The month of October was a ‘consistent temperature rollercoaster’, according to NIWA’s monthly climate summary released today.
A mix of sharply warmer and colder periods meant that temperatures generally ended up near average for most locations. No location had a record high or low mean temperature. However, many locations set records or near-records for one-day maximum and minimum temperatures.
Matamata, Mt Ruapehu, New Plymouth and Porirua all observed record-setting maximum air temperatures for October, while Chatham Island, Kaitaia, Māhia and Balclutha experienced their equal highest or second-highest minimum air temperatures for October.
High pressure meant that conditions were drier than normal for large parts of the country during October, but heavy rainfall from the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Lola brought several records or near-records to Northland at the end of the month.
On October 29, Kaikohe recorded 150mm, helping the town to record its wettest October ever. Russell also experienced its highest one-day rainfall total since records began in 1919.
The highest wind gust across the country in October was observed at Cape Foulwind on the West Coast, clocking in at 232km/h.
On October 27, a strong cold front brought snow to low levels in the lower South Island, including snow to lake level in Queenstown and flurries of snow in Dunedin's CBD.
The lowest October temperature was recorded on October 28, -5.3°C at Mount Cook Airport.
October temperatures were near average in Wellington and Christchurch, and above average in the other main centres. Rainfall was below normal in all main centres except Tauranga and Christchurch, where it was near normal. Of the six main centres in October 2023, Auckland was the warmest and least sunny, Christchurch was the coolest and sunniest, Tauranga was the wettest, and Dunedin was the driest.
Of the available, regularly reporting sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four regions in 2023 so far are wider Nelson (2133 hours), Mackenzie Basin (2080 hours), Tasman (2077hours), and Taranaki (2042 hours).
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