Keep the gumboots and umbrella handy — the rain is not finished with us yet, says MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris.
The fact Southland had a wet, windy and cold September that broke 20-year records would not come as a surprise many people.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the district had been the wettest month of the year to date and much wetter than average.
Invercargill city normally averaged about 76.9mm during the first month of spring, but 20.4mm drenched the city on Friday, September 27.
But the last time Invercargill saw comparable rainfall figures to this September’s 152mm was the 161.8mm in 2023 and 192.2mm in 2010.
Lumsden’s September 172mm rainfall was the highest rainfall figure for the past 20 years.
In 2023, while the region experience flooding, only 137mm was recorded for that period and 107.4mm in 2008.
Manapouri exceeded last year’s high of 193.2mm with a record 260mm and Gore rainfall was slightly back on 2023’s 147.8mm to 142mm this year.
While Southland was being drenched in rain it was also being buffeted by stronger winds than normal, Ms Makgabutlane said.
September was also the windiest month of 2024 out of the past few years.
Gusts averaged 44kmh or more and Invercargill city was slammed with 115kmh gusts on September 7.
Temperature data shows September was a little cooler than average in some areas and ‘‘generally one of the cooler September of the last few years’’, she said.
Mr Ferris said while mainly fine weather had been experienced in the final days of September, more heavy rain was set to fall on the province next week.
But isolated showers on Saturday and Sunday might offer a brief reprieve from the dousing.
Environment Southland hydrological response team leader Chris Jenkins said Southland rivers were falling on Tuesday morning but that would change when the forecast rain started.
The northern part of the region had the highest forecast rain with some snow expected down to 600m.
The regional council expected rainfall of about 2-3mm per hour which did not generate large peak flows.
But it did expect rivers to be high, putting some in a high river watch, he said.
- By Toni McDonald
