New Zealand recorded its warmest May on record, and the conditions included Otago.
The average temperature for May was 12.9degC, 2.2degC above average, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) climate summary showed. It is a trend expected to continue through winter for coastal Otago but with inland and southern conditions predicted to be average.
A strong La Nina which had dominated for several months had faded out.
The mild conditions would be broken by the typical winter cold snaps from June to August.
Climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said New Zealand was affected by more northerly winds than usual during May, squeezed between low pressures over the Tasman Sea and anticyclones east of the country.
"These northerly winds contributed to the record-breaking May warmth."
Overall, May was a month of extremes, with a heat wave on the South Island's west coast, a tornado sweeping through Auckland and flooding rains in Otago and Nelson.
In Otago, Cromwell recorded its cloudiest May on record with only 59 sunshine hours and Alexandra recorded its highest May rainfall with 93mm (289% of normal).
The region experienced some of its warmest May temperatures - Dunedin 11degC (third highest), Cromwell 9.8degC (second highest), Alexandra 9.6degC (second highest), Balclutha 9.3degC (fourth highest).
Record extreme one-day rainfall totals were recorded on May 7 at Ranfurly 52mm, Cromwell 47mm and Alexandra 67mm. Also on May 7 Balclutha recorded its fourth highest one-day rainfall of 35mm.
Dunedin at Musselburgh recorded 95mm of rain (136% of normal) and normal sunshine hours of 101 hours, making it the cloudiest and second driest of New Zealand's six main centres.
As for the next few months, normal seasonal rainfall, river flow and soil moisture conditions were predicted for east Otago but inland, and in Southland, the conditions were equally as likely to be near normal or below, the centre said.
Weaker westerlies and more frequent easterly flows were likely over New Zealand.
