6. ^ Mullan, Brett; Tait, Andrew; Thompson, Craig (March 2009). "Climate – New Zealand's climate". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
7. ^ "NZ's temperature record hits new low - minus 25.6degC". The New Zealand Herald. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
8. ^ McLintock, A. H., ed. (22 April 2009) [originally published 1966]. "Blizzard and flood of 1863". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand – via Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
9. ^ "Winds and storms: Looking back at the Wahine Storm". NIWA. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
10. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Chug, Kiran (15 February 2011). "Seven biggest storms to hit Wellington". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
11. ^ "Flood Hits New Zealand City". NY Times.
12. ^ ^{a b} Felim McMahon (15 August 2011). "Kiwis marvel at Auckland and Wellington snow". Storyful. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
13. ^ "Climate Data". NIWA. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
14. ^ ^{a b} "Mean monthly temperatures (°C) - NIWA". 28 February 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
15. ^ "Mean monthly rainfall (mm) - NIWA". 28 February 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
16. ^ "Annual Climate Summary 2018". NIWA. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
17. ^ "Annual Climate Summary 2019". NIWA. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
18. ^ "Annual Climate Summary 2020". NIWA. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
19. ^ "Annual Climate Summary 2021". NIWA. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
20. ^ "Annual Climate Summary 2022". NIWA. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
21. ^ "Annual Climate Summary 2023". NIWA. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
22. ^ ^{a b c} David Wratt; Jim Salinger; Rob Bell; Drew Lorrey & Brett Mullan (28 February 2007). "Past climate variations over New Zealand". NIWA. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
23. ^ Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.
24. ^ "Our atmosphere and climate 2017". Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ. October 2017.
25. ISBN 978-1-877317-16-3. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
26. ^ "Snapshot How New Zealand compares to other countries". Ministry for the Environment. 15 April 2021.
27. ^ "New Zealand's out-sized climate change contribution". Stuff. 8 December 2018.
28. ^ ^{a b} New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2021 snapshot, Ministry for the Environment, 13 April 2023
29. ^ "Agriculture emissions and climate change". Ministry for the Environment. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
30. ^ "Proposed Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill". Ministry for the Environment. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
31. ^ Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern (8 May 2019). "Landmark climate change bill goes to Parliament". New Zealand Government. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
32. ^ Ainge Roy, Eleanor (4 December 2019). "Climate change to steer all New Zealand government decisions from now on". The Dunedin. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
33. ^ Taylor, Phil (2 December 2020). "New Zealand declares a climate change emergency". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
34. ^ Cooke, Henry (2 December 2020). "Government will have to buy electric cars and build green buildings as it declares climate change emergency". Stuff. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.

Further reading

• State of the Climate 2010: A snapshot of recent climate in New Zealand (PDF), NIWA Science & Technology Series No. 56, NIWA, 2010,
  ISSN 1173-0382, archived from the original
  (PDF) on 5 June 2011, retrieved 6 August 2010
• Insurance Council of New Zealand: Cost of Disaster Events in New Zealand Archived 23 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• MetService (Meteorological Service of New Zealand), a government agency that is the major provider of weather data
• MetVUW - a weather and climate service operated by Victoria University
  • MetVUW - forecasting
• NIWA - National Climate Centre
• NZ Weather - A New Zealand-based weather forum
  • New Zealand Weather Network (NZWN) - a live weather map of weather stations around New Zealand
• List of private weather stations
• Weather and Seasons in New Zealand