Weather leaves the country in a spin

Last month produced a mixed bag of weather: some regions were hit by floods and others had their driest November in 60 years.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said rainfall was 125 to 250 per cent of normal levels in Coromandel, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and the far southwest of the South Island.

But less than a quarter of normal rainfall fell in Taranaki, Kapiti and Golden Bay.

Paraparaumu and New Plymouth airports recorded their driest November in at least 60 years.

Meanwhile, Gisborne was hit by flooding for the second time in a month on November 27 and 28.

Widespread flooding in October following torrential rain destroyed hundreds of hectares of crops.

Temperatures were average or above average in the South Island, and average or below average overall in the North Island.

The national average temperature was 13.9C, 0.2C above average.

Other highlights:

* The highest temperature during the month was 30.7C recorded in Christchurch on November 11.
* The lowest temperature was -3.5C at The Chateau, Ruapehu, on November 23.
* Queenstown recorded its warmest November day (29.3C) on record since 1871.
* Paraparaumu Airport recorded no measurable rainfall until November 20 - which broke a 30-day drought - then had just 4mm for the entire month.
* The strongest wind gust for the month was 150km/h from the northwest, at Castlepoint on November 5.

- NZPA