LIVE: 2021 NZ’s warmest year on record

The BOP experienced above annual average temperatures in 2021.

2021 was New Zealand's warmest year on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2016, according to the latest Climate Summary from NIWA.

Seven of the past nine years have been among New Zealand's warmest on record, says a NIWA spokesperson.

'This trend is consistent with the overall pattern of global warming.”

Annual temperatures were above average (+0.51°C to +1.20°C above the annual
average) for much Aotearoa New Zealand.

Well above average temperatures (>1.20 ̆C above the annual average) occurred in parts of Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Tasman and Fiordland.

Near average (within -0.50°C to +0.50°C of average) temperatures occurred in western Waikato, coastal Wairarapa and parts of northern Canterbury and Otago.

'2021 was the warmest year on record for New Zealand, based on NIWA's seven-station series which began in 1909.”

The hottest spell of the year took hold over New Zealand from January 25-28, with several locations observing record or near-record high daily maximum and daily minimum temperatures.

NIWA says the highest temperature of 2021 was recorded on January 26 at Ashburton.

'The maximum temperature there reached 39.4°C, which is New Zealand's 2nd-highest January temperature on record, and the country's 10th-equal hottest temperature on record for all months.”

Monthly temperature anomalies (compared to the 1981-2010 monthly averages) for each month of 2021. Image: NIWA.

Click here for a full rundown of the 2021 Annual Climate Summary.

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1 comment

Cracking

Posted on 11-01-2022 17:02 | By Slim Shady

It’s been a beauty. Long may it continue.


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