February's Weather in Kāpiti: Driest in Nine Years

Our daily average maximum temperature was 21.7C. This was also the long-time average and compares with 20.3C in 2024. Every day except one reached 20C, so as usual it was definitely a summer month. Our overall mean temperature of 17.4C was the warmest in Central NZ, with the higher-maximum eastern Blenheim and Masterton at the bottom of the table due to their cold nights.

February’s dry weather continued through March, with only a few showers in the third week amounting to around 24mm, half the average. The combined rainfall for the two months was 34mm only 30 percent of average.

March sunshine equivalent to17 days was slightly below average with cloud frequent at both ends of the day, unlike February that was particularly sunny.

In April we can still expect some summery weather, but with an average temperature of around 19C. Also, the end of daylight saving sees a return to brighter, warmer mornings, and It won’t be as dark again until early June, by which time it will be only couple weeks before the days begin to lengthen again.

The thunderhead over Otaki may have delivered a brief shower in the third week.

More messages from your neighbours

1 day ago

Driven On The Akatarawa Rd Lately?

Marie from Waikanae

If so, its good to know you are still alive and reading this.

We have a function to go to over Christmas up that way and having heard a few hairy stories about the road, I went up there on Thursday to check it out. The road's ok, narrow and winding, but not much worse than a Wellington hill suburb. What was pretty scary was the behavior of other drivers. Three vehicles heading the other way at speed would have crashed into me if I hadn't been pulled off the road. I had pulled in to check the address when a truck came flying past, taking up all of the narrow road at speed. There is no way the driver would have been able to stop had they come around the corner immediately in front of me. The other two drivers came hurtling past as I had turned in to turn around and come back down the hill. They were also driving at speed and taking up most of the road. Coming back down I passed another car coming up and estimate that the safe speed to pass another car was about 30-35 kms.p.h. So, now we're thinking, do we go to the function or not.? Feels a bit like we're taking our life in our hands going up there. Drivers appear to be overconfident, and they are courting serious injury.