David Crow's Weather Statistics

Weather Summary for January in Queenstown.

2012-02-02T10:46:00.001+13:00

January in Queenstown was somewhat above normal in temperature, close to average in rainfall and slightly above normal in sunshine.

It started off as a very dry month but a heavy fall on the 26th brought the rainfall total up. Total for the month was 70.3 mm on 7 raindays with the heaviest fall of 27.2 mm recorded on the 26th.

Despite the fact that snow fell to very unseasonably low levels on 4 days during the month, something that I can never remember before in January, the temperature was surprisingly above average by almost a degree, 16.8 degrees was measured against the average of 15.9 degrees. Highest temperature recorded for the month was 30.2 degrees on the 9th, lowest minimum temperature reached was 4.5 degrees on the 27th and lowest grass minimum was 1.2 degrees on the 6th. Normally about 3 days are recorded each summer when the temperature reaches 30 degrees. this summer we have only had the one.

Sunshine was above normal by 10 hours, 246.0 hours was recorded with the average being 235.6 hours.

Snow fell to unseasonably low levels on the 15th, 22nd, 23rd and 27th down to 1200 metres, with heavy falls at higher levels. Coronet Peak recorded 10 to 15 cms on the 27th.

It was also a rather windy month although no gales were recorded.

Queenstown`s Weather Summary for December.

2012-01-08T19:34:00.001+13:00

December in Queenstown was one of the warmest and driest Decembers on record in the town with total rainfall for the month being just 13.0 mm. The all time driest year was 10.6 mm way back in 1927. There were only five days in the month when it rained, the heaviest falls being 4.7 mm on the 13th and 14th. Average rainfall for Queenstown in December is 68.3 mm. The total for the year was 771.3 mm, slightly below the average of 835mm.

Mean temperature for the month was a whopping 2.8 degrees above normal at 17.6 degrees. The normal being 14.8 degrees. All time warmest December on record was 18.3 degrees in 1934. Although there were no very high maximum temperatures throughout the month, there were no cool spells either and temperatures were consistantly warm. Highest maximum was 29.0 degrees on the 26th, lowest air minimum 6.8 degrees on the 17th and lowest grass minimum 2.0 degrees on the 1st.

Although rainfall was very low, sunshine figures were also below average, 219.5 hours recorded with the average being 233.5 hours.

There were no significant weather events during the month.

Weather Summary for November in Queenstown.

2011-12-02T21:08:00.001+13:00

November in Queenstown was slightly warmer than normal, otherwise it was basically a fairly normal month with rainfall and sunshine very close to average.

Temperature for the month was 13.1 degrees or 0.6 degrees above the normal of 12.5 degrees. Highest maximum was 27.5 degrees on the 27th. Lowest minimum was minus 0.5 degrees on the 5th and lowest grass minimum was minus 2.9 degrees also on the 5th. There was 1 screen frost and 4 ground frosts.

Rainfall was close to normal, 66.7 mm recorded as against the average of 71.8 mm. 15 days of rain were recorded but all were mainly light with the heaviest fall being 19.4 mm on the 20th. Total for the year stands at 758.3 mm or 23 mm above the average for the year.

Sunshine was 199.1 hours only 11 hours below the normal of 210.6 hours. During the month it snowed on 2 days in town otherwise it was a normal month.

Queenstown Weather Summary for October.

2011-11-01T12:59:00.001+13:00

The weather for October in Queenstown was very close to normal with rainfall very slightly above average. Mean temperature and sunshine were also very close to normal.

Rainall totalled 95.4 mm with the average being 83.2 mm. Heaviest daily fall was 25.5 mm on the 17th and there were 11 days of rain. October is statistically the wettest month of the year. The total to date this year is 691.6 mm, also very close to average.

Mean temperature was 0.2 degrees above normal, 10.8 degrees being recorded as against the average of 10.6 degrees. Highest maximum was 22.5 degrees on the 20th; lowest minimum 0.2 degrees on the 9th and heaviest frost minus 6.5 degrees also on the 9th. There were 12 ground frosts during the month.

Sunshine was slightly above normal, 199.5 hours recorded against the average of 192.4 hours.

A westerly gale on the evening of the 24th over the district caused some slight damage and some power outages. Later that same evening a thunderstorm moved up from the south.

Queenstown weather summary for September.

2011-10-02T17:57:00.001+13:00

After the wintry and snowy month of August, September was a pleasant month in Queenstowen with temperatures slightly above average and rainfall well below normal. Rainfall totalled 27.8 mm, well below the average of 70.4 mm. Heaviest fall was 8.9 mm on the 14th with 10 days of rain recorded.

Average temperature of 8.5 degrees was slightly above the normal of 8.2 degrees. Highest daily maximum was 20.0 degrees on the 30th, lowest minimum was minus 1.1 degrees on the 14th and lowest grass minimum was minus 6.0 degrees on the 2nd. During the month there were 3 air frosts and 22 ground frosts.

Sunshne was close to normal with 164,2 hours measured against the normal of 159.9 hours. Snow fell to low levels on 3 occasions and fell in the town once.

