April delivered Hawke’s Bay near normal rainfall after being a little underdone over the past couple of months. The western ranges benefited the most, while the Wairoa area wasn’t so lucky and received only half the month’s average rainfall.
Soil moisture across the region is near or above median levels for mid-autumn. Bridge Pa, on the Heretaunga Plains, and Porangahau are the main exceptions. Both are below median levels for the time of year and have been for about the last four months, meandering near wilting point for most of it. Despite the rain hitting the ranges, river flows during April were below normal. Groundwater levels were mostly normal on the Ruataniwha Plains but evenly split between near and below normal on the Heretaunga Plains. Air temperatures were very warm for April, especially overnight temperatures, which were 2.5°C above average.
The El Nino-Southern Oscillation is neutral and is expected to remain neutral throughout winter. That situation may continue through spring and summer, with no clear picture of an El Niño or La Niña emerging yet. There aren’t many key influences on our weather currently, though sea temperatures are above average for the time of year around New Zealand and through the Tasman Sea. Seasonal forecast models tend to place us in an area of near normal sea level pressure and largely opt for near normal rainfall and near or above average temperatures. Hopefully, the next three months are as uneventful as it seems they might be.
All the best,
Kathleen
