Summer serves record Wairarapa chill | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

January was unusually cool for Wairarapa this year, and this month is likely to be just as dismal.

The summer month saw below average temperatures across the western region of the North Island - Wairarapa included - according to NIWA.

Principal climate scientist James Renwick said the "unsettled" weather could be blamed on a series of southerlies and south-westerlies.

"Basically, we just had a series of storms coming through," he said. Martinborough had an average maximum air temperature of 21.6C, the lowest since 1986.

Castlepoint had an average of 19.7C, which was 1.8C less than previous years - and well above average rainfall was experienced throughout the region.

Near record temperatures were also recorded in Masterton and Castlepoint.

On January 27, Masterton had a maximum temperature of 13.3C, the fourth equal lowest for January since records began in 1943.

On the same day, Castlepoint recorded a high of 13.1C, fourth equal lowest high temperature for the month since 1972.

And on January 23, Ngawi recorded a chilly 8C, the third lowest since 1972.

Castlepoint had extreme wind gusts last month, reaching up to 159km/h on January 27.

Mr Renwick said La Nina, which is causing some of the weather is expected to ease off in the next two or three months.

He said it is "all go right now" and is likely to stay throughout this month. "We're expecting it to be as wet and cold in the Wairarapa as last month," he said.