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Source: Your Cam -
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Much of New Zealand shivered last month in the lowest recorded May temperatures.
The national average temperature of nine degrees was 1.6 degrees below the long-term average for May.
NIWA says extremely low temperatures, between two and 2.5 degrees lower than normal, were recorded over most of the South Island, lower parts of the North Island, King Country, Waikato, Auckland and parts of Northland.
Most other locations experienced well below average temperatures between 1.2 and two degrees lower than normal.
The lowest temperature during May was minus seven degrees recorded at Hanmer Forest on the 12th. The highest temperature was 23 degrees recorded at Christchurch on the 16th.
Double the normal rainfall for May occurred in the Wairarapa, Canterbury and Otago, while much of Northland, Auckland, Wellington and Southland received at least 150% of normal May rain.
Only western Bay of Plenty, with about 60% of normal rainfall, and Tasman District, with between 20% and 60% of normal, received below normal rainfall for the month.
Well above normal sunshine totals for May were recorded in Northland, Manawatu, the south-west of the North Island, and the West Coast. That means those areas had more than 125% of normal sunshine.
Below normal sunshine, which is between 75% and 90% of normal, was received along the Taranaki and eastern coasts of the North Island, and in Central Otago.
Of the six main centres, Tauranga was the warmest, driest and sunniest, and Wellington was the wettest.
There were several extreme events during the month. Heavy rain resulted in flooding in south Canterbury on the 17th, and in Otago the next day. High winds buffeted Wellington on several days in the second half of the month. Snow fell to low levels periodically during the month and tornadoes damaged property in Warkworth on the 11th and in Taranaki on the 17th.
And another cold month lies ahead.
NIWA is warning we can expect below average temperatures in many regions in June.
However it says despite the cold start to winter, temperatures for the seas are likely be to average except for Canterbury and eastern Otago.
Those two areas could be colder than normal.
For the latest forecast for your area check out our weather page .
