Distant New Zealand has always aroused the interest of many people. Due to its geographical position, this state is an isolated territory for the whole world. The entire population of the country mainly lives on two large islands - North and South. New Zealand's climate conditions are quite unique as they are influenced by many factors.
New Zealand: climate and main factors of influence
The country's climate is mostly even and humid. There is only slight temperature fluctuation in the region. True, the climatic conditions vary slightly from one region to another. This can be partly explained by the fact that the territory of the state has a longitudinal extent. In this regard, in the north, the climate of New Zealand is subtropical humid, and in the southern regions it is temperate.
For the formation of the climate of this distant state, the mountain ranges of the Southern Alps, which are located in the west and in the center of the country, play an important role. This mountainthe chain reliably protects the east coast from winds blowing from the west.
New Zealand: climate of the North and South Islands
In general, the climate of the North Island is more favorable. A significant distance from the equator, high mountains and the proximity of cold seas - all this led to more severe weather conditions on the South Island. Strong cold winds are observed in the highlands of both islands, and precipitation in the form of snow is also frequent here. Almost the entire population of the country lives in areas that are within 600 meters above sea level, so they are not afraid of eternal snow.
Weight is high on New Zealand's west coast. The Canterbury Plains is a drier area that is often blown by both warm, dry winds and cold, accompanied by rain.
On the North Island, apart from the inland mountainous areas, winters and summers are fairly mild with moderate to heavy rainfall.
New Zealand climate by months
The hottest months are February, December and January. The coldest months are June, July and August respectively. The average winter temperature in the north of New Zealand is about 12°C and 5°C in the south. In mountainous areas in July, the temperature can drop to an average of -2 ° C, rarely there are frosts down to -12 ° C. The average January temperature in the North Island is 19°C, in the South Island 14°C. Temperature maximum - 31 ° C (recorded on the Auckland Peninsula).
New Zealand: climate and winds
This state is characterized by westerly winds, which are associated with cyclones. They often bring precipitation that falls on the west coast of New Zealand. The eastern parts of the islands are well protected from the winds by mountain systems, so there is less rainfall here. Snowstorms are frequent in the most extreme areas of the southern island.
New Zealand: small island climate
Most of the small islands (Auckland, Stewart, Kermadec and others), which are located in the Tasman Sea, are characterized by a tropical climate. The reason for this is the relatively warm East Australian Current.
As you can see, the climatic conditions in this country are very different. The climate of the region strongly depends not only on the geographical location, but on the currents and mountain systems of the Southern Alps.
