Dunedin Microclimates

[wembley]

I am originally from Dunedin but now live in Cromwell. According to Wikipedia Dunedin has a large number of microclimates in different suburbs. Which suburbs have warmer summers and more sunshine than the Dunedin average of 19 degree summer temps and 1650 sunshine hours per annum?

I believe the Taieri Plains are warmer and sunnier than Dunedin City.

[spwill]

I think there is a much better climate on the Taieri Plains but Winters are colder on the Taieri due to frequent frost.

[NZstorm]

They say Northeast Valley has a microclime but I thinks its just because it gets less wind. The temperature data from the Botanic Gardens is on par with Musselburgh.

In February Mosgiel averages 21C while Dunedin averages 19C.

[snowstormwatcher]

http://growotago.orc.govt.nz/ can zoom right in on Dunedin and other areas of Otago. Not sure of the accuracy but its says the data is from Niwa.

[wembley]

Thanks for the info.

[RWood]

Thanks for the info.

The Taieri Plains aren't warmer - the daytime increase over the city (Musselburgh) is more than offset by the night-time decrease. Rainfall is somewhat lower however. Former sunshine records from the airport showed a small advantage of about 50-75 hours of sun per annum compared with the city. But they should install a new instrument and see if anything has changed. You can find more detail at NIWA's CliFlo site.

[spwill]

The Taieri Plains Summer climate is considered better because of the warmer afternoons, probably the same for the Dunedin valleys away from the coast

[RWood]

The real summer cure is to go much further inland. Those warmer summer afternoons on the Taieri are not accompanied by a significant increase in sunshine despite any mythology to the contrary. NE Valley has some pretty cold nights in the cooler seasons, too.

[spwill]

The real summer cure is to go much further inland. .

For that part of NZ a tradition is to have the Summer holiday inland rather than on the coast mostly due to climate factors.

[RWood]

I lived in Invercargill & Dunedin for almost 17 years - an escape factor for many in both provinces was time spent in the Lakes or Central Otago. The poster is better off in Cromwell than even Alex. from a sunshine viewpoint, though the north-facing slopes south of the river in Alex. do better than the central town as they lose less daylight.