September turned out to be another dry month, with the region receiving only around 60% of its normal rainfall.
Rainfall was well below normal across most areas, with the Heretaunga Plains and Southern Hawke’s Bay receiving only
35% and 38% of average rainfall, while the Ruahine Range was the only area to record above average numbers at 130%
of normal September rainfall. The regional hydrology also mirrored these rainfall patterns, with river flows across most
catchments dropping to less than half of their typical September levels. Groundwater conditions, which had shown
slight recovery in August, deteriorated again this month, particularly across the Heretaunga Plains, with some sites in
both the Heretaunga and Ruataniwha Plains recording lowest ever levels for the time of the year. Soil moisture levels
also echoed the dry conditions, sitting near or below average across the region.
On a positive note, air quality remained good, with no exceedances of PM10 standards recorded in any of the airsheds
this month. Temperatures brought a more spring like feel, with warmer than average days and slightly above average
nights for most of the region- hinting at warmer times ahead!
