temperature variances within auckland region

[npfield]

I have been checking temperatures from various weather stations around auckland, and have noticed quite a difference in the recordings, notieceably the Airport, which seems to be the lowest recorded temperature and which I believe is the official recorded temperature on the news. For example, today the airport has shown a high of 24 degrees, whereas the albany weather station has a recording of about 28 degrees, thats quite a difference!
Your comments would be interesting on this matter...

[Willoughby]

I wouldn't believe that Albany station output... looks a bit junky and suspect. Try rather comparing with Whangaparoa, Whenuapai, Awhitu and Grey Lynn.. They seem to be accurate.

[David]

It's because of very local sea breezes, and distance from the sea. Also topography affects the temps. Auckland Airport is located on a small peninsula which sticks out into the Manukau Harbour, and is therefore more exposed to breezes from the SW, blowing across cooler water. Here today it has reached 24.6C, yet this is different across all of Auckland. An area sheltered from the influence of cooler sea breezes would record hotter days under high solar conditions, I think an example of this the Henderson area?

Suburbs in the city would record hotter days under high solar conditions as well, due to the 'concrete jungle' effect. Concrete has a low specific heat capacity, which means it will become hotter faster when subjected to heating (solar radiation). The concrete heats the air, and therefore locations with a large area/proportion of concrete/paved surfaces will experience high air temperatures in the day. Because water has a very high specific heat capacity, it does not warm up much during the day, explaining why coastal locations are not as hot during the day/afternoon. The reverse comes into effect at night though, water loses heat very slowly and so coastal locations will be warmer at night than locations inland. (e.g low of 11.5C here yesterday, eastern beach which is 2-2.5km away had a low of 14C).

The strange thing is recently the airport has recorded higher maximums than here, possibly because of our NE sea breeze we have.

Also some stations are not properly placed, so some sensors have solar radiation affecting them, causing heating and therefore false temperature readings. eg a 30C in Auckland when other stations have 25C is likely to be inaccurate. Some people though have accurate stations set up.

(just seeing your next post npfield, that Whenupai weather site you are looking at reported 33C a few days back - completely inaccurate )

[npfield]

Whenuapai current temperature 29.9 degreez

[Willoughby]

Whenuapai current temperature 29.9 degreez

Err.. Where do you get your data?

At 3pm Whenuapai airbase was registering 24C...

[npfield]

hmm interesting...so i guess they must have the thermometer placed in direct sunlight. Im guessing you would need to place the thermometer in a shaded area exposed to the wind to get a more accurate temperature reading..

[npfield]

i got that temperature reading from
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/tmcgav ... ather.html

[RWood]

There are lots of bad setups. For example, the old junk record of about 53C at Cloncurry for Australia has long been discredited - apparently it was taken under a veranda in a open box with sun shining onto the thermometers.

All summer long some in Cant'y will be claiming 40+ temps - and probably not a single one of them will be valid.

[spwill]

I think the Airport in Spring is cooler than much of Auckland as it sits on the Manakau harbour exposed to the South Westerlies.

The Airport can be a warmer location in Summer in a NE flow as the cooling sea breezes are kept out.

[Manukau heads obs]

our hottest day of the summer here today, 26.2oC (steveson screen)
in a northerly, just before the SW breeze arrived

[Razor]

our hottest day of the summer here today, 26.2oC (steveson screen)
in a northerly, just before the SW breeze arrived

Lol well you are within 10 degrees of what Cantery has been experiencing lately

[Inny Binny]

All summer long some in Cant'y will be claiming 40+ temps - and probably not a single one of them will be valid.

What about that very hot New Year's Day a few years ago, reached 41 C in Darfield?

[Razor]

All summer long some in Cant'y will be claiming 40+ temps - and probably not a single one of them will be valid.

What about that very hot New Year's Day a few years ago, reached 41 C in Darfield?

Actually I was driving through from the West Coast that day, we knew it was going to cook when it was 30 degrees at Arthurs Pass! Springfield was so hot it was ridiculous, it did nudge 40 that day there

I also experienced 39 degrees in Lyttelton about 10 years ago, along with 40 at Omakau in Central Otago a handful of years ago

[Manukau heads obs]

TV1 weather reported the airport had 26oC today too, same as me
(and that is with a 16.5oC DP, which you wont get in Canty that often)

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

What about that very hot New Year's Day a few years ago, reached 41 C in Darfield?

That was an incorrect reading though, they scaled it back to 38ºC I think.

JohnGaul
NZTS

[NZstorm]

Temperature is possibly the hardest meteorological parameter to measure accurately. The aim is to get a measurement that is representative of the district or suburb rather than a backyard. The instrument really should be in a stevenson screen and sitting out in an exposed area over mowed lawn.

Hottest suburb in Auckland is Henderson which is sheltered from the sea breezes.

[RWood]

From memory, the final Darfield figure may have only been about 36.5C.

Re Henderson, I can recall Oratia topping the Auckland "highs" (as per Feb.1998 above)

I most certainly don't believe the Omakau 40 - it's cooler than Alex in every way. Won't comment on the other claims.

[Storm Struck]

The locals in Hanmer Springs always claim its reached 43-44C there almost every summer on a few occasions.
I surpose places like that shelterd from most winds coastal mainly it would heat up nicly, the N-NW would be the most effective there i think.
Wether its accurate or not people's weather station readings we will never know, but I am sure that somewhere in NZ has broken the 42C record held in Rangiora.
Perhaps its in a more remote area and doesnt get reported.
Cheers
Jason.

[Inny Binny]

Oh I'm sure there would be, some place in the middle of nowhere where noone has ever recrded much before...and at least one of the únreliable' records that broke the 42 C mark would have to be right.

[RWood]

It would have to be somewhere we don't "know" about, and certainly not Hanmer. People's propensity to exaggerate temperatures gets very tiresome.

[NZstorm]

Yes, there has to be standards maintained in temperature recording. A site needs to be NIWA/Met Service approved to be acceptable, otherwise any sheltered veranda temperature will do.

[Michael]

The wind is unbelievable (ie Gusty as) this afternoon given how stable and blue the sky is

Herald says 10kt variable with seabreezes,its a good sea breeze here today