Wairarapa cooler with less sunshine in 2012

Despite a very warm December, Wairarapa had less sunshine and cooler temperatures overall last year.

Annual sunshine totals of more than 5 per cent below average and below average temperatures were recorded for the region, according to the Niwa Annual Climate Summary.

Average annual temperatures were below normal by more than 0.5C in Wairarapa, Wellington, parts of Manawatu, and between the Tararua district and Waikato.

The year was relatively dry and sunny in western areas of the North and South Islands. However, many regions in New Zealand experienced a cool year.

Lower than normal pressures prevailed over New Zealand during January, which resulted in a cool, windy and unsettled month.

Temperatures of between 0.5C and 1.2C below average occurred in Wairarapa during this time, while similar drops were recorded in Wellington and western regions of the North Island.

Western areas of the North Island fared best temperature wise from January to May, due to increased easterly winds during the first five months of 2012. This led to areas such as Te Kuiti southwards to the Kapiti Coast recording the sunniest conditions.

In contrast, below normal annual sunshine totals were observed for Wairarapa, Wellington, Blenheim, Central Otago and Northland.

It was an extremely wet July for Wairarapa and much of the North Island, with rainfall totals 150 per cent of average.

October was a relatively dry month across coastal Wairarapa and much of the North Island, with rainfall less than half of the average fall.