KEY POINTS:
It will come as no surprise to those still mopping up after a series of storms to be told that rainfall in July came close to breaking records in many parts of New Zealand.
Marlborough, Canterbury, and eastern Otago received more than double their usual rainfall for the month, according to Niwa's National Climate Summary for July.
Westland, Tasman, and the majority of the North Island were also hit by rainfall well above normal.
The only real exceptions to the drenching were Southland and coastal Gisborne.
Most of the rain was brought by two intense storms last week which caused significant damage to property, resulted in several evacuations, and led to the deaths of four people.
Overall conditions around the country during July were wet and dull, but not cold.
Temperatures were average or above average in most places but sunshine hours were down.
Of the five main centres, Auckland was the warmest and sunniest, Wellington was the wettest, Christchurch the coldest, and Dunedin the driest (or least wet).
The highest temperature during July was 22degC recorded at Kaikoura on the 11th, the second equal highest July temperature there on record.
Earlier in the month, there were freezing temperatures across the country, with the unusual sight of frost in Auckland on the mornings July 8 and 9.
Last week's storm brought gusts of up to 174km/h to Northland and Auckland, cutting power to thousands of homes.
- NZPA
