Flooding outside a Masterton dairy after heavy rain. PHOTO/MARY ARGUE
SUE TEODORO
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Metservice has confirmed Masterton is having one of its wettest Decembers, with at least one day breaking records.
Meteorologist Peter Little said 157mm of rain had already fallen so far this month, although the forecast for Christmas was more promising.
“The average rainfall for Masterton in December is 62mm. This month’s rainfall is about 2.5 times more than that,” he said.
The numbers were recorded at Hood Aerodrome, where Metservice has had instruments in place since 2009.
Monday was the wettest day recorded there, with 39.8mm falling.
Little said the last day without any rain in Masterton was Friday, December 10.
“It’s been very wet for the last five days, with significant rainfall every single day,” he said last Thursday.
Before this month, the most rain on record for a December was 119.8mm in 2018.
“We have already had the wettest December on record since that station was installed in its current location,” he said.
The medium forecast was more showers with temperatures up towards the mid-20s.
Little said it was still too early to tell exactly what Christmas weather would be like.
“There could be a ridge of high pressure approaching the country. Overall, the outlook for this week is looking much drier, so it’s looking promising for Christmas.”
