KEY POINTS:
Auckland was the warmest and wettest of the main centres in a November that was extremely dry in many regions, especially in the South Island.
Figures released at the weekend by the Niwa National Climate Centre showed Auckland had a November mean of 15.7C, which was 0.5C below normal, while Hamilton's was 14.3C, which was 0.7C below normal.
Rainfall was below normal everywhere, with Auckland's 66mm being 71 per cent of normal and Hamilton's 51mm being half of the normal.
Sunshine figures were nearly normal for Auckland, with 184 hours; and Hamilton, with 190 hours.
The climate centre reported a rainfall total of less than 10mm throughout much of Nelson, Marlborough and Central Otago.
The second half of November was very dry and very warm, with little rainfall in many areas.
Rainfall was less than a quarter of normal in Nelson and Marlborough, less than half of normal in many other South Island and most eastern North Island regions.
Rainfall was also below normal in Taranaki, Wellington and coastal South Canterbury, Otago and Southland. However, Horowhenua was wetter than usual.
Severe soil moisture deficits (more than 130mm) developed in Hawkes Bay, Marlborough and parts of Canterbury and Otago.
Significant moisture deficits (more than 110mm) developed in the Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Wanganui, Wellington and Nelson.
Isolated areas of high rainfall occurred in coastal Waikato and Ruapehu on November 4 and parts of Fiordland on November 14.
Temperatures were cooler than average in the first half of November, while the second half of the month was noticeably warmer.
The national average of 13.4C was 0.3C below average.
The month was one of the sunniest Novembers on record in Golden Bay, Nelson, Marlborough, Taranaki and inland Canterbury.
Cloud prevailed in the Far North.
Temperature was near average nationally, except for high temperatures in the north and east between November 20 and 26.
The month's overall weather pattern was produced by more frequent anticyclones ("highs") in the Tasman Sea, often extending ridges of high pressure over the country. This resulted in more frequent dry southerly quarter winds than usual.
FOR THE RECORD
* Rainfall: Well below normal in many regions.
* Temperature: Near average, apart from high temperatures in the north and east between the 20th and 26th.
* Sunshine: Above normal in many regions.
* Main centres: Auckland was warmest and wettest, Christchurch the sunniest and Dunedin the driest.
