Mild but windy start to month with no rain

The first week of February in Taupo had weather that was generally mild with temperatures around those expected of the summer, but yet again windy early on.

The first four days were indeed very warm with a temperature of 29.1 degrees to start the month but wind gusts of more than 50km/h were recorded at Taupo Airport on three occasions. The wind peaked at 59km/h on Saturday, February 1, 54km/h the next day and 52km/h on Wednesday, February 5. A significant factor was the lack of rain. Until Sunday, the day of this weather summary, no rain had been recorded and this follows one of the driest Januarys on record. February 2000, the driest February ever, registered just 1mm of rain while the wettest February occurred the following year when 193.0mm fell on 11 days including a deluge of 48.0mm on the 22nd. This year there has been no significant rain for 27 days and there is little likelihood of significant rain in the coming week. However, the dry spell could come to a sudden end depending upon the development of a tropical cyclone currently forming near New Caledonia.

Currently a large area of high pressure is building in the Tasman Sea and is spreading on to New Zealand and should it persist over the country then it could steer the cyclone towards the Queensland Coast, but if the high pressure moves more quickly then the northern part of the country, including Taupo¯ , could be in the firing line for some rough weather including significant rain and wind. At present the week ahead should remain warm and dry with mainly light winds from a westerly quarter.