Rate the Climate: Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (hot, 2013, nights)
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The description you guys made makes me think of a rather similar climate in the Pyrenean highlands at the French/Spanish border, in the Mediterranean-influenced zone:
Tmin (°C)/Tmax (°C)/Rainfall (mm)
Jan -2.0 6.5 35.6
Feb -1.4 8.3 21.7
Ma 0.3 11.0 26.8
Apr 1.8 12.2 46
May 5.5 16.3 71.9
Jun 9.0 20.5 63.6
Jul 11.8 24.6 45.3
Aug 11.8 24.2 62.8
Sep 9.1 20.4 60.7
Oct 5.3 15.3 52.4
Nov 1.5 10.3 53
Dec -0.7 7.4 40.3
Year 4.3 14.8 580.2
It's also very dry but the estimated sun is quite a bit higher (between 2,800 and 3,000 hours). Thanks to the dry air, a couple athletic and military training centers are located there. Be it from the north or the south, windy weather means dryness and sun thanks to the mountain ranges.
Anyway, I'd give Lake Wanaka a D. It's too maritime and dry. I'm not a fan of NZ climates, but almost every corner of the country looks ridiculously photogenic, and Street View pics normally aren't exactly masterpieces. I'd like to visit one day.
It does look similar,. What is the altitude?
Wanaka does have an overall dry feel, at anytime of the year. It's not really my type of climate - I associate it with warm blustery winds and static (which I hate), and the sun often feels harsh there. I would still rate it a B climate. The town is bursting at the seams with British immigrants, and I don't think I've heard London summers compared favourably to Wanaka.
I was in Wanaka recently (I usually go there 2-3 times a year), but didn't think to take any photos of the town itself, just these ones which are within a few kilometres. Bear in mind, that's it's been rather rainy there this summer, and these photos have a "lushness" to there that isn't always there.
True that. And not only that, but Wellington is much colder than London in summer, with the warmest month an abysmal 13.8 / 20.6C!!! That is just pathetic beyond belief. That's in the same league as our esteemed friend Owenc's place LOL DERP. Couple that with no thunderstorms, windswept overcast winters that are skin penetrating but not snowy just rainy and drizzly, crap sunshine and you have one of the world's crappiest climates at 40* latitude. The only place in the world I can think of that has cooler summers at 40* lat would probably be on the coast of California, and only on the immediate coast at that.
Essentially everywhere in Europe and USA is much warmer and sunnier at 40* latitude, atleast during the warmer half of the year. Heck, a fair chunk of Scandinavia has warmer summers than Wellington LMAO
Everyone knows that Western Europe is exceptionally warm relative to latitude. NZ in general is pretty average with regard to annual means. Take a look at the SE coasts of Russia and Canada if you want to get an idea of climates in the 40s N that are really cold relative to latitude.
Wanaka does have an overall dry feel, at anytime of the year. It's not really my type of climate - I associate it with warm blustery winds and static (which I hate), and the sun often feels harsh there. I would still rate it a B climate. The town is bursting at the seams with British immigrants, and I don't think I've heard London summers compared favourably to Wanaka.
I was in Wanaka recently (I usually go there 2-3 times a year), but didn't think to take any photos of the town itself, just these ones which are within a few kilometres. Bear in mind, that's it's been rather rainy there this summer, and these photos have a "lushness" to there that isn't always there.
Nice pics, these kind of skies are rare in more humid climates. This is one of the few things I like in low rh climates. Obviously, the "lushness" is quite relative. Not a fan of such looks either, though the landscape is beautiful.
As you can see, there is no shortness of trees. It's just that the gras is always yellow in summer, no matter how many thunderstorms the area gets. The ground is almost always dry as well.
Nice pics, these kind of skies are rare in more humid climates. This is one of the few things I like in low rh climates. Obviously, the "lushness" is quite relative. Not a fan of such looks either, though the landscape is beautiful.
As you can see, there is no shortness of trees. It's just that the gras is always yellow in summer, no matter how many thunderstorms the area gets. The ground is almost always dry as well.
Those trees are Cabbage Trees (Cordyline australis )- a NZ native, distantly related to Yucca, and very common throughout NZ. There are several different type of them. I know that road well, Having driven down to Invercargill/up to Queenstown many times. Snow is quite common through there, in my experience.
Great photos. Yours photos have a very familiar quality to them, despite different vegetation. The scale of the landscape, and the quality of the light due to latitude.
Wanaka sits near the start of a rainshadow, being much drier than areas further west, and much wetter than areas further east.
These photos show the transition, about 100 km either side of Wanaka
Everyone knows that Western Europe is exceptionally warm relative to latitude. NZ in general is pretty average with regard to annual means. Take a look at the SE coasts of Russia and Canada if you want to get an idea of climates in the 40s N that are really cold relative to latitude.
These photos show the transition, about 100 km either side of Wanaka
Needless to sy, I prefer the vegetation on the first one. On your previous post, the last pic has something resembling a light dust cloud. I wonder what it's like after a dry summer.
Wanaka sits near the start of a rainshadow, being much drier than areas further west, and much wetter than areas further east.
These photos show the transition, about 100 km either side of Wanaka
And is in an area where the various seasonal rainfall influences balance out, resulting in rating of about 90% for the seasonal statistic mentioned in another thread.
What about the number of rainy days? Any snowy days recorded? (I guess yes seeing those winter lows).
I like everything about Wanaka (NZ) except for the mediocre summer lows, totally unacceptable for me! Just for that I would have to rate it a B. Too sad!
What about the number of rainy days? Any snowy days recorded? (I guess yes seeing those winter lows).
I like everything about Wanaka (NZ) except for the mediocre summer lows, totally unacceptable for me! Just for that I would have to rate it a B. Too sad!
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