Archival images only (not the latest outlook maps). Subscribe or sign-up for a free trial to our Seasonal Forecast Premium Subscription. Click here to find out more.

Summary for New Zealand

El Niño Advisory: El Niño conditions are present. Positive equatorial sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies continue across the western and central Pacific, while near-to-below average SSTs are evident in the eastern Pacific. There is an approximately 50-60% chance that El Niño conditions will continue through Southern Hemisphere winter 2015.

May Temperature

North Island: Most of the island is expected to be above normal except for the Southern Hawkes Bay which will be only slightly above normal.

South Island: Large areas of the island are forecast to be slightly to moderately warmer, especially the Alps and eastern part of the island, except for South Canterbury which should be near normal.

May Precipitation

North Island: Much of the island is forecast to be near normal. The east coast of Northland through the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty and down the east coast to Wellington is expected to be slightly drier than normal.

South Island: Much of the island will be near normal except for the northern section and around Central Canterbury which could be slightly drier than normal.

May Potential Evapotranspiration Deficit

North Island: The entire island is either close to normal or in slight deficit especially in Northland and through the Bay of Plenty. East Cape and coastal Hawkes Bay have areas of moderate deficits.

South Island: The West Coast is near normal to slightly drier than normal in Fiordland and slightly dry in the far northwest. The East Coast improves its deficits to be near normal to potentially only slight deficits.

Select a Forecast and Variable above to view data