NIWA has revealed the highest and lowest temperatures from last month in its September climate summary.
In its latest monthly climate summary, it said: “September temperatures were above average for all main centres, except Hamilton where temperatures were near average.”
Of the main centres in September, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga was the driest, Christchurch was the coolest and sunniest, Wellington was the wettest, and Dunedin was the least sunny, NIWA said.
The highest recorded temperature was 25.6C, observed at Christchurch and Winchmore on September 7.
Lake Tekapo took the lowest temperature title for the month with a chilly -7.8C on September 17.
Notably, Auckland observed its sunniest September since records began in 1963.
The sunniest four regions in 2024 so far were wider Nelson (1998 hours), Marlborough (1997 hours), Bay of Plenty (1960 hours), and Tasman (1943 hours).
During the middle of the month, cool southerlies delivered snowfall to low elevations of the South Island and several locations observed record or near-record low daily maximum temperatures on these days.
NIWA said other highlights from September included the highest 1-day rainfall being 166mm, recorded at Lake Manapouri on September 1, and the highest wind gust being 198km/h, observed at Cape Turnagain on September 20.
