'Wet' October proved drier and colder than normal in Taranaki

Sunday, 11 November 2018

October rainfall levels in Taranaki were historically low

October is historically regarded as the wettest month of the year in Taranaki.

But not in 2018, according to the Taranaki Regional Council weather statistics.

TRC data analyst Fiona Jansma said October's rainfall had seen total levels ranging between 42 per cent and 93 per cent of normal levels.

The average regional level was just 62 per cent of normal average levels for October, she said.

Less rain fell in Taranaki during October than normal

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It meant rainfall was only recorded between seven and 13 days during the month throughout the region.

This was very low for October, which has historically been known as the wettest month of the year, Jansma said.

The lowest rainfall areas included Kotare, at Tongaporutu, which had 42 per cent of its normal monthly rainfall with 102mm.

Four other sites - Motunui (49 per cent), Okoki (47 per cent), Charlie's Clearing (44 per cent) and Waitotara Valley (47 per cent) - all recorded less than 50 per cent of their normal October rainfall levels.

So far this year rainfall totals are sitting between 88 per cent and 129 per cent of normal, with an average of 108 per cent for the region, Jansma said.

Only five of the rainfall sites - North Egmont (88 per cent), Hillsborough (93 per cent), Mangati (91 per cent), Egmont Village (95 per cent), and Cape Egmont (99 per cent) monitored recorded below normal rainfall to date.

The wettest area was Duffys Farm, near Whareroa, South Taranaki, which had the highest percentage of rainfall to date, with 129 per cent, or 1137.5mm of rain.

Rainfall, as a percentage of the full calendar year, was sitting between 74 per cent and 109 per cent, an average of 91 per cent.

Four sites - Dawson Falls, Duffys Farm, Patea, and Charlie's Clearing - had already recorded above their mean annual rainfall.

A further three sites - Stratford, Mangaehu (Toko), and Kaupokonui (Manaia) - are likely to be added to the list in the coming weeks, as they have already recorded 98 per cent of normal rainfall levels, Jansma said.

The highest air temperature during October was recorded in Inglewood with 23.3 degrees Celsius while Whareroa had the coolest day with minus 0.65C.

The mean air temperature for October was 12.53C, or 0.46C cooler than the historical average for the month.