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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.

April Temperature

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

April Precipitation

North Island: Much of the island is forecast to be drier than normal with Auckland and Southern Northland and East Cape down to Hawkes Bay moderately to drier than normal. Only Auckland, Southern parts of Northland, Hawkes Bay and Gisborne areas are expected to be moderately drier than normal along with the East Cape. Near normal precipitation is restricted to parts of Taranaki and Southern Manawatu-Wanganui and Wellington areas.

South Island: Only slightly drier conditions are expected in the west. While much of the east will be near normal and with parts of inland Southern Canterbury could be moderately drier than normal while parts of southern Otago could be slightly wetter than normal.

April Potential Evapotranspiration Deficit

North Island: The entire island is either close to normal or in deficit especially the East Cape and Northern Hawkes Bay and eastern coastal parts of Northland.

South Island: The West Coast dries out along with the Alps while the East Coast improves its deficits to be near normal to only slight deficits.

May Temperature

North Island: Most of the island is expected to be moderately above normal except for a small portion of the Southern Hawkes Bay which will be near normal.

South Island: Large areas of the island are forecast to be slightly warmer than normal except for South Canterbury which is likely to be near normal. Portions of the Alps are expected to be moderately warmer than normal.

May Precipitation

North Island: Much of the island is forecast to be at or near normal except for the coastal portions of the Hawkes Bay and Eastern Gisborne which are expected to be slightly wetter than normal.

South Island: Much of the island northern and eastern part of the island should be near normal with the western and southern portion slightly drier than normal.

May Potential Evapotranspiration Deficit

North Island: The entire island is either normal or above normal especially in Northland and from the Coromandel through East Cape and down the east coast to Wellington.

South Island: The very northern part of the island remains in positive territory with the West Coast and Alps is in moderate deficit. The east coast is in positive territory while the rest of the island is near normal.

June Temperature

North Island: Most of the island is expected to be slightly above normal except for a small portion of coastal East Cape and down the east coast to Wellington which should be near normal.

South Island: The northern half of the island is trending toward being slightly warmer than normal with the central and part near normal and the southern part a mix of slightly above normal to near normal.

June Precipitation

North Island: From Auckland south to Wellington much of the island is expected to be slightly drier than normal. North of Auckland and the Coromandel and East Cape down through Hawkes Bay is expected to be near normal.

South Island: Much of the island is expected to be drier than normal with isolated parts of the Alps near normal as well as parts of Central Otago and Southland.

June Potential Evapotranspiration Deficit

North Island: The entire island is either normal or slightly below normal. With parts of Northland and the East Cape slightly above normal.

South Island: The West Coast and Alps are showing a potential deficit. The rest of the island is expected to be near normal to slightly in deficit.

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