"Tauranga temperatures this January are markedly cooler than has been seen for some years in the Bay," Ms Griffiths said.
"Comparable temperatures were last seen in January of 2014 and January of 2012.
"Certainly, after the extreme heat seen in the last two years, I can see why Bay of Plenty folk are asking, 'where is summer?'"
Ms Griffiths said this January had been quite windy and dry. Twenty-three days into the month, 36.4mm of rain had fallen - 47 per cent of January's usual rainfall.
She said the main culprit behind the cooler January temperatures was the prevailing southwest winds which had also kept sea temperatures in the region on the cold side.
"The water temperatures in the Bay aren't too tropical. Last year was so settled so it feels cooler. But if you go back 10 or 15 years, we had some really cool summers.
"It's not that unusual actually, we just haven't had one for ages."
The good news was it appeared the first half of February would see some improvement.
"We also see a quietening down," Ms Griffiths said. "There will be more highs coming on and a bit quieter weather and less fronts.
"There are better slots of active summer weather coming through. It gets a bit warmer and a bit more settled."
Where is Tauranga's summer?
January 2017 (so far):
- 19.6C average temperature, 0.2C warmer than the January average
- 36.4mm of rain, 47 per cent of normal
December 2016:
- 17.8C average temperature, 0.2C cooler than the December average
- 44mm of rain, 47 per cent of normal
January 2016:
- 20.6C average temperature, 1.2C warmer than the January average
- 104mm of rain, 133 per cent of normal
December 2015:
- 18.3C average temperature, 0.3C warmer than the December average
- 18.2mm of rain, 19 per cent of normal
January 2015:
- 21.2C average temperature, 1.8C warmer than the January average
- 8.4mm of rain, 11 per cent of normal
December 2014:
- 18.1C average temperature, 0.1C warmer than the December average
- 145mm of rain, 155 per cent of normal
- MetService