Last year was the driest year on record in Wanganui - a contrast to 2011, which was the wettest.
Sunny, dry and cool was the recipe for Wanganui's weather in 2012, according to figures released this week by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
Two weather records were broken in Wanganui during 2012.
Wanganui registered its lowest annual rainfall total since records began in 1987. At 765mm that's just 85 per cent of the city's average annual rainfall.
It was a different story in 2011, when Wanganui received 1222mm of rain - the highest yearly total since records began.
In December 2012, hot air dragged down on to New Zealand by ex-tropical cyclone Evan raised temperatures across the North Island. On December 24, Wanganui registered a temperature of 29.7C - the highest of any month since records began in 1987.
Despite that, it was a much cooler year overall, with Wanganui's mean temperature just 13.4C. In 2011 and 2010 the mean annual temperatures were 14.3C and 14.4C respectively.
While sunshine hours are not recorded in Wanganui, Niwa said that all areas from Te Kuiti to the Kapiti Coast had higher than average sunshine hours. New Plymouth and Paraparaumu both recorded their highest-ever sunshine hours.
Wanganui's coldest morning of 2012 was on July 1, when the mercury dropped to -1.1C.
Wanganui's weather in 2012 was relatively free of drama. The most memorable event was a "weather bomb" which struck Wanganui and South Taranaki directly on March 3.
Winds of 120km/h lifted roofs, uprooted hundreds of trees and brought down 250 overhead power lines in Wanganui alone. In Wanganui and South Taranaki, 30,000 homes were left without power.
October was memorable for being very windy, due to more frequent south-westerly flows over the country. Wanganui recorded seven days with winds greater than gale force.
2012 WEATHER AT A GLANCE
Sunniest spot: Whakatane [2602 sunshine hours]
Driest spot: Alexandra [378mm rain]
Wettest spot: Cropp River, West Coast [9630mm rain]
Highest one-day rainfall: North Egmont [336mm]
Highest average temperature: Whangarei [15.8C]
Highest maximum temperature: Gisborne [34.5C]
Lowest minimum temperature: Darfield [-11.8C]
Strongest wind gust: Cape Turnagain [206km/h]
Nationwide average temperature: 12.5C
Number of tornadoes recorded: 14