July weather warm and damp

WARM WINTER: July was a mild but wet month in Whanganui. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

It may be winter but July in Whanganui was warm and damp, according to figures released this week by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research [NIWA].

Climate scientist Nava Fedaeff said mean temperatures in Whanganui last month were classed as "well above normal" or "above normal".

The mean daily temperature for Whanganui in July was 10.1C which is 1.1C above the average. Mean daily maximum and daily minimum temperatures were also more than 1C above average at 14.6C and 6.6C respectively.

Ms Fedaeff said Whanganui lowest temperature for the month was 1.4C on July 10. The highest was 19.8C on July 23.

"This is the third highest daily temperature on record for Whanganui during July," she said.

"To follow up the warm day, the overnight minimum of 13.6°C recorded in Whanganui [on the night of the July 23] was the third warmest minimum temperature on record for July."

Ms Fedaeff said a warm northerly airflow from the tropics contributed to the relatively warm temperatures and numerous locations observed record or near-record high daily maximum and minimum temperatures for July around the country.

She said Whanganui also recorded its highest wind gust for July, of 109km/h. This was recorded on July 24.