Queenstown Weather Summary for August.

2011-09-01T16:48:00.001+12:00

August was a very snowy month in Queenstown. Although most of the precipitation fell as snow, it was almost 20 mm below normal. 40.7 mm of precipitation fell as against the normal of 60.3 mm 8 raindays were recorded with the heaviest being 12.4 mm on the 14th, (all snow). Snow fell on 4 days in town and lay in a measurable quantity for 9 days before becoming patchy.

Although snowy, temperatures were once again above normal, but only by a small amount. Mean temperature was 5.9 degrees against the normal of 5.5 degrees. Highest maximums were 16.2 degrees on the 25th and 26th. Lowest minimum was minus 3.1 degrees on the 19th and heaviest frost was minus 8.9 degrees on the 10th. There were 15 days of air frost during the month and 26 days of ground frost.

Sunshine was 20 hours above normal. 140.3 hours were measured with 120.3 hours being the normal.

Queenstown weather summary for June.

2011-07-02T20:21:00.001+12:00

June in Queenstown was characterised by well above normal temperatures and low rainfall, together with lack of snow. Rainfall totalled 36.5 mm, a little over half the normal value of 67.0 mm. Nearly all the rain fell on the 4th when 33.6 mm fell in just a few hours early in the morning.

Temperatures were once again well above normal by a huge 2 degrees. 6.4 degrees was recorded as against the average of 4.4 degrees. Highest temperature for the month was 15.2 degrees on the 1st, with the lowest being minus 0.6 degrees on the 30th. Heaviest frost was minus 6.5 degrees also on the 30th. There were 3 air frosts and 24 ground frosts during the month.

Sunshine was below average for the monthh, 62.3 hours being recorded as against the average of 74.1 hours. There were 9 days during the month when no sunshine was recorded at all.

There were no cold spells during the month and apart from the very heavy rain on the 4th, nothing of any note occured.

Weather summary for Queenstown for May.

2011-06-01T18:41:00.001+12:00

May was drier than normal and very warm with far less sunshine than normal. Total rainfall for the month was 59.2 mm, well below the average of 77.5 mm. There were 14 days of rain with the heaviest fall being 21.6 mm on the 7th. This brings the average for the year to date to right on average at 352.3 mm.

It was the second warmest May ever recorded with 9.9 degrees, a staggering 2.8 degrees above the normal of 7.1 degrees. The warmest May in Queenstown was 10.3 degrees recorded in 2007. Highest maximum for the month was 19.2 degrees on the 11th; lowest minimum 2.2 degrees on the 29th and lowest grass minimum minus 2.6 degrees also on the 29th. There were no air frosts and only 4 ground frosts during the month.

Sunshine was well below average although not a record, 64.5 hours measured as against the normal of 91.7 hours.. Eight days during the month recorded no sunshine at all.

A decreasing La Nina event together with frequent subtropical airstreams from the north or northeast were responsible for the very warm temperatures over the country during May.

Weathert Summary for Queenstown for April.

2011-05-03T11:38:00.000+12:00

April was sunny and very dry in Queenstown with temperatures right on average.

Total rainfall amounted to only 22 per cent of normal, 16.2 mm was recorded as against an average of 73.6 mm. However after 3 wet months the rainfall total to the end of April is still above normal, 293.1 mm with the average beong 276.1 mm. There were 8 days of rain in April with the heaviest fall being 8.1 mm on the 22nd.

Mean temperature for the month was exactly normal again for the second consequative month, 10.8 degrees was measured. Highest temperature was 21.8 degrees on the 11th. Lowest minimum minus 0.2 degrees on the 27th and 28th and heaviest frost minus 5.6 degrees on the 28th. There were 7 frosts during the month.

With a very dry month, it was not surprising that sunshine figures were well up on the normal of 134.5 hours. Total sunshine for the month was 150.1 hours.

Several cold spells occured during the month with snow to quite low levels on the 4th and 5th. Snow lay at Artghurs Point on the 18th. A further cold spell on the 27th and 28th brought unseasonably cold temperatures with Arrowtown recording their heaviest frost for April ever recorded. Minus 12.1 degrees..

Monthly summary for March in Queenstown.

2011-04-03T12:14:00.001+12:00

Apart from the rainfall in Queenstown during March, the month was pretty much normal.

Rainfall was once again above normal, although not as much as the previous two months. Normal average for March is 71.6 mm with 85.1 mm being measured. Highest daily fall was 18.0 mm on the 25th with 12 rain days recorded during the month. This brings the total for the first 3 months of the year to 276.9 mm, well above the average of 202.5 mm.

Average temperature for March was right on normal of 14.0 degrees, the first time this has happened for a long time. Highest temperature was 25.2 degrees on the 13th, lowest temperature was 3.9 degrees on the 28th, while there were no frosts.

Total sunshine was very close to normal, 178.5 hours measued against the average of 184.3 hours.

Weather summary for Queenstown for February.

2011-03-02T16:39:00.000+13:00

February in Queenstown was wet and warm but sunshine was well below average.

