Weather Eye with John Maunder

Rainfalls for the month of February have been recorded in Tauranga since 1898 (except for 1904, 1908, and 1909).

The graph of February rainfalls in Tauranga shows the range of rainfalls from a high of 343mm in 1936 to a low of only 7mm in 1973 and 2011.

The graph shows predominantly "normal" variations from year to year.

However, the average rainfall for Tauranga for February during the 50 years 1961-2010 was 10mm less than the average rainfall during the previous 50 years 1911-1960.

Nine February months have had a rainfall of less than 15mm. Nine February months also have had a rainfall of 200mm or more.

The wettest February was 1936 with 343mm, and the second wettest February was 2001 when 268mm was recorded.

The driest February month was 1973 with 7mm, and the February months of 1942, 1987, and 2011 each had a rainfall of 8mm.

The rainfall for February 2014 was 64mm. The long-term February rainfall for Tauranga is 90mm.

In chronological order, the wettest nine February months were 1920, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1960, 1966, 2001, and 2004.

In chronological order, the driest nine February months were 1942, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2010, and 2011.

For further information on climate matters please Google ‘Dr John Maunder'