Rotorua's year so far wettest on record

Tulips in Rotorua. Photo/Ben Fraser

Enjoy the fine and dry weather forecast for most of this week because the rain that seems to have been a constant lately is back on Sunday.

MetService meteorologist April Clark said things were looking "not too bad" for the week ahead which was great for the school holidays.

"The strong winds have eased and the forecasted westerly winds will be light during the dry spell. This week is looking a lot better than last week."

According to MetService rural outlook pages Rotorua is one of many North Island locations to have received more than the usual annual quota of rainfall in only the first nine months of the year. In fact January to September rainfall records were broken in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

Rotorua Airport recorded 1717mm for the January to September period, the wettest since records began in 1963.

Early spring temperatures have been near average, however MetService says temperatures have swung widely between much warmer and significantly colder periods in September.

Figures provided by local weatherman Brian Holden also show it's been more than a little wet. He had the annual rainfall to date at his Springfield weather station as 1872mm with the total yearly normal at 1587mm.

Mr Holden reports the September temperature was normal at 10.6C.

Niwa principal scientist of forecasting Chris Brandolino said temperatures for the next three months until December were forecast to be above average for Rotorua.

"There is a 60 per cent chance for above average temperatures however that does not mean every week from now until Christmas will be above average. There is still a chance frosts and cool snaps will occur in the period.

"However the nor'easterly winds that bring the warmer temperatures also bring with them moisture, so the chance of rain is elevated. Niwa is forecasting rainfall totals for the three-month period to be slightly (40 per cent) higher than average (35 per cent)."

He said coastal waters remained generally warmer than average all around the country.