Average temperature was recorded at 16.6 degrees, with the mean for the month being 15.9 degrees. Highest maximum recored was 28.0 degrees on the 6th, lowest minimum 7.3 degrees on the 9th and lowest grass minimum 2.3 degrees also on the 9th. Normally Queenstown averages 3 days in the summer when temperatures excede 30 degrees. This summer that has not happened with the highest recorded beong 29.2 degrees reached in January.

Rainfall carried on from a wet January with 81.1 mm of rain recorded, almost 50 per cent above the normal of 56.1mm for February. 12 days of rain fell with the heaviest being 33.3 mm on the 6th. This brings the total for the first 2 months of the year to 191.8 mm.

Sunshine was well below average with 173.9 hours being recorded, with the average for the month being 201.5 mm.

One thunderstorm occured on the 13th.

Weather statistics in Queenstown for January.

2011-02-02T10:51:00.001+13:00

January was a wet, warm and rather windy month in Queenstown. Rainfall of 110.7 mm was 50 per cent above the normal of 74.8 mm and although only 8 days of rain fell during the month, most of these were heavy falls. The heaviest daily fall was 41.0 mm on the 2nd and together with much heavier falls about the western ranges and headwaters of the major rivers, helped push the lake level above the first warning level. This stayed at this level for several days.

Mean temperature for the month was 1.2 degrees above normal with a mean of 17.1 degrees. Highest maximum was 29.2 degrees on the 16th and lowest minimum was 5.6 degrees on the 13th. Lowest grass minimum was 0.6 degrees also on the 13th.

Sunshine was right on average, 235.4 hours being recorded with the average being 235.6 hours.

It was also a rather winds month with 1 gale recorded in the town.

Monthly weather summary for Queenstown for December.

2011-01-02T11:42:00.001+13:00

December in Queenstown was warm and very wet. Average temperature for the month was once again almost 2 degrees above normal. 14.8 degrees being the average with 16.7 degrees being reached. Highest temperature for the month was 28.7 degrees on the 4th with the lowest minimum being 3.5 degrees on the 9th. There was 1 ground frost recorded, minus 3.0 degrees also on the 9th.

December was a very wet month with 153.1 mm of rain recorded as against the average of only 68.3 mm. 13 days of rain fell with the heaviest daily fall being 69.5 mm on the 27th. This was the highest 24 hour total since 73.5 mm on September 18th 2002 and bought the year`s total to 1014.5 mm. The average for the year is 835.1 mm.

Sunshine figures don`t mean very much as the first 10 days of the month were missing, due to the sunshine recorder being stolen. However sunshine hours would have been down a bit due to a considerable number of cloudy days and quite a lot of rainfall at times through the month.

Monthly weather summary for Queenstown for November 2010

2010-12-02T17:52:00.001+13:00

November was a very warm and very dry month. A total of just 13.1 mm of rain was recorded for the whole month against an average of 70.1 mm. There were only 5 days of rain with the heaviest fall being just 3.3 mm on the 21st. This was the 4th driest November on record with the lowest and previous driest being 8.4 mm in 1937.

This was an exceptionally warm month with the average temperature being 15.5 degrees as against an average of 12.5 degrees or 3 degrees above normal. There have been many temperatures well above normal in previous years but I don`t remember ever being 3 degrees above normal which must be a record temperature departure. The highest maximum temperature for the month was 29.8 degrees on the 28th. This was the hottest November day ever recorded in Queenstown, the previous highest being 29.3 degrees on both 2005 qnd 2008.

Sunshine figures were not available due to a thief stealing two sunshine recorders.

Weather Summary for October for Queenstown.

2010-11-02T11:46:00.001+13:00

October was a very warm, rather dry and very sunny month. Average temperature for the month was 1.4 degrees above normal, 12.0 degrees recorded as against the average of 10.6 degrees. Highest maximum was 25.2 degrees on the 31st, lowest minimum 0.2 degrees on the 20th and heaviest frost minus 5.1 degrees on the 12th. There were 15 ground frosts during the month.

Rainfal was well down on the normal, 60.5 mm recorded as against the average of 81.9 degrees. October is normally the wettest month of the year. Heaviest daily fall was 23.5 mm on the 8th and there were 10 days of rain.

It was also a very sunny month with sunshine figures 25 percent above normal. 239.5 hours were recorded as against the average of 192.4 hours. There were no days during the month when some sun wasn`t recorded.

There was one brief, cold snap on the 10th when snow fell to 500 metres and briefly fell in town. 2 to 3 cms lay on the ground in some parts of Arthurs Point overnight 10th and 11th.

Weather summary for Queenstown for September.

2010-10-02T10:48:00.001+13:00

September was a wet and snowy month with very little sunshine. Rainfall of 131.4 mm was well above the normal of 70.4 mm and fell on 20 days. Heaviest fall was 23.4 mm on the 16th. The month`s total brought the total to date this year to 787.8 mm and getting close to the average for the whole year.

