Wanaka

[Michael]

This year is there a reason Wanaka is reaching the countries maximum,it didn't always before,a new location or what?

[NZstorm]

There is a hot pattern over inland Otago at the moment. They had a poor Dec/Jan but Feb looking good.

[Nev]

Wanaka Aero's 28.6C yesterday isn't really that remarkable, nor is it that unusual for it to be the warmest place in the country. Wanaka gets up into the early 30's most summers, sometimes for several days at a time (it might well be the 'heat-wave' capital of NZ).

It just doesn't always get a mention on TV's weather, no doubt due to its relatively small population (about the same as Waiheke). Wanaka's 31.4C on Monday never got a mention, Jim opting instead for Pukaki Aero's 31.3C…

[RWood]

... although the average Tmax at Wanaka Aero AWS from the 1981-2010 tabels is "only" 23.0C, with plenty of places somewhat ahead of it in on the list - compenstaing periods of cooler SW changes probably drag that down a bit.

Oops - meant to post this in the Wanaka thread!

[Michael]

Just noticed lately its outstripping the usual many times (metservice readings) this summer,ie Alexandra,Blenheim,Kawerau etc often.

[spwill]

Wanaka Aero's 28.6C yesterday isn't really that remarkable, nor is it that unusual for it to be the warmest place in the country.

However looking at the average Feb max for the last 4 years,(from the monthly summaries) Waiheke Island Aero had average max 25.1, Wanaka Aero 23.3.

[Nev]

Wanaka Aero's 28.6C yesterday isn't really that remarkable, nor is it that unusual for it to be the warmest place in the country.

However looking at the average Feb max for the last 4 years,(from the monthly summaries) Waiheke Island Aero had average max 25.1, Wanaka Aero 23.3.

Yes, Wanaka has a lower normal T-max than Waiheke, but you appear to have quoted me out of context and thereby missed my point. I quantified that claim with the following statement…

Wanaka gets up into the early 30's most summers, sometimes for several days at a time (it might well be the 'heat-wave' capital of NZ).

28.6C would be remarkable for Waiheke, but not that unusual for Wanaka. And as for a 'heat-wave', well, that would probably be a first for Waiheke, if you use the WMO's recommended definition of five or more consecutive days with temps 5C above its normal T-max.

[Manukau heads obs]

the last time the auckland area had a heat wave most have been way back in 1998 or so
(or was it 1999?)
in a peristant NE flow, around this time of year, from memory

(I think max temperatures were up around 30c ?)

[spwill]

Yes, Wanaka has a lower normal T-max than Waiheke, but you appear to have quoted me out of context and thereby missed my point. )

Yes, Wanaka does get spells of high afternoon/evening temps by NZ standards, I was just trying to add to the discussion. Your points were good.
I have spent many Summer holidays in the Wanaka area, know the area very well, probably my favourite part of NZ.

[David]

the last time the auckland area had a heat wave most have been way back in 1998 or so
(or was it 1999?)
in a peristant NE flow, around this time of year, from memory

(I think max temperatures were up around 30c ?)

I have an excel file of daily temps at Owairaka up until the time when it closed down in 2008, so I post some numbers for interest (sorry for getting off topic!). There was a period of about 3 weeks with above average temps in early 1998, most notably early Feb. The first 10 days of Feb 1998 had an average max of 28.2°C. I guess that would not be called a heat wave according to the definition Nev posted... but I would sure call it one!

Code: Select all

27-Jan-98	26.4	17.4
28-Jan-98	26.2	18.8
29-Jan-98	26.0	20.0
30-Jan-98	26.7	19.8
31-Jan-98	27.9	21.0
 1-Feb-98	26.8	16.4
 2-Feb-98	27.0	15.9
 3-Feb-98	28.5	17.5
 4-Feb-98	30.5	19.0
 5-Feb-98	29.0	19.5
 6-Feb-98	28.1	18.4
 7-Feb-98	27.7	17.1
 8-Feb-98	28.1	16.8
 9-Feb-98	28.3	17.7
10-Feb-98	28.0	20.0
11-Feb-98	26.0	16.8

[spwill]

Humidity can be quite a big factor with warm/hot weather also temperature minimums.

