Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand
February dominated by a historic storm mid-month
February will be remembered for the “Valentine’s Storm” – a low-pressure system originating in the subtropics which deepened dramatically as it stalled near and to the east of the country in the middle of the month. Another low-pressure system with more limited impacts opened the month, and these two depressions dominate the overall monthly pressure anomaly. However, in between these systems there were some prolonged periods of settled weather over New Zealand.
Further highlights:
- The highest temperature was 33.6°C, observed at Hastings on 2 February.
- The lowest temperature was -0.7°C, observed at Waipara River North Branch on 28 February.
- The highest 1-day rainfall was 243 mm, recorded at Akaroa on 16 February.
- The highest wind gust was 241 km/h, observed at Cape Turnagain on 16 February.
- Of the six main centres, Tauranga was the sunniest, Auckland was the driest and warmest, Wellington was the wettest, and Dunedin was the coolest and least sunny.
- The sunniest four regions in 2026 so far are wider Nelson (555 hours), Taranaki (536 hours), Bay of Plenty (535 hours), and Tasman (529 hours).
