New Zealand July 2007 month of weather extremes and contrasts

2:50PM Wednesday August 01, 2007 found at New Zealand Herald, New Zealand

New Zealand weather - Waves at St Clair in Dunedin this week. Photo / Otago Daily Times Waves at St Clair in Dunedin this week. Photo / Otago Daily Times

July brought severe floods, numerous damaging tornadoes, destructive winds, and ice and severe frosts.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said today that rainfall was well above normal in the north and the east of the North Island and in coastal South Canterbury and Otago during July, but below normal in the north and west of the South Island.

Temperatures were below average in the lower South Island, but above average throughout much of the North Island.

Sunshine hours were above average in the west and south of the South Island and below average in the east of the North Island.

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)

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A depression west of the North Island on July 4-5 produced thunderstorms and swarms of damaging tornadoes in Taranaki.

Niwa said the episode was the first time that a swarm of at least seven or more damaging tornadoes had been recorded in New Zealand, all within a 24-hour period.

Damage was estimated at $7 million.

More tornadoes also hit Auckland and Tauranga.

In Northland easterly gales and heavy rain produced widespread flooding, property, infrastructure and stock losses on July 10. Winds gusted as high as 180km/h on the offshore island of Tititiri Matangi, with 254mm of rain in 12 hours on Kaeo. The estimated damage was $60 million.

Major flooding also happened in parts of Hawke's Bay on July 17-18.

More flooding happened in south Canterbury and Otago on July 30 and Dunedin received more than a month's rainfall within 24 hours.

The highest temperature recorded during the month was 20.4degC recorded at Gisborne airport on July 1 and Christchurch on July 26. The lowest air temperature during the month was minus 15.4degC recorded in Lauder, central Otago, on July 18.

Of the main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Christchurch the coldest and driest, and Dunedin the sunniest.

- NZPA

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