[Storm Struck]

Its actually a really good place for temperatures spring through to summer, because there is a cool valley wind that comes up in the evenings making for a more pleasant nights sleep after 30-33C days.
In Canterbury's hottest conditions ie the NWer it can remain a warm night even with the slightest of NW puffs, overnight lows of 22-24C can make it rather uncomfortable to sleep however this only happens during summer.
Interesting though how Wanaka is a dry heat considering its almost on the west coast, a half hour drive up lake Hawea to the north of the township reveals native bush pockets where the climate becomes more moist.

[RWood]

Its actually a really good place for temperatures spring through to summer, because there is a cool valley wind that comes up in the evenings making for a more pleasant nights sleep after 30-33C days.

It shares that pleasant feature of the cooling valley wind with Alexandra - I have fond memories of parents' little property in Bridge Hill just south of Alex, and the nice wind that would often arrive after a 30C or so day. Only in the most embedded kind of NW flow would the mechanism fail completely.

[bpo]

As with most years, Omarama and the high country in general has been roasting in usual late Jan/early Feb highs in the low 30s.

November-January is our rainy season, so cloud and wet stuff in that period is normal, although there have been odd years where Dec-Jan were hot and dry.

February is when our true summer weather arrives, and it continues through to late March/early April. After that it's the perfection of a high country autumn. (Settled weather from Mid April through to at least June, with cloudless skies and crisp temps. Magic!)

This is easily the best place in the country, if not the world, as is understood by all those of a truly discerning nature.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

I remember filming a thunderstorm in Wanaka and during a lull, you can hear some wind passing?
I think that Aaron may have a copy of that video?

[Nev]

Just a follow-up, I'll take back what I said about Wanaka possibly being the 'heat-wave' capital of NZ. That title would probably go to NIWA's Clyde site, with Cromwell running a close 2nd. Both sites have generally had slightly higher T-maxs than Wanaka over the last couple of weeks, with Cromwell's 32.3C on the 3rd being the highest of the three so far this momth.

[spwill]

What were the minimums during the heat wave, 9 -12C ?

[Nev]

Sorry, never meant to imply that any of the aforesaid sites actually had experienced any 'heat-waves' so far this summer, at least not by the WMO's recommended definition.

For the first 10 days of this month, Wanaka and Clyde only had 4 days with Tmaxs of 5C or more above their normals, and Cromwell only 3 days, none of which ran for more than 2 days consecutively. Wanaka's average Tmax of 27.0C [for this month's first 10 days] has been 3.6C above its normal, Clyde's average Tmax of 26.9C was 2.7C above its normal, and Cromwell's average Tmax of 26.5C was 2.1C above its normal.

Re Tmins this month, although they aren't included in the WMO's definition of a 'heat-wave', Wanaka's average Tmin of 11.2C [for this month's first 10 days] was 0.8C above its normal, while Clyde's 10.0C and Cromwell's 9.9C were 0.8C and 0.5C below their normals respectively.

Also note that a lot of countries and their states have their own (sometimes multiple) official definitions of a 'heat-wave', such as, so many days exceeding certain fixed temps.

[spwill]

Is average temperature the same as normal temperature ? In the case of Auckland it certainly is but less so for the likes of Wanaka.

[Nev]

Not sure that I understand your question, as Wanaka, Clyde & Cromwell's average T-means for the first 10 days of Feb were all obviously above their 1981-2010 normals (see Tmax and Tmin figures above), more so for Wanaka.

[NZstorm]

Is average temperature the same as normal temperature ? In the case of Auckland it certainly is but less so for the likes of Wanaka.

You mean is there bigger variability in temperatures? Yes. Auckland has low variability while Wanaka has high variability.

[spwill]

You mean is there bigger variability in temperatures? Yes. Auckland has low variability while Wanaka has high variability.

Yes

[Nev]

Is average temperature the same as normal temperature ? In the case of Auckland it certainly is but less so for the likes of Wanaka.

Opps, sorry, I see where that might have been a bit confusing. I meant, 'Wanaka's average Tmax of 27.0C [for this month's first 10 days] has been 3.6C above its normal'...etc. Have amended those statements.

Yes, more extremes down there, with a few coolish mornings this month. Clyde went from 4.6C to 28.6C on the 6th and 7.5C to 31.2C on the 10th - diurnal ranges of 24C.