Wind and rain help to take the chill off July

Warm, windy weather and fewer frosts helped to make last month the third-warmest July since records began in the 1860s, Niwa said yesterday.

The national average temperature of 9.1C was 1.2C above normal.

"July's warmth was due to more wind (frequent northwesterlies), and generally cloudier than usual skies - especially overnight - for the time of the year," said the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Only about half the average number of frosty days were recorded in many North Island areas and most low-lying and coastal South Island regions.

The hottest and coldest temperatures hit the country on the same day, July 15, when Hastings recorded 22C and Middlemarch minus 8.5C.

Of the four main centres, Dunedin was the driest and sunniest and Auckland the warmest. Rainfall was above-average in Auckland, but below-average in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said a series of four lows in quick succession between July 14 and 20 was responsible for the most persistent and intense rainfall so far this winter.

- NZPA