Rotorua experiences wettest year since 2011

Rotorua has experienced its wettest year since 2011 but enjoyed slightly higher temperatures than normal, new figures have revealed.

Rotorua weatherman Brian Holden has collated 2017's weather statistics, gathered at his Springfield weather station.

The site recorded Rotorua's rainfall as being 2113mm, which was the highest since 2011, with many months being well above normal, he said.

"March and April were shocking months weatherwise, with around three times the normal rainfall causing serious flooding in the region."

He said only January, June and December were seen to be "dry" months.

However, the year's mean temperature was 13.4C - slightly above the city's 13.1C norm.

"Many regions in the country observed record temperatures, though this was not the case in Springfield, with slightly higher temperatures being recorded in the last decade."

Holden said March, April, September and December were warmer than normal by about 1C.

Despite this, Rotorua still experienced its fair share of cold days, with the lowest air temperature of -3C being recorded on July 4.

"By coincidence, the same lowest air temperature of -3C was recorded on exactly the same date as last year."

The lowest ground temperature was -6.5C, recorded on July 31 and August 8.

Thirty-four frosts were recorded at Holden's Springfield site, "a few more than last year".

Holden recorded Springfield's maximum gust as being 36 knots (67km/h) on October 11.

He said stronger gusts were typically recorded at the airport due to its proximity to the lake.

"Rotorua is fortunate enough to be officially one of the least windy places in the country."

In a Niwa seasonal climate outlook video for December 2017 to February 2018, meteorologist Ben Noll said there was a high confidence forecast for above average temperatures during the summer season across the country.