For once the mean temperature recorded was not above the normal; 8.1 degrees was measured against the average of 8.2 degrees. Highest maximum reached was 17.0 on the 28th. Lowest screen minimum was minus 0.6 degrees on the 19th and heaviest frost was minus 6.1 degrees also on the 19th. There were 2 screen frosts and 18 ground frosts during the month.

Sunshine for the month of 118.6 hours was the third lowest for Septemer since records began. Previous lowest was 115.5 hours in September 2003 with the average for September being 159.9 hours.

Snow fell in the town on 6 days, although nothing lay. This was the highest number of snow days for September since records began.

Weather summary for Queenstown for August.

2010-09-02T18:13:00.001+12:00

Queenstown was wet but warm with sunshine below average for August.

Total rainfall for the month was 101.8 mm with the average being 59.0 mm. There were 15 days of rain with the heaviest being 19.8 mm on the 12th. Total for the year now stands at 656.4 mm.

It was a mild month with temperatures 1 degree above normal, 6.5 degrees against the average of 5.5 degrees. Highest maximum was 14.1 degrees on the 31st, lowest minimum minus 2.6 degrees on the 10th and heaviest frost minus 7.4 degrees also on the 10th. There were 22 days of ground frost and 3 days of screeen frost.

Sunshine figures were well below average, 104.0 hours were measured against the average of 120.3 hours.

During the month there were two cold snaps, one on the 8th which brought snow almost down to town level and the second on the 26th when snow fell to 900 metres.

Weather summary for Queenstown for July.

2010-08-25T16:57:00.000+12:00

July was a rather dry and very sunny month. Although snow continued to lie in patches over the first week of the month in town, it was still a warmer than normal month with temperatures almost 1 degree above normal. Mean temperature was 4.6 degrees against an average of 3.7 degrees. Highest maximum was 14.4 degrees on the 13th. Lowest air temperature was minus 4.2 degrees on the 11th and lowest grass minimum was minus 9.8 degrees also on the 11th. This was the hardest frost for 3 years. July recorded 31 ground frosts, one on every day of the month. This was an all time record.

Rainfall totalled 49.9 mm for the month with the heaviest fall of 25.1 mm on the 31st. Average for July is 56.6 mm. There were only 5 days of rain.

Sunshine was well above normal, 109.5 hours being recorded as against an average of 86.5 hours.

Weather summary for Queenstown for June.

2010-07-01T14:23:00.000+12:00

June was warmer, sunnier and drier than normal. Rainfall totalled 59.7 mm, a little down on the average of 67.0 mm with 10 days of rain falling. Heaviest daily fall was 20.3 mm on the 6th.

Temperatures were above normal, although a broken maximum thermometer over the last week upset the averages somewhat, as the last week was certainly colder than the rest of the month. Highest maximum was 16.4 degrees on the 19th, the lowest minimum was minus 2.8 degrees on the 9th and the heaviest frost was minus 7.8 degrees on the 27th.

Sunshine hours were over 14 hours above normal even though several days had no sun at all. Average sun for June is 74.1 hours whereas 88.5 hours were recorded.

During the month snow fell on 3 days with 3 cms measured on the 23rd, although greater totals occured at higher elevations. Snow was still lying in most sheltered places at the end of the month.

Queenstown weather summary for May.

2010-06-01T18:24:00.001+12:00

May weather readings were all very close to normal except the mean temperatures which were once again above normal.

Rainfall recorded 73.7 mm, very close to the average of 77.5 mm. Heaviest fall was 14.1 mm on the 12th with 13 days of rain measured.

Temperatures were 1.1 degrees above average; 8.2 degrees as against the average of 7.1 degrees. Highest maximum was 19.1 degrees on the 10th. Lowest minimum 0.0 degrees on the 22nd and lowest grass minimum minus 2.7 degrees on the 31st. There were no screen frosts but 13 ground frosts.

Sunshine was also very close to normal, 83.7 hours measured compared to 91.7 hours as an average.

Snow was observed in Queenstown on 2 occasions, lying to 700 metres on the 29th.

Queenstown Weather Summary for April 2010.

2010-05-01T17:25:00.001+12:00

April was extremely wet and very warm in Queenstown. Also like March it was well down in sunshine hours. Total rainfall was more than 100 mm above normal. Average for April is 73.6 mm while 175.9 mm was recorded. Heaviest daily fall was 67.6 mm on the 25th, the highest daily fall since September 18th 2002 when 73.5 mm was recorded. Although a very high monthly total was measured, it occured on only 11 days, with some days having brief but heavy rainfall totals.

Temperatures once again were above average, this time by one and a half degrees. Average temperature is 10.8 degrees with 12.3 degrees being measured. Highest maximum was 23.2 degrees on the 1st, the lowest 2.4 degrees on the 7th and lowest grass minimum minus 2.7 degrees also on the 7th. There were 5 days of ground frosts.

Sunshine was below average by 14 per cent; 134.5 hours being the average while 116.4 hours actually recorded.

Weather Summary for March in Queenstown.

2010-04-02T11:58:00.001+13:00

March was cloudy, warm and a little wetter than normal.

