A higher-than-average number of south-westerly wind flows over the country contributed to New Zealand experiencing its coldest May since 2009, according to a climate summary by NIWA.
The average nationwide temperature for May 2024 was 9.8°C, with the lowest temperature of -9.7°C, observed at Cass on May 10.
The highest temperature was 23.4°C, recorded at Whakatu on May 6.
Around 35% of weather stations across the country noted average temperatures at least 2°C below average. Frosts were regular occurrences for inland areas.
Clear skies, light winds and drier than usual soils in many areas contributed to low overnight temperatures, NIWA explained.
Christchurch and Timaru recorded their lowest ever average minimum temperatures for May, with averages of 0.5°C and 0°C respectively.
Rainfall was below or well below normal for most of the South Island, Bay of Plenty, and parts of Waikato and Northland, but above or well above normal for isolated parts of Auckland, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, and southern Wairarapa.
The highest one-day rainfall was 130mm recorded at Leigh, north of Auckland, on May 20.
The highest wind gust of 152 km/h was detected at Secretary Island near Doubtful Sound on May 29.
Warm in Auckland, wet in the capital
Of the main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga was the sunniest, Dunedin was the driest and least sunny, Christchurch was the coolest, and Wellington was the wettest.
Of the available sunshine observation sites, the sunniest four locations in 2024 were Marlborough with 1265 hours, Nelson with 1251 hours, Bay of Plenty with 1220 hours and Taranaki with 1218 hours.
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