September 1961: The weather was rather similar to that of August. (*) Again there was an unusually high frequency of southerly to easterly winds, with cloudy, wet conditions in Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and Manawatu. Farming conditions were mainly favourable in the Auckland province and Taranaki. Elsewhere it was considered rather too cold, and in many areas too wet. There were further lamb losses, especially in Wairarapa and Canterbury.

Rainfall:  Rainfall was mainly 3 times the average value in Wairarapa and southern Hawkes Bay and double in the remainder of Hawkes Bay and parts of Manawatu. It was somewhat above average over the remainder of the Wellington province, in Nelson and Marlborough, and in most east coast and inland districts. Elsewhere it was mainly a little drier than usual. Following heavy rain at the end of August and the beginning of September, flooding was reported on the 4th in Wairarapa and Manawatu. After another spell of heavy rain on the 17th-18th parts of Manawatu were flooded again, for the third time in six weeks.

Temperatures: Temperatures were 1F-3F below average in eastern and inland districts of the South Island. Elsewhere they were mainly close to average, but it was 1F warmer than usual in Bay of Plenty and Buller. Snow fell on the ranges in 3 main periods – the 9th-10th, 17th-18th and 22nd-24th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was below the normal value, except in Westland and parts of Marlborough and Nelson. Highest deficiencies were recorded in eastern districts, especially Canterbury, Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay. Elsewhere the deficiency was mainly 15-20 hours, but less in North Taranaki and western districts of the Auckland province. The only area with appreciably more sunshine than usual was south Westland. [* - but with much less sun in most of the South Island. It was an abysmal month in Dunedin.]

[Some totals: Te Hapua 160, Kaitaia 148, Kerikeri 145, Whangarei 136, Auckland 168, Tauranga 155, Whakatane 185, Taupo 152, Hamilton 156, New Plymouth 159, Masterton 129, Gisborne 167, Napier 164, Wairoa 164, Paraparaumu 137, Ohakea 150, Palmerston North 123, Levin 135, Wellington 152, Wanganui 143, Westport 135, Hokitika 150, Greymouth 138, Haast 173, Nelson 185, Blenheim 190, Grassmere 194, Kaikoura 154, Mt Cook 123, Methven 130, Christchurch 119, Tekapo 165, Timaru 131, Waimate 124, Oamaru Aero 125, Omarama 162, Dunedin 100, Queenstown 162, Alexandra 148, Invercargill 113, Campbell Is 64, Chatham Is 112].


Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.