Story: Nelson region

Wind roses

A wind rose is a graphic representation of a locality’s wind climate. Nelson and Wellington are on the same latitude, and only 127 km apart as the crow flies, yet their climates are quite different. Prevailing westerlies are funnelled through Cook Strait, making Wellington New Zealand’s windiest city. Nelson, on the other hand, is sheltered by a horseshoe of mountains and is one of the country’s calmest cities. The predominant wind is a south-westerly.

Source: E. Brenstrum, The New Zealand weather book. Nelson: Craig Potton, 1998, p. 98.

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Nelson region - Climate and environment', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/28809/wind-roses (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, updated 1 Aug 2015