Story: Climate

Winds over the southern hemisphere

Winds over the southern hemisphere

The arrows show the direction of the average wind (1971–2000). New Zealand’s prevailing winds come from the west, and the country sits just north of the extreme westerlies further south. The climate is affected by the depressions (areas of low-pressure likely to cause clouds and rain) that develop in this westerly system. Near the equator the winds are easterly or south-easterly.

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NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

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How to cite this page:

Brett Mullan, Andrew Tait and Craig Thompson, 'Climate - New Zealand’s climate', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram/7746/winds-over-the-southern-hemisphere (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Brett Mullan, Andrew Tait and Craig Thompson, published 12 Jun 2006