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National | Environment

Temperature records broken throughout NZ

This month's freezing weather has eventuated in many temperature records around New Zealand.

The temperature reached just 5.2°C on July 6 At South West Cape, the southernmost point on Stewart Island. This was the third lowest for July for this location since records began in 1991.

In contrast, at the opposite end of the country at Cape Reinga the temperatures reached 10.8°C on July 10, but this was the lowest daily maximum July temperature there since 1971.

Lowest daily maximum temperatures were also recorded at Kaitaia, Port Taharoa, Waione and Ngawi.

Northlanders have also been feeling the cold with Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Warkworth all recording the lowest July temperature on record. Kaitaia's lowest daily minimum was 0°C on July 11, Kerikeri's -0.7°C on July 12 and Warkworth's -2.3°C also on July 12.

To the King Country, Te Kuiti plummeted to -4.9°C overnight on July 13, marking it as the coldest July temperature for the town since records began in 1959.  Te Kuiti has in fact observed its two-lowest July temperatures on record over the past three days: -4.5°C was recorded on July 11 which is its second-lowest July temperature.

Greymouth made it's mark in the history books as they reached a minimum of -2.6°C on July 9. This is the coldest July temperature there since records began in 1947.

NIWA climate scientist Gregor Macara said the cold weather was caused by a cold southerly flow that brought icy showers and snow last week, followed by a high pressure system bringing clear skies and little wind to most of the country.