October in Wanganui was sunny and dry, but the wind was the real feature of the month.
Figures recently released by Niwa show that last month had average temperatures, not much rain but plenty of sunshine and even more wind.
Niwa climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said October had more frequent south-west winds than is typical for the time of year. "This was due to much lower than usual pressure [systems] affecting the country, instead of living down to the south, like well-behaved lows should. These south-westerly winds didn't produce much rain at all for the North Island - and it was a windy October across the whole of New Zealand," Ms Griffiths said.
She said Wanganui's weather station at Spriggens Park recorded seven days in October with wind gusts exceeding gale force [approximately 70km/h], two more than is usual for October. The peak gust was 78km/h, on October 6, although Ms Griffiths said winds were likely to have been much stronger than that.
"Spriggens Park itself is quite sheltered - open areas of Wanganui and especially the ranges would certainly have recorded higher gusts," she said.
The strongest wind gust nationally in October was 185km/h, at Cape Turnagain.
Ms Griffiths said Wanganui's rainfall for the month was well below average - at 53mm, that represents just 60 per cent of the October norm.
The mean temperature was almost exactly average at 13.5C. The highest temperature for the month was 21.3C recorded on 31 October, and the lowest was 3.8C, recorded on the morning of 24 October. Solar radiation was up on the October average, at 114 per cent.
October weather at a glance
Windy, sunny, dry and average temperatures.
Wind: seven days of gales, highest gust recorded 78km/h.
Rain: 53mm, 60 per cent of average.
Temperatures: 13.5C mean, highest temperature 21.3C, lowest temperature 3.8C.
Sunshine: 114 per cent of normal solar radiation.