New Zealand On Track For Warmest, Driest May On Record - NZ Herald

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New Zealand is heading for its warmest and driest May on record. As of yesterday, the average temperature for May was 12.6C, almost 2C higher than the average of 10.7C, climate experts said.

Dr Jim Renwick, climate scientist at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, said it was a significant temperature increase which could turn out to be a record for May since records began being kept in the late 1800s. Dr Renwick said the relatively mild weather had been predicted to last through to July.

Speculation that the warmer weather was related to global warming could be partially correct, in that over time warmer winters would be expected, but global warming alone could not be used to explain changes in a particular month.

He noted that Europe had had one of its warmest winters and a mild spring, which could be more easily pinned to climate change.

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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10442383