Aotearoa experienced a month of stark weather contrasts in July, with a warm and rain-soaked South Island standing in sharp contrast to a cooler and much drier North Island, according to Earth Sciences New Zealand’s latest Monthly Climate Summary.
The report shows much of the South Island recorded above-average or well above-average temperatures, while most of the North Island experienced near-average temperatures, with cooler-than-normal conditions in parts of Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. Rainfall followed a similarly divided pattern, with much of the South Island receiving above-normal rainfall while large areas of the North Island recorded well below-average totals.
The nationwide average temperature for July was 8.9°C, making it New Zealand’s 12th warmest July since national records began in 1909. Scientists also noted that El Niño conditions strengthened significantly during the month, with some of the strongest July atmospheric measurements on record and marine heatwave conditions around parts of the South Island and the Tasman Sea.
The month’s most significant weather event occurred between 5 and 9 July, when a broad area of low pressure delivered days of heavy rain across eastern parts of the country.
The weather system triggered flooding severe enough for local States of Emergency to be declared in Waitaki, Kaikōura and Wairoa, causing widespread evacuations, road closures and infrastructure damage. Homes and businesses were inundated, highways were washed out, and communities across Canterbury, Otago, Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay were left isolated as rivers burst their banks.
Among the month’s notable climate records:
- Wairoa recorded New Zealand’s highest temperature at 20.4°C on 15 July.
- Lake Tekapo experienced the coldest temperature at -13.5°C on 12 July.
- Hanmer Forest recorded the highest one-day rainfall total at 133 millimetres.
- Wind gusts reached 141 kilometres per hour at both Puysegur Point and Cape Turnagain.
Several South Island locations recorded their warmest July on record, including Greymouth and Milford Sound, while Dunedin Airport experienced its wettest July since records began, receiving more than four times its normal monthly rainfall. Conversely, much of the North Island experienced unusually dry conditions, with Tūrangi recording just 36 percent of its normal July rainfall.
The six main centres also reflected the country’s contrasting conditions. Auckland and Hamilton experienced slightly cooler-than-average temperatures, while Dunedin recorded temperatures 1.5°C above average and more than double its usual July rainfall. Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton all recorded rainfall totals at around half their normal July averages.
Winter weather also disrupted transport across the South Island, with widespread snowfall, black ice and strong winds forcing repeated closures of State Highways, causing power outages and affecting hundreds of households. Dense fog also disrupted aviation, leading to dozens of delayed and cancelled flights at Auckland and Hamilton airports during the month.
The report highlights the increasingly varied nature of New Zealand’s climate, with extreme rainfall, flooding and marine heatwave conditions occurring alongside prolonged dry spells in other parts of the country. It also underscores the challenges communities face as weather patterns become more variable, particularly for regions already recovering from severe weather events.
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