Record heat found all over NZ in December 2012 from NIWA

[JennyLeez]

The numbers are in and they confirm we all pretty much already knew.  It was a very warm December.
The very common and almost ubiquitous north to northwest flow kept temperatures up last month.  Much of the North Island, the Nelson area and parts of the eastern South Island saw temperatures at least 1.2°C above average.  Along with this, several December temperature records were broken.
Here’s a look at the record and near-record temperatures from December.  All data is from NIWA.

Record or near-record mean air temperatures for December were recorded at:

Location - Mean temp. (°C) - Departure from normal (°C) - Year records began - Comments

Kaikohe 19.1 1.9 1973 Highest

Whangaparaoa 18.8 0.9 1982 4th-highest

Tauranga Aero 19.4 1.4 1913 2nd-highest

Te Puke 18.4 1.4 1973 4th-highest

Auckland Aero 19.6 1.3 1959 3rd-highest

Dannevirke 17.7 1.7 1951 3rd-highest

Waione 18.5 1.2 1991 4th-highest

Ngawi 18.4 1.1 1972 4th-highest

Hicks Bay 18.3 1.1 1969 4th-highest

Gisborne 19.4 1.3 1905 4th-highest

Hastings 19.8 2.0 1965 2nd-highest

Waipawa 18.4 1.8 1945 Highest

Mahia 17.8 0.9 1990 3rd-highest

Palmerston North 18.1 1.7 1991 2nd-highest

Ohakune 16.7 2.7 1962 Highest

Wanganui 17.8 1.2 1987 4th-highest

Takaka 17.6 1.6 1978 3rd-highest

Nelson 18.0 1.4 1943 3rd-highest

Kaikoura 16.7 1.3 1963 4th-highest

Cheviot 16.8 1.7 1982 2nd-highest

Le Bons Bay 15.6 1.9 1984 3rd-highest

Record or near-record daily maximum air temperatures for December were recorded at:

Location - Extreme maximum (°C) - Date of occurrence - Year records began - Comments

Kaikohe 28.1 19th 1975 Highest

Whakatane Aero 28.8 3rd 1975 Equal 4th-highest

Port Taharoa 31.4 24th 1973 Highest

Te Kuiti 29.3 24th 1959 2nd-highest

New Plymouth 29.9 24th 1944 Highest

Dannevirke 29.4 26th 1951 3rd-highest

Waione 31.6 26th 1991 2nd-highest

Martinborough 31.3 25th 1986 Highest

Ngawi 30.0 25th 1972 Highest

Paraparaumu Aero 29.2 24th 1953 Equal highest

Palmerston North 30.8 26th 1991 Highest

Levin 29.7 25th 1895 Highest

Wellington Aero 29.6 25th 1962 Highest

Wallaceville 29.3 25th 1939 Highest

Stratford 26.8 25th 1960 2nd-highest

Hawera 25.5 26th 1977 Equal highest

Ohakune 29.0 25th 1962 Highest

Wanganui 29.5 24th 1937 3rd-highest

Wanganui 29.7 24th 1987 Highest

Takaka 30.5 24th 1978 Highest

Farewell Spit 26.8 25th 1971 2nd-highest

Reefton 32.2 24th 1960 Highest

Motueka, Riwaka 31.9 25th 1956 Highest

Appleby 29.1 24th 1943 4th-highest

Nelson 30.3 24th 1943 Highest

Hanmer Forest 32.0 25th 1906 4th-highest

Cheviot 31.9 17th 1982 2nd-highest

Le Bons Bay 28.8 17th 1984 4th-highest

Ranfurly 31.1 25th 1975 3rd-highest

Manapouri Aero 28.3 24th 1963 4th-highest

Lumsden 28.8 25th 1982 3rd-highest

Lauder 32.5 25th 1924 4th-highest

Alexandra 33.2 25th 1983 3rd-highest

Gore 29.0 25th 1971 Equal highest

The rest of the country saw temperatures that were above average, but not quite as warm.  The temperatures were between 0.5 and 1.2°C above average.

According to NIWA, the nation-wide average temperature in December 2012 was 16.7°C (1.1°C above the 1971-2000 December average), using their seven-station temperature series which began in 1909.

The hottest temperature observed in December was 34.5°C, observed at Gisborne on 19 December while the lowest temperature was -1.7°C at Motu on 1 December.

By WeatherWatch.co.nz and NIWA

• Tweet

[JennyLeez]

According to NIWA, the nation-wide average temperature in December 2012 was 16.7°C

Our Local Stations nation wide average was 17.8°C so thats pretty close.

The hottest temperature observed in December was 34.5°C, observed at Gisborne on 19 December

and Wairoa was 33.2°C
Looking at the January Temps down south we have had already I will be looking forward to NIWA's Summary next month.

[Mark]

You mis out the min Temps Jenny

Record or near-record daily minimum air temperatures for December were recorded at:

Kerikeri 4.8 21st 1981 Lowest
Taupo -1.1 1st 1949 2nd-lowest
Motu -1.7 1st 1990 Lowest
Taumarunui 2.1 1st 1947 Equal 4th-lowest
Turangi 0.2 1st 1968 2nd-lowest
 Hicks Bay 5.7 1st 1969 Equal lowest
 Wairoa, North Clyde 4.5 1st 1964 3rd-lowest

Le Bons Bay 3.7 1st 1984 2nd-lowest
Balclutha, Telford 0.3 6th 1964 2nd-lowest

[Rwood]

Record or near-record daily minimum air temperatures for December were recorded at:[/size]

Kerikeri 4.8 21st 1981 Lowest
Taupo -1.1 1st 1949 2nd-lowest
Motu -1.7 1st 1990 Lowest
Taumarunui 2.1 1st 1947 Equal 4th-lowest
Turangi 0.2 1st 1968 2nd-lowest
 Hicks Bay 5.7 1st 1969 Equal lowest
 Wairoa, North Clyde 4.5 1st 1964 3rd-lowest

Le Bons Bay 3.7 1st 1984 2nd-lowest
Balclutha, Telford 0.3 6th 1964 2nd-lowest

December was a warm month. High records greatly outnumbered low ones.

It was also a relatively sunny month over most of the country.

[JennyLeez]

Record or near-record daily minimum air temperatures for December were recorded at:[/size]
 Wairoa, North Clyde 4.5 1st 1964 3rd-lowest


Interesting, there is no Weather Station over the bridge in North Clyde.
Wonder where they got that from. Guess I have some searching to do.