Rainfall was 14 per cent up on the average. 81.8 mm was recorded as against the average of 71.6 mm. 10 days of rain occured with the heaviest fall being 29.2 mm on the 1st. Most of the rain was was recorded on 3 days the other 2 days were the 21st and 23rd with 23.6mm and 21.2 mm respectively. A very violent and prolonged thunderstorm was recorded overnight of the 21st and 22nd, lasting from 11.45pm to 5am, bringing power cuts to the district.

Temperatures were again well above average, 15.2 degrees being recorded with the average being 14.0 degrees. The highest maximum was on the 8th with a very warm 29.8 degrees being reached. This was the second highest March temperature ever recorded for Queenstown; highest was 30.7 degrees on March 19th 2008. Lowest minimum temperature was 4.7 degrees on the 13th and lowest grass minimum minus 0.7 degrees on the 18th.

Sunshine was considerably below normal, 166.8 hours being measured against the average of 184.3 hours

Weather Summary for Queenstown for February 2010

2010-03-01T19:44:00.001+13:00

The last month of summer was hot, dry and sunny in Queenstown. In fact it was hotter, drier and sunnier than January, which is normally Queenstown`s mid summer month.

Rainfall was exactly half the normal for February, 28.1 mm recorded as against the average of 56.1 mm. Only 5 days of rain were measured with the heaviest fall being 12.2 mm on the 12th. This compares with 85.5 mm recorded the previous month. It was the driest since February 2007 when 22.0 mm was reacorded.

Mean temperature for the month was a massive 2.6 degrees above normal with 18.5 degrees recorded, well above the average of 15.9 degrees, and still well above the total of 17.0 degrees recorded in January. This was the warmest February since 1971 when 18.9 degrees was recorded. During the first 6 days of the month, temperatures exceeded 30 degrees on 5 of the days, with the highest being 33.0 degrees on the 6th, second highest February temperature ever recorded; the highest being 33.4 degrees in 1990.

Sunshine was also well above average with 228.7 hours beoing measured, the average being 201.5 hours. This was also well above the total reached in January of 214.7 hours. Fine anticyclonic conditions prevailed for much of the month and was responsible for this weather.

Weather Summary for Queenstown for January 2010.

2010-02-02T10:37:00.001+13:00

The first half of January was cool and very cloudy with most of the month`s rainfall falling in this period. Summer finally arrived in the second half with warm, mostly dry weather.

Total rainfall for the month at 85.5 mm was 15 per cent above the normal of 74.8 mm with rain falling on 17 days.

After a cool start, temperatures finished up 1.1 degrees above normal at 17.0 degrees with the highest being 30.5 degrees on the 29th, lowest minimum was 5.5 degrees on the 8th and lowest grass minimum 2.0 degrees on the 5th.

Sunshine for the month at 214.7 hours was 10 per cent below the normal of 235.6 hours.

It was also a rather windy month with cool west to southwesterly winds during the first 10 days bringing snow to quite low levels on the mountains on the 8th and 9th. Hail was also recorded in Queenstown on the 8th.

Weather Summary for December in Queenstown.

2010-01-01T12:58:00.001+13:00

Rainfall and temperatures were slightly above normal while sunshine was considerably below normal for December in Queenstown. Rainfall totalled 74.4 mm as against the average of 68.3 mm, recorded over 14 days, with the heaviest daily fall being 28.8 mm on the 8th. This brought the total for the year to 853.1 mm, slightly above the avrerage of 835.6 mm.

Although rather cool around the middle of the month, temperatures finished up half a degree above average, 15.3 degrees was measured with the average being 14.8 degrees. Highest maximum was 27.0 degrees on the 18th; lowest minimum 4.5 degrees on the 15th and lowest grass minimum minus 0.6 degrees on the 4th.

Sunshine figures were well below average, only 200.5 hours being recorded with the avreage being 233.5 hours. This was 14 per cent below normal and was the cloudiest December since 2005 when 186.7 hours was recorded.

Little of any real note occurred during the month although light snow fell to low levels on the mountains on the 13th, while on the 18th a particularly strong north to northwesterly gale occurred, which did some minor damage and unroofed a house.

Weather Summary for Queenstown for November.

2009-12-01T17:25:00.001+13:00

November in Queenstown was warm, dry and very sunny. Total rainfall recorded was 25.4 mm or just over a third of the average for the month of 71.8 mm. Heaviest fall was just 10.2 mm on the 27th with 9 days of rain recorded. Total rain for the year now stands at 778.7 mm which is very close to the average to date of 766.8 mm.

Average temperatures quite surprisingly were considerably above normal by 1 and a half degrees, considering temperatures over the latter part of the month were quite cool. Normal mean temperature for November is 12.5 degrees with 14.0 degrees being recorded. Highest maximum temperature was 26.3 degrees on the 23rd. Lowest minimum was 3.2 degrees on the 18th with the heaviest ground frost being minus 2.7 degrees also on the 18th.

With the lack of rainfall fine sunny days gave us one of the sunniest Novembers on record with 265.4 hours recorded as against the average of 210.6 hours.

