By PHILIP ENGLISH
Auckland's summer has had the most rainy days for at least 25 years in some places.
The wettest place in the region, Beachlands, had rain on 38 days out of 46, a total of 321mm since summer began on December 1.
Average rainfall for the locality, just west of
Maraetai, is 108mm.
Waiuku had 302mm and 36 wet days. Meadowbank was third wettest with 292mm of rain on 32 days.
Mt Roskill, Pakuranga and Waiheke Island, which had 111mm of rain on December 15, followed close behind.
At the season's halfway point of 46 days, temperatures have been slightly warmer than average, even though sunshine hours have been lower because of rain clouds.
Statistics from Weatherwise Auckland show that while it has been a wet summer, not everywhere in the region has experienced the same sort of weather.
Helensville was the driest place in the region with 195mm of rain, although its average rainfall for half the season, 112mm, has been easily surpassed.
But even "dry" Helensville experienced 31 days of rain.
Orewa had 201mm of rain on 35 days, and was the second-driest place in the region. Its average rainfall is 116mm. Mangere, Manurewa, Henderson and Pukekohe were the next driest.
The reduced sunshine - no sunshine was recorded on 10 days - and wet weather have been bad news for bees and the honey-producing industry.
Auckland beekeeper Graham Cammell said yesterday that flowers that were blooming were not producing much nectar for bees to collect. Bush honey as well as other varieties were affected.
nzherald.co.nz/weather
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