Northland weather wrap 2011

It was a year of wild weather for Northland in 2011 with lightning storms, snow falls, tornadoes and plenty of rain.

But weather officials said it was still one of the warmest places to be in New Zealand with temperatures above normal for the region.

Figures released by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research show last year Northland temperatures were up to 1.5C warmer than normal. The yearly average temperature for the region is between 15 and 16C.

Niwa climate scientist James Renwick said Kaikohe and Kerikeri were the warmest since records began in 1981 and 1973 respectively, with both areas becoming extremely dry in February and November.

The mean temperature in Kaikohe was 16.1C which was 1.5C more than usual while Kerikeri was 15.9C or 0.6C warmer.

Northland also received more than its usual share of rain, with Kerikeri hit by 411mm or about 400 per cent more rainfall than average in December alone. That was the highest rainfall in Kerikeri for December since records began in 1981.

During the year 2197mm of rain fell in Kerikeri which was 131 per cent above normal. Kaitaia received 1537mm which was 115 per cent more than usual, while Dargaville had 1260mm or an increase of 103 per cent.

In Whangarei, recorded rainfall was 1258mm or 90 per cent above normal.

Mr Renwick said Dargaville received 1935 hours of sunshine compared to an average 1874 hours since records began 30 years ago.

Weather highlights included a snow blast that saw unprecedented snow falls in the high country around Dargaville.

Northland was also struck by a severe lightning storm on July 11 that caused power outage to parts of the Far North. And in mid-December, a deluge cut off Kaitaia, triggered slips and closed at least 15 roads in the Far North.