It was also a very windy month as well as recording some extremely low humidities. On the 27th at 9am the humidity reading was 36 per cent, the lowest probably ever recorded at this time of the day athough no records exist for humidities. Later that day a thunderstorm occured.

Weather summary for October in Queemstown.

2009-11-01T15:44:00.001+13:00

Queenstown`s weather for October was below normal in everything. The rainfall total for the month was 60.4 mm well below the average of 83.2 mm and October is normally the wettest month of the year in Queenstown. However the total to date of 753.3 mm is still a little above the normal of 695.0 mm to the end of October. Heaviest daily fall for the month was 26.0 mm on the 16th and there were 12 days of rain.

For once the average temperature was somewhat below normal, 9.9 degrees being recorded whereas the average is 10.6 degrees. One or two very cool days occured with snow falling briefly in the town on 3 days and even an air temperature of minus 0.5 degrees on the 5th which is unusual. Highest maximum temperatures of 20.9 degrees occured on both the 15th and 31st. Apart from the lowest air minimum of minus 0.5 degrees there were 15 days of ground frosts, also an ususually large number. Heaviest frost was minus 6.5 degrees on the 5th.

Sunshine was just a little below average, 187.2 hours against the normal of 192.4 hours.

Weather summary for Queenstown for September.

2009-10-01T16:56:00.001+13:00

Weather in Queenstown during September was rather dry with temperatures once again well above average. Total rainfall for the month was 33.4 mm, less than half the normal of 70.4 mm, although after some previous wet months we are still above normal for the first nine months of the year with our total standing at 692.9 mm. Heaviest daily fall last month was 18.2 mm on the 1st with a total of 11 days of rain, most of the remainder being very light.

Temperatures were above average by 1.3 degrees, the average for September being 8.2 degrees while 9.5 degrees was recorded. Although this is a significant departure, it was not as great as the 1.8 degree departure of last month. Highest recorded for last month was a very warm 23.5 degrees on the 14th with the lowest recorded being minus 1.3 degrees on the 4th and the lowest grass minimum or frost being minus 6.2 degrees. During the month there were 4 days of air frost and 15 days of ground frost.

Although low rainfall was recorded the sunshine hours didn`t represent this and were still below average. 146.0 hours was measured with the normal for the month being 159.9 hours.

During the month 2 days of snow were recorded, just brief showers on the 1st and 2nd although considerable falls were measured to low levels on the 2nd. Arthurs Point recorded 8cm lying on the 2nd and this remained on the ground in patches until the 6th. Light snow also fell to low levels on the 23rd and 25th. On the 14th north to northwesterly winds reached gale force at times otherwise the month was generally rather pleasant.

Weather statistics for Queenstown for August.

2009-09-01T16:16:00.001+12:00

August in Queenstown was very wet, cloudy and warm with little wind. Rainfall of 154.4 mm was two and a half times the normal of 60.3 mm and the wettest August since 1991 when 330.2 mm fell, which was the wettest August ever. Rain fell on 20 days during the month with the heaviest daily fall of 33.1 mm on the 11th. Total to date this year is 659.5 mm, well above the normal to date of 537.4 mm.

Temperatures were also well above normal, 7.3 degrees as against the normal of 5.5 degrees. Previous warmest August was in 2005 when 7.5 degrees was recorded. Highest maximum last month was 15.4 degrees on the 23rd, lowest minimum was minus 0.6 degrees on the 6th and heaviest frost of minus 5.2 degrees also on the 6th. During the month there were 16 frosts and 2 days of air frost.

With the very wet month it was not surprising that sunshine was well below normal. The average for August is 120.3 hours while only 104.6 hours was recorded. This was the lowest figure since back in 1984 when 85.0 hours was recorded.

Weather Summary for Queenstown for July.

2009-08-01T17:26:00.001+12:00

July was very dry over the first half of the month but the last 2 weeks more than made up for the earlier dry period with well over the month`s average falling during this period. Normal rainfall for July is 56.6 mm while 78.7 mm was recorded for the month. Heaviest fall for the month was 27.0 mm on the 22nd with 15 days of rain recorded. Total for the first 7 months of the year is 505.1 mm with the average being 477.1 mm.

The first half of the month was cold with the second half warming up to give an average overall for the month of 4.0 degrees or 0.3 degrees above normal. Highest maximum was 13.3 degrees on the 18th, lowest minimum minus 3.8 degrees on the 13th and hardest frost minus 7.8 degrees on the 2nd. There were 21 screen frosts and 25 ground frosts.

Eight days of the month saw little if any sunshine, so not surprisingly sunshine was well below normal. 71.2 hours measured against the average of 86. 5 hours. Snow fell on 1 day during the month with 1 thunderstorm recorded on the 21st.

Queenstown Weather Summary for June.

2009-07-03T10:22:00.001+12:00

June was a very cold, very frosty and very dry month with the third lowest rainfall total for June since records began in 1878. Average rainfall for Queenstown for June is 67.0 mm wheras last month just one sixth of that fell or a mere 11.5 mm on just 4 days. The 2 years when June rainfall was lower were 1900 and 1997, both with 7.6 mm. Rainfall for Queenstown for the first 6 months of the year is 426.4 mm, still somewhat above normal.

