Very dry beginning to 2019

[cbm]

From Niwa:
"All up, 2019 saw the driest January to June on record for Auckland (321.2 mm, 62% of normal), Hamilton (275.8 mm, 53% of normal) Whangarei (277.8 mm, 44% of normal), Whitianga (332.8 mm, 39% of normal), and Kaitaia (238.4 mm, 36% of normal)."

The Kaitaia figure is shocking, if the others were not already. 36% of normal rainfall over as long a period as half a year.

[spwill]

Blame El Nino . A lot of our rain in the first half of the year comes from the tropics, ridging and westerlies prevented rain systems from reaching us.

[Bradley]

Blame El Nino . A lot of our rain in the first half of the year comes from the tropics, ridging and westerlies prevented rain systems from reaching us.

Nope, according to 1 news last night this drought (along with a couple of other stories in the first 15 minutes of their news bulletin) is directly related to human induced climate change, no mention of el nino at all as a contributing factor

[Simon Culling]

This article in 'Stuff' states that Aucklanders are being asked to cut water consumption. Is this an exaggeration of the current situation? The comments section is not very complimentary to Watercare.

Current total water storage is put at 59.2% compared to an historic average of 84.2%.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/113929 ... s#comments

[NZstorm]

Current total water storage is put at 59.2% compared to an historic average of 84.2%.

The dry time of year has passed and there is plenty of opportunity for downpours in the coming months.

[tornado]

Current total water storage is put at 59.2% compared to an historic average of 84.2%.

The dry time of year has passed and there is plenty of opportunity for downpours in the coming months.

yep starting from tommorow

[cbm]

Ruakura is on 805.2 with 25 days left in the year, so the record from 1932 is still under threat

These are the monthly figures from Jan to Dec for the record driest year - 1932 (records back to 1905)

2101 1932 50.2 71.1 49.4 106.3 101.1 145.1 77.8 41.1 30.5 66.8 43.9 56.8 total 840.1

There must be several other locations still under their all time driest year too.

My own gauge is still on only 692.4 YTD!
I did the 544ml slow trickle test and got 24.6mm (should be 25.4mm) I did spill a few ml when started the test. So gauge might be a little out but likely no more than 5%.

The funnel has never been blocked and the rpi doing the datalogging has a UPS for power cuts.
So fairly confident the figure is accurate +/-5%

The same setup last year logged 1335.4

[jamie]

Yea I’m only 818mm. Might not even get 900mm which is a very dry year. I’d need to go check the driest year. But it’s a far sight from the 1400+ we were getting recently


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[Awhituobs]

we have done better here YTD rain (1034mm)
similar at the local ARC Park (1065):
http://aklc.hydrotel.co.nz/hydrotel/cgi ... tchment=28

[Cyclone Tracy]

Currently on 762.4mm YTD. Locally the driest year recorded was 843mm in 2015 (records back to 2001), MetService's North Shore gauge at Whangaparaoa is currently on 694.6mm YTD

[David]

Currently on 762.4mm YTD. Locally the driest year recorded was 843mm in 2015 (records back to 2001), MetService's North Shore gauge at Whangaparaoa is currently on 694.6mm YTD

Wow, didn't realise it was that low! But indeed, summing the historical data values on the Metservice past weather page does come up with 695mm. My station has recorded 1026mm this year, so significantly wetter (but still a little drier than normal)

[cbm]

Well the year is almost done. Looks like Hamilton aero is going to finish on ~850mm, lowest on record. Ruakura ~870mm second or third lowest since records began 1905. I've only recorded 734.2mm. Need to check some others such as Kaitaia and Whangarei.

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[Cyclone Tracy]

789mm for here locally and that will probably be it, smashing the lowest record by 54mm. MetService's Auckland North Shore gauge at Whangaparaoa has recorded 722mm.

[jamie]

897 here so won’t get 900. About 400 below average. 600mm below recent years.


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[Cantab03]

Locally sitting at 540mm YTD, while same time last year was 820mm.