August wet but plenty of sun

August was a wet month - with several regions recording double their normal rainfall - but it was also sunny, says the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Rainfall was almost 200 per cent above normal in parts of Wanganui, Kapiti, Wellington, Wairarapa and in Christchurch.

It was also above normal in coastal Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Manawatu and Wairarapa, Niwa said in its National Climate summary.

In contrast, the Kaikoura coast received half its normal level of rainfall and below normal rainfall was recorded in Hawkes Bay, Buller, much of Westland and Nelson, South Canterbury and North and Central Otago.

The mean temperature was near average throughout much of New Zealand. The national average was 8.8C, just 0.1C above average.

The highest temperature last month was 21.8C at Timaru Airport on August 29. This was the third-highest August temperature since records started in 1962.

The lowest air temperature was -9C, recorded at Alexandra on August 10, the lowest since records started there in 1929.

Snowfall occurred in Otago, in the inland areas of Southland and Canterbury and on the Desert Rd.

"Dunedin was by far the driest, Wellington the wettest and Christchurch the coldest but sunniest of the main centres," Niwa said.

The month was sunnier than normal over much of New Zealand, especially in Otago and Southland.

Sunshine hours were at least 120 per cent of normal in Otago, Southland, Gisborne and Wellington, and at least 110 per cent of normal in Northland, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu, Kapiti, Nelson, Westland and Canterbury.

- NZPA