It was no picnic in Nelson yesterday In the last month we have seen extremes in weather across the South Island, from only a couple of weeks ago when we were experiencing the lows of morning frosts to the last few days here in Canterbury when temperatures have peaked at just over 30C.
Yesterday across Nelson and Marlborough there was torrential rain and flooding. In vineyards around the region between 30-50mm rain fell during the day. In Nelson some vineyards were flooded. We have yet to hear how this may have affected vine flowering.
Contrast that to Waipara with 30C yesterday and where less than 10mm rain has fallen in the last month. Weather forecasters are now predicting a hot dry summer with drought-like conditions through until at least February. The start to the season has been likened to that of 1997-98 which was one of the hotter vintages on record.
Central Otago has seen some moderate-to-heavy frost damage so crop levels will be down in the region but overall the season start is promising with low rainfall and a steady building in temperatures. GDD for the last month have been only around 40 compared to Waiparas 140 and Marlboroughs 110. Expect Central to gain quickly through the summer though as the semi-Continental climate starts to produce those intensely hot summer days. Central Otago town Alexandra is regularly the hottest, driest town in NZ through each summer.
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