New Zealand Warmest and Coolest April

[Sheldybett]

Warmest

1. 1956 had 15.68 which is 2.45 above average

2. 1938 had 15.65 which is 2.42 above average

3. 1924 had 15.48 which is 2.25 above average

4. 1978 had 15.38 which is 2.15 above average

5. 1928 had 14.88 which is 1.65 above average

6. 1911 had 14.78 which is 1.55 above average

7. 1981 had 14.56 which is 1.33 above average

8. 2006 had 14.56 which is 1.33 above average

9. 2022 had 14.51 which is 1.28 above average

10.  1995 had 14.48 which is 1.25 above average

Coldest

1. 1923 had 10.97 which is 2.26 below average

2. 1992 had 11.01 which is 2.22 below average

3. 1913 had 11.13 which is 2.08 below average

4. 1940 had 11.18 which is 2.05 below average

5. 1949 had 11.25 which is 1.98 below average

6. 1915 had 11.41 which is 1.82 below average

7. 1921 had 11.48 which is 1.75 below average

8. 1941 had 11.58 which is 1.65 below average

9. 1927 had 11.63 which is 1.60 below average

10. 1919 had 11.68 which is 1.55 below average

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[Rwood]

There are some classic examples of warm months there that were very unpleasant. 1956 and 1978 are covered in the histories; 1938 was infamous for disastrous floods, and record breaking dullness as well over a large portion of the South Island and southern North Island. April 2014 was a very dull month over nearly all of the South Island and part of the North. April 1981 was sunny but there was a major flood event over the middle third of the North Island. April 2006 was good for most but had major flood events in two regions.

Of the cold months, April 1949 was sunny over almost the entire country except Westland and most of Otago and Southland, where Invercargill set a low national sunshine record for April. April 1941 was similar.

For a combination of warmth and sunshine I would rate April 1986 as the best overall.