Story: Climate

Mean annual rainfall, 1971–2000

Mean annual rainfall, 1971–2000

There are striking regional differences in New Zealand’s rainfall. The most extreme is in the South Island. Weather blowing in from the Tasman Sea is caught by the Southern Alps, and drops very heavy rain on the West Coast. In the rain shadow on the other side of the alps, 100 kilometres east, some of New Zealand’s driest conditions occur.

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NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

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How to cite this page:

Brett Mullan, Andrew Tait and Craig Thompson, 'Climate - Regional climates', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram/7735/mean-annual-rainfall-1971-2000 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Brett Mullan, Andrew Tait and Craig Thompson, published 12 Jun 2006