March weather breaks records

March was generally a warm and dry month throughout the country.

Auckland had a record dry month while Nelson, Otago, South Canterbury and the Lakes District experienced much warmer than average temperatures with near average temperatures elsewhere.

The month also gave very sunny weather to the east coast of the North Island, Wellington and parts of the Central Plateau and Bay of Plenty regions.

Rainfall was scarce in the north and east of the North Island and parts of the Canterbury and Otago. It was wet, however, in Fiordland and parts of Southland.

The highest temperature was 32.7degC, recorded at Cromwell on March 9, and the lowest (non-alpine) temperature was -3.7degC at Waiouru on March 18. Both are new March records at the sites.

- NZPA