![Weather highlights for the end of January. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/N3OIMETWJMFB6JPTM7UFECX3LA.jpg?auth=774a46cfb8c3ab369e433e4dc26fb8cbf98b2268f2f6962f4ed45af45b368548&width=16&height=7&quality=70&smart=true)
January 2022 set a record for the driest January this century in Taupō, and became the second-driest month on record.
Taupō's driest month was February 2000, when just 1mm of rain was recorded on one day, February 14.
In becoming our driest on record, this year's January produced just 9.5mm, which was recorded on five wet days, and the heaviest fall of a mere 4mm fell on January 25.
The biggest concern was that Taupō went 52 days (as of February 6) without significant rain. During that period there was no day with more than 4.5mm, so only nine of those 52 days recorded minimal precipitation.