Average temperature was 3.7 degrees or 0.7 degrees below normal. Air frosts were recorded on 20 days with the normal being 13 days, while ground frosts occured on 28 days with 20 being the normal for the month. Highest maximum temperature was 13.6 degrees on the 11th, lowest minimum minus 4.0 degrees on the 22nd and heaviest frost minus 8.2 degrees also on the 22nd.

The only record that was normal last month was the sunshine hours. Average sun for June is 74.0 hours while last month we had 77.4 hours.

Queenstown weather statistics for May.

2009-06-01T12:29:00.001+12:00

May was a month of extremes for Queenstown in rain, temperatures and sunshine. Rainfall was 130 per cent above normal, 173.3 mm recorded as against an average of 77.5 mm. Heaviest 24 hour fall was 56.3 mm on the 16th, the heaviest daily fall since the 18th September 2002 when 73.5 mm fell. The 3 consecutive days 14th to the 16th produced 117.6 mm, again the heaviest 3 day fall since the 17th to 19th September 2002 when 125.4 mm was recorded. This brings the total to date for Queenstown this year to 414.9 mm, well above average. Rain fell on 17 days last month.

It was more a winter month than an autumn month with the mean temperature being a massive 2.7 degrees below normal. 4.4 degrees was recorded as against the average of 7.1 degrees. This was the second coldest May ever recorded in Queenstown, the coldest being 4.1 degrees way back in 1959. There were 5 days when air temperatures dropped below zero. The coldest being minus 1.1 degrees on the 27th and 28th. Normallly there are only 3.

Sunshine or lack of it nearly set some records. A very low total of 63.2 hours was measured, the lowest May total since 2001 when 58.1 hours was measured. This was the 4th lowest sunshine ever measured in Queenstown for May, the lowest being 55.7 hours back in May 1933.

Last month 1 day of hail was recorded as well as 4 days when snow fell briefly, normally there is only 1 day in May when snow falls.

Weather Summary for Queenstown for April.

2009-05-02T11:00:00.001+12:00

April in Queenstown was a pleasant autumn month with a couple of colder outbreaks during the month which perhaps promised the advent of an early winter but didn`t really amount to much.

Most of the rainfall occured during the first week amounting to almost the monthly average and with a little rain in the last week it brought the total rain for the month to 79.9 mm or 9 per cent above the average of 73.6 mm. Heaviest fall was 34.9 mm on the 6th and there were 12 days of rain. Total for the first four months now is 241.6 mm as against the average of 277.0 mm

Temperatures were above normal as usual, this month by 0.8 degrees. Mean for the month was 11.6 degrees. Highest maximum was 23.3 degrees on the 16th. Lowest minimum 1.6 degrees on the 10th and 21st, and of the 6 frosts the heaviest was minus 3.2 degrees on the 21st.

Considering that there was no sunshine on 3 out of the 4 last days of the month, it was surprising that sunshine figures were above average, 142.6 hours being recorded as against the average pf 134.5 hour.

Queenstown weather statistics for March.

2009-04-01T21:35:00.001+13:00

Apart from an unseasonable cold spell during the second week of the month, temperatures were slightly above normal for March at 14.4 degrees which was 0.4 degrees above normal. Highest maximum temperature was 25.9 degrees on the 4th, lowest 2.1 degrees on the 22nd and heaviest frost minus 2.6 degrees also on the 22nd.

Rainfall was over 30 per cent below normal at 49.4 mm, with the normal being 71.6 mm. It is already a dry year so far, 161.7 mm recorded with the first 3 months average being 202.4 mm. 10 days of rain fell during March with the heaviest fall being 18.4 mm on the 27th.

Sunshine was very close to average 181.1 hours as against the average of 184.3 hours

Weather statistics for February in Queenstown.

2009-03-01T12:25:00.001+13:00

February was rather disappointing for the last month of summer with the whole summer in general nothing like last year. Although rainfall was below average, so too was the temperature and sunshine.

Rainfall totalled 43.1 mm with the average for February being 56.1. There were 12 days of rain with the heaviest daily fall being 11.0 mm on the 20th.

Average temperature for the month was 15.5 degrees with the average for February being 15.9 degrees. This was the first month our temperature has been below normal since May of last year. Highest daily maximum was 29.1 degrees on the 5th with the lowest being 3.4 degrees on the 14th. Also on the 14th a frost of minus 1.4 degrees was recorded with frosts very unusual in February.

Sunshine was down by a massive 15 percent last month, 170.1 hours only being recorded with the average being 201.5 hours. There were 4 consecutive days from the 20th to the 23rd when no sun was recorded at all; again unheard of in a summer month.

A couple of dustings of snow were observed on the Remarkables during the mornth.

Weather Readings in Queenstown for January.

2009-02-04T10:34:00.001+13:00

January was a warm but cloudy month with the mean temperatures 1.4 degrees abover normal. Average temperature for January is 15.9 degrees with 17.3 degrees being recorded. Highest temperature for the month was 30.5 degrees on the 24th with one other day when the temperature reached 30.0 degrees. Although above average temperature, it was very much cooler than January last year which was the equal hottest month ever recorded, being 3.4 degrees above normal and reaching over 30 degrees on 6 occasions.

