KEY POINTS:
The Northland floods marred an otherwise a warm, dry, sunny March, weather figures released today show.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) scientist Jim Salinger said the extremely wet period in Northland on March 28 and 29, and the resultant devastating floods, were a marked contrast to the rest of the summer-like month.
Northland's rainfall for the month was 200-300 per cent more than normal, resulting in an estimated $80 million damage to roads, homes and farm stock.
March temperatures were above average in most regions, especially Canterbury and Otago.
The national average temperature was 16.6degC, with temperatures at least 1degC above average in Auckland, Wellington and parts of the east of both islands.
The highest temperature was 32degC recorded at Darfield, on the Canterbury Plains, on March 5, and Culverden, in North Canterbury, on the 24th.
Auckland was the warmest, Dunedin the driest, and Wellington the sunniest of the five main centres.
The lowest air temperature recorded was -1.0degC at Mount Cook Village on March 15.
- NZPA
