NIWA scientists confirm warmest winter on record
Winter overview
A very warm winter for most of the country, with record-high mean temperatures for winter occurring throughout the South
Island. Mean temperatures well above average (more than 1.2°C above the winter average) throughout Southland, Otago
(except South Otago), inland Canterbury, coastal Canterbury north of Ashburton, and isolated parts of the lower half of
the North Island. The nation-wide mean temperature was 1.2°C above the winter average, based on NIWA's seven-station
temperature series, making this the warmest winter on record since 1909.
August overview
Temperature: Record or near record-high August mean temperatures recorded throughout the North Island and South Island,
with many locations at least 2.0°C above August average. Well above average temperatures (more than 1.2°C above August
average) throughout most of New Zealand. The exception was areas of Northland, Auckland and western Waikato where
temperatures were in the above average range (0.5-1.2°C above August average). The nation-wide mean temperature was
1.9°C above the August average, based on NIWA's seven-station temperature series, making this the warmest August on
record since 1909.
Note to reporters:
This release is being sent with two attachments, the NIWA seasonal summary for winter 2103 and the monthly summary for
August.