Last month was 10 per cent below normal in sunshine with 212.9 hours being recorded. However it was almost 100 hours below January of last year when 308.8 hours was recorded.

Rainfall was very close to the normal of 74.8 mm with 69.2 mm being reached.

Monthly weather statistics for Queenstown for December.

2009-01-02T10:48:00.001+13:00

December in Queenstown was a wet month with rainfall well above average. Up to the end of November Queenstown had been a rather dry year but December tried hard to make up for it although still didn`t get to the average for the year. December`s average for Queenstown is 68.3 mm with the total which fell being 101.1 mm. This brought the total for the year to 799.4 mm with the average being 835.1 mm. Heaviest daily fall was 19.6 mm on the 31st with 16 raindays being recorded during the month.

Temperatures continue to be above average although not to such a great extent last month. 15.1 degrees being recorded with the average being 14.8 degrees. Highest maximum for the month was 28.8 degrees on the 23rd. Lowest minimum 3.8 degrees on the 13th and 1 frost was recorded on the 5th of minus 1.3 degrees.

It was a cloudy month with sunshine 12 per cent below average, 206.1 hours being measured with the average being 233.5 hours.

Apart from the above average rainfall and somewhat lower sunshine total it was a pretty normal month for the first month of summer.

Weather Readings for Queenstown for November.

2008-12-01T14:48:00.001+13:00

November in Queenstown was a rather changeable month with one or two extremes. Rainfall was fairly close to normal with 66.6 mm being recorded as against the average of 71.8 mm. although there were only 8 days of rain. Heaviest fall was 35.2 mm on the 16th. Total for the year to date now is 698.3 mm. The 5th and 6th of the month saw a very cold outbreak with snow to exceptionally low levels. It lay almost to town level but some parts of the district saw up to 6cm lying with much of it still lying next morning.

Temperatures were once again well above average, 13.8 degrees recorded with the average being 12.5 degrees. The highest temperature for the month was 29.3 degrees on the 14th, this figure being the equal hottest day ever recored in the town in November. The previous hottest day for November was 2005. Lowest minimum air temperature of 0.6 degrees on the 8th with 7 frosts recorded, the heaviest being minus 5.0 also on the 8th.

It was also a sunny month with sunshine hours being above average by nearly 9 per cent. 227.3 hours was measured with the average being 210.6 hours.

Weather summary for October.

2008-11-02T10:54:00.001+13:00

October in Queenstown was slightly above normal in temperature and also drier. It was also a very sunny month.

Average temperature for the month was 10.9 degrees or 0.3 degrees abover normal. It was also a month of contrasts with the maximum temperature of 24.1 degrees on the 27th with the lowest air temperature just 0.9 degrees on the 19th. There were still 14 ground frosts with the heaviest minus 5.9 degrees also on the 19th.

Rainfall for the month was below average by 20 per cent, 68.0 mm recorded with the average being 83.2 mm. This brings the total to date to 631.7 mm with over 200 mm needed over the next 2 months to bring the average up to date.

Sunshine total was 234.9 hours, well above the average for October of 192.4 hours and was the sunniest October since 1995 when 235.5 hours was recorded.

During the month Queenstown had 1 thunderstorm on the 4th, snow was observed to fall briefly on the 7th and hail was recorded during a wintry outhreak on the 25th.

August 2008 weather overview...

2008-09-02T10:43:00.000+12:00

Certainly the most wintry of all 3 months of winter although mean temperature for the month was still 0.2 degrees above normal. Mean temperature was 5.7 degrees with the average being 5.5 degrees. Highest maximum temperature for the month was 17.7 degrees on the 31st. The lowest minimum air temperature was minus 3.3 degrees on the 20th and lowest ground frost was minus 7.5 degrees also on the 20th. There were 12 days of air frosts and 26 days of ground frosts, slightly more than the average of 23 days.

Again Queenstown was one of the few places in the country that recorded lower than average rainfall, 52.6 mm as against the average of 60.3 mm. Rainfall to date this year is now well below average by more than 100 mm. Total to date is 434.5 mm with the average being 537.4 Snow fell in Queenstown on 7 days last month, an unusually high number for the month of August, in fact high for any month. It lay in the town for 3 days, much longer in some suburbs. Hail fell on 2 days with 1 thunderstorm recorded on the 22nd of the month.

Sunshine was just a little below average, 114.2 hours being recorded as against the average of 120.3 hours.

Monthly weather statistics for the Queenstown and Wanaka areas - New Zealand

2008-09-01T22:19:00.001+12:00

Welcome to this new page featuring weather statistics published by David Crow.

This page is new as of the first day of spring 2008, and until it's populated with data, we thought you might enjoy this link...

Donald was recently on a yachting expedition to Preservation Inlet in Fiordland, where he visited the historic Puysegur Point Lighthouse that played such an important part in weather forecasting not very long ago...more>>