Near record rainfall

Thunderstorms roiling across the Waikato countryside over the past month have seen it become the third-wettest November on record. MetService recorded 201.6mm of rainfall at Hamilton Airport, more than double the historical average of 89.7mm. Most of the rain came in the latter half of the month, with a whopping 58mm of rain recorded on November 22 as storms rumbled over the North Island. ‘‘On average, lower pressure has been seen in the Tasman Sea this November which has driven more rain bands in a northwest flow over the country, which the Waikato region is well exposed to,’’ MetService meteorologist April Clark said.