New Zealand records warmest winter in wake of flooding

For the third year in a row, New Zealand recorded its warmest winter since temperature records began in 1909

New Zealand has experienced its warmest and wettest winter on record, scientists said Friday in the wake of widespread flooding last month on the South Island.

For the third year in a row, New Zealand recorded its warmest winter since temperature records began in 1909.

Researchers at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said the average temperature nationwide was 9.8°C (49.64° F), which was 1.4°C warmer than average.

Institute scientist Nava Fedaeff said climate change “is strongly contributing to New Zealand’s temperature trend”.

For the first time, temperatures were more than 1.2°C higher than average in all three winter months.

Of New Zealand’s 10 warmest winters on record, six have occurred since 2013.

This winter was also the wettest since rainfall records started in 1971.