Heavy rain in Central Otago last month set records, while in Dunedin summer failed to happen and the city was considered the coldest and wettest in the country.
February was notable for being wet and warm in the South Island but extremely dry and warm in the North Island, the National Institute of Atmospheric Research (Niwa) climate summary for February says.
"The first half of February was scorching warm with record-breaking heat experienced between the 2nd and 7th [of] February at numerous locations over the entire length of the country - but cooler conditions prevailed in the second half of the month," climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said.
It was a record wet month for Central Otago with more than double its normal February rainfall, she said.
"Much of this rainfall fell in a single extreme event on February 6, along with record-breaking heatwave conditions."
Alexandra recorded its highest February rainfall with 99mm (328% of normal), while Cromwell and Ranfurly recorded their third-highest rainfall with 73mm (228%) and 106mm (304%), respectively.
Extreme one-day rainfalls were recorded on the 6th around the region with Ranfurly, Cromwell, Alexandra and Gore setting records with 53mm, 52mm, 68mm, 64mm respectively, Balclutha recording its second-highest (73mm) and Dunedin its third with 54mm.
Of the six main centres in New Zealand, Dunedin was the coolest with its average temperature, 15.2degC.
It was the only centre not to record a warmer-than-normal month and the only one to record more-than-normal rainfall with 109mm of rain (177% of normal).
Despite this, Dunedin recorded its third-highest daily maximum temperature on the 6th with 34.4degC, as did Alexandra with 34.7degC and Oamaru its second-highest with 35.8degC.
Dunedin also recorded only 87% of its normal sunshine for the month with 133 hours, the lowest sunshine hours of any of the six centres.
Cromwell also recorded its fourth-lowest sunshine hours with 191 hours, only 89% of normal.
Record extreme wind gusts were recorded on the 2nd at Tara Hills (87kmh) and Lauder (100kmh) in Central Otago and in Gore (117kmh).
