December warmer than usual - Niwa

The first month of summer was warmer than average despite below average sunshine hours, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) says.

The December national climate summary, released by Niwa today, showed an increased number of anticyclones to the east of the country resulted in a temperature increase of at least 1.2degC for most places.

The national average temperature was 17.2degC - 1.6degC warmer than the 1971-2000 December average.

The highest temperature - 32.8degC - was recorded at both Rangiora, 27km north of Christchurch, and Christchurch Airport on December 18.

A low of -2.3degC was recorded at Tara Hills in South Canterbury on December 8.

Niwa said the total number of sunshine hours was below normal across most of the North Island, except Manawatu and Wellington.

Central Otago, parts of Fiordland and Balclutha had more sunshine hours than normal, while most other places were near average.

December rainfall was 200 per cent heavier than normal in parts of Northland, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and the Southern Alps.

Must of the rain fell during a severe storm which swept the country toward the end of the month.

However parts of Gisborne, Wairarapa and north Canterbury received less than half their normal December rainfall.

By the end of the month, soil moisture was below normal levels in parts of western Northland, Waikato, inland Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Manawatu, Wairarapa and north Canterbury.

Of the six main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Wellington the wettest and Christchurch the driest and sunniest.

Wellington lived up to its reputation with the highest recorded wind gust of 172km/h.

- NZPA