Last year ended with December having 34% less rain than usual and the first month of 2025 mirrored that exactly with 34% less rainfall across the region in January. This was particularly the case in South Taranaki with the monitoring station at Kaupokonui at Glenn Rd recording 59% less than usual. The district also saw the highest soil temperature with 28.1°C at Waitōtara at Rimunui Station on 22 January. Mean river flows for January were 40.1% lower than typical values, low flows were 11.6%
The dryer than normal year continued last month with an average of 41% less rain than usual in Taranaki. The average rainfall total for the month was 104.5mm and there was 62% less rain at Kotare at OSullivans, and 12% less at Kaupokonui at Glenn Rd. Year-to-date rainfall is lowest at Waitotara at Hawken Rd with 43% less rainfall than usual and on average there has been 19% less than normal across all rain gauges. Mean river flows for May were 40.8% lower than typical values, low flows were
Map 1a. YTD total rain (mm) and percentage of long-term mean.
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Table 1: Rainfall monthly and year to date totals at 27 rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
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December Year to Date
Rain gauge # days
with rain
Total rain
(mm)
% of typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of typical
full year
Records
Began
N Egmont VC 15 365.0 61 8117.5 118 118 1991
Dawson Falls 16 383.0 88 8349.0 141 141 1933
Kahui
Summer is (allegedly) on the way, you can tell because between downpours it’s warmer than winter. On the plus side the spring rains have brought a riot of colour to Tūpare. The rhododendrons have had a spectacular start to the summer season and the hydrangeas are close behind. Hydrangeas thrive in Taranaki’s mild, damp climate and this year has been the best for a while. Personally, I think the blues have never been more vibrant. I’ve often speculated whether the low light levels associated
rain (mm) and percentage of long-term mean
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Table 1: October 2022 - Rainfall totals at 27 rain gauge sites in Taranaki
Hydro_Sites # days
with rain
Total rain
(mm)
% of typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of typical
full year
Records
Began
N Egmont VC 21 469.0 62 6997.0 120 101 1991
Dawson Falls 19 501.5 94 7332.0 145 124 1933
Kahui Hut 21 306.0 60 5265.0 121 101 2006
Forest Hill 16 289.0 91 3798.5 128 106
As the soil temperature drops and the rain falls, we eagerly embark on our year-long, much-anticipated winter projects. Winter is a season of opportunities at Hollard Garden. It’s the perfect time to relocate shrubs and trees to better locations, divide Hostas, Heliniums, Rudbeckias and other herbaceous perennials and finally allow potted plants to spread their roots into the subsoil. As the soil temperature drops and the rain falls, we eagerly embark on our year-long, much-anticipated winter
Map1a. YTD total rain (mm) and percentage of long-term mean
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Table 1: Table 1: Rainfall monthly and year to date totals at 27 rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
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November Year to Date
Hydro_Sites # days
with rain
Total rain
(mm)
% of typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of typical
full year
Records
Began
N Egmont VC 24 755.5 154 7752.5 123 112 1991
Dawson Falls 26 634.0 151 7966.0 146 135 1933
Taranaki.
August Year to Date
Rain Gauge
# days
with
rain
Total
Rainfall
(mm)
% of
typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of
typical full
year
Records
Began
North Egmont at Visitors
Centre 19 1843.5 279 5954.5 139 89 1991
Dawson Falls 20 1801.0 387 6322.0 211 140 1933
Kapoaiaia at Kahui Hut 20 1237.5 264 4526.5 143 92 2006
Mangorei Upper at Forest
Hill 16 665.5 162 3240.5 139 91 2017
Waiwhakaiho at
Hillsborough
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Map1: Rain gauge sites
Table 1: Rainfall monthly and year to date totals at 27 rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
July Year to Date
Hydro_Sites
# Zero
Rain
days
Total
Rainfall
(mm)
% of
typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of typical
full year
Records
Began
North Egmont at
Visitors Centre 6 1196.0 179.9 4111.000 113.9 61.1 1991
Dawson Falls 4 1418.5 296.4 4521.000 178.9 100.5
of long-term mean.
Table 1: Rainfall monthly and year to date totals at 27 rain gauge sites in Taranaki.
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September Year to Date
Hydro_Sites # days
with rain
Total rain
(mm)
% of typical
month
Total to
date (mm)
% of typical
year to date
% of typical
full year
Records
Began
N Egmont VC 22 573.5 87 6528.0 129 95 1991
Dawson Falls 24 508.5 91 6830.5 151 116 1933
Kahui Hut 24 432.5