Much of the North Island experienced above average or well above average rainfall. File image. Photo: Unsplash / Erik Witsoe
While New Zealand experienced its warmest November on record, the other months of 2022's spring saw winter-like cold snaps.
Today, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) released into seasonal climate summary for spring.
Temperatures were generally above average, however, it was a wet season for much of the North Island with above average or well above average rainfall in most regions.
The majority of the South Island saw normal amounts of rainfall.
More northeasterly winds than normal brought moist air from tropics and sub-tropics across the country, NIWA said.
This resulted in periods of both wet and warm weather.
It was so warm in fact that November became the warmest November on record.
"With a temperature anomaly of 1.8C above average, November propelled spring 2022 into a top-10 warmest ranking.
But the warmth of November was not the case for September and October.
NIWA said both months saw winter-like cold snaps. Snow flurries were experienced in Dunedin and snow fell in Christchurch.
"These early September and early October cold outbreaks saw numerous spring records and near-records set for both coldest daytime maximum temperature and coldest overnight minimum temperature."
Spring overview
- Highest temperature: 30.2C - Hanmer Forest on 15 November
- Lowest temperature" -9.6C - Mount Cook Airport on 6 September
- Highest 1-day rainfall: 168mm - Lake Moeraki on 1 September
- Highest wind gust: 176kmh - Cape Turnagain on 4 September
- Of the six main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Dunedin was the coolest and driest, Tauranga was the wettest, Christchurch was the sunniest, Hamilton was the least sunny