KEY POINTS:
Summer was the coldest in 14 years. The average mean summer temperature was 15.7C, 0.9C below normal - the lowest for summer since 1992/93.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says summer temperatures were as much as 1.5C below average in eastern areas from coastal Wairarapa to North Canterbury, as well as parts of King Country and Wellington. However, summer temperatures were near average in Nelson.
Rainfall was below normal in the west of the North Island from Auckland to Taranaki, as well as the eastern Bay of Plenty, and in much of the north, west, and south of the South Island, with less than half the normal rain in parts of Waikato, Marlborough and Otago.
By the end of summer severe soil moisture deficits had developed in most eastern areas of both islands from Gisborne to Otago, and spread to Auckland, Waikato, eastern Bay of Plenty, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wellington, and Nelson. Above average summer rainfall occurred in parts of Northland and Canterbury.
Sunshine hours were above normal in Northland and Westland, and below normal in South Taranaki and North Canterbury.
The overall summer climate pattern was dominated by more anticyclones in the south Tasman Sea producing more frequent cool southerly winds over the whole of New Zealand. At the same time, seas around New Zealand were about 1C below normal. Of the main centres, Auckland was warmest, driest and sunniest, Dunedin the coolest, and Wellington wettest.
