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Snow near Patearoa, Central Otago, this morning - Source: Jan McKenzie -
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January was cool, wet and windy, the national climate centre has confirmed.
Niwa says temperatures for the month were below average for much of the country and it was very wet between Gore and Queenstown, as well as the southern half of North Island. However rainfall was well below normal for Nelson after the region was drenched in December.
Sunshine levels were near normal for most of the country although it was "rather cloudy", Niwa said.
The first half of January was characterised by winds producing wet weather while the second half of the month was very cool, with frequent southerly winds bringing unusually cool air over the country.
For the month as a whole, lower pressures than normal prevailed over New Zealand, producing a cool, windy and unsettled month.
The nationwide average temperature in January was 16.4ýC. The highest temperature was 31.7ýC at Lake Pukaki on January 4 while the lowest temperature was -0.9ýC at Ranfurly on January 3.
The highest one-day rainfall was 145mm at Milford Sound while the highest gust recorded was 185 kilometres an hour at Rock and Pillar range, Central Otago.
Of the main centres, Tauranga was the warmest and sunniest, Auckland the cloudiest, Wellington the wettest and Christchurch the driest.
Yesterday, Niwa predicted more settled weather heading in to autumn . Its latest forecast for February and March indicates most regions will have average rainfall and temperatures.
Niwa says the mild La Nina conditions which have been controlling the weather so far this summer are likely to fade over the next few months leaving the country with normal conditions.
And fine weather is forecast for most over the Waitangi weekend, with conditions looking particularly good for fans attending the Sevens in Wellington.
Check out the weather in your region
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