Early summer in the Southern Hemisphere

NZ: Warning over Hawke's Bay drought conditions

Hawke's Bay Regional Council is to closely monitor irrigation by farmers and crop growers as water levels in the region drop.

Radio NZ,

27 December, 2012

Some rain is expected in Hawke's Bay in the coming weeks, but it is unlikely to be significant.

The council's message to farmers and crop growers is to follow any restrictions when they come into force.

Council environmental officer Ian Lilburn says a handful of people have already been warned for irrigating too much.

He says the rules are black and white for farmers and crop growers choosing to irrigate from council waterways, and anyone who farms in a drought-prone area like Hawke's Bay is doing so at their own risk.

Record December

temperatures in Wellington

For the life of me I can't find anything about this on the internet, although the recent heat wave in the capital.

Christmas day brought humid weather from the remnants of cyclone Evan – the mercury hit 29C in the city ( a record high temperature by 2C), 32C in Lower Hutt and a high 38C in Stokes Valley (unofficial reading).

This is a city that usually experiences temperatures in the high teens or low twenties at this time of year.

Record temperatures in Rio de Janeiro

via the Extinction Protocol

Rio de Janeiro, 26.12.12 (The 5th day of summer) -

According to the meteorology services temperatures were around 42C with a thermal sensation of 50C.

However, some thermometers were marking 50C in the central areas. Still a controversial information, a few saying that it was the record over the past 30 years, others saying it was the highest mark since 1915.

Extreme Weather Situation in Sri Lanka

Reliefweb,

20 December, 2012

Heavy rain and high winds have severely affected over 314,900 people (80,500 families) in 14 Districts in Sabaragamuwa, North Western, Uva, Central, Southern, North Central and Eastern Provinces including 25 deaths reported. Total of 19,314 people are currently staying in 169 evacuation centres in Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Monaragala, Batticaloa and Ampara.