This March was Aotearoa's coldest in 12 years, NIWA says, with many around the country feeling the crisp early autumn chill.
According to NIWA's March climate summary, released today, last month saw a mean temperature of 14.8C — 0.99C below average.
The highest temperature was 32.6C and was recorded in Clyde on March 2. The lowest temperature was -4.9C and was observed in Waipara North on March 16.
More than 25 locations around the country experienced record-breaking or near-record low mean temperatures for March, with 21 locations setting records or near records for daytime maximum temperatures, and 28 for overnight minimum temperatures.
The cooler month was "driven by a double-barrel low pressure anomaly south and east of New Zealand working in tandem with a high pressure area in the Tasman Sea to produce a southwesterly wind flow anomaly across the country", NIWA explained.
Rainfall was below or well below normal for most of the North Island, but above or near normal for parts of Waikato, Fiordland and Southland.
The highest one-day rainfall was 117mm, recorded at Milford Sound on March 25.
The highest wind gust was 178km/h and was observed at Cape Turnagain on March 26.
Of the six main centres in March 2024, Auckland was the warmest, while Dunedin was the coolest and least sunny, NIWA said. However, Tauranga was the sunniest. Meanwhile, Hamilton was the wettest, while Christchurch was the driest.
Of the available, regularly reporting sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four locations so far this year are wider Nelson with 869 hours, Marlborough with 867 hours, Tasman with 851 hours, and Taranaki with 843 hours.
SHARE ME