Wettest March since records began
Auckland is emerging from its wettest March on record, and third-wettest month since observations began in 1959.
On Wednesday at 10am, Niwa weather instruments in Mangere in south Auckland recorded that a whopping 263 millimetres of rain had fallen since the beginning of the month.
This easily beats the previous record in March 1972 of 222mm.
Niwa meteorologist Ben Noll said Wednesday morning’s figures ’’catapults March 2017 to the third-wettest month in Auckland on record’’.
The wettest month in Auckland history was July 1998, with 320 mm of rain.
The second-wettest was June 1961, with 276 mm.
‘‘And with two more days left of this March, it’s conceivable that Auckland will surpass June 1961, for second-wettest month on record, in Auckland.
‘‘We’ve seen more rain this March than we normally do in July and August combined, the typical two wettest months of the year.’’
Some areas across Auckland saw up to four times the normal March rainfall, Noll said, while others had twice as much as the March normal.
‘‘For example the Hunua ranges received more than the monthly average rainfall in one day.’’
The rainfall record was kicked off by the Tasman Tempest from March 8 to 12.
The deluge caused widespread flooding, property and livestock losses and power outages.
Noll said the heavy rainfall across the area was due to moisture-laden winds blowing down from the tropics.
‘‘This month we had more northerly winds than normal, transporting a lot of moisture southward to New Zealand, and dumping on Northland, Auckland and the Waikato.’’
But there was a silver lining; the remaining few days of the month shouldn’t be too bad for Aucklanders.
‘‘After the rain subsides today, Thursday and Friday are going to be mostly dry, giving a relatively tranquil end to the wettest March on record.’’
Whangamata received the most total rain in the Tasman Tempest, with 475mm falling over the six days - more than the town would usually receive throughout the entire season of autumn.