August 1972: August was cold, but sunny. In most of Otago and Southland 4 months of predominantly cloudy, cold, wet weather had caused unhealthy conditions for stock, with some losses of sheep. A violent northeasterly gale buffeted Kaikoura on the 12th, with a maximum gust to 85 knots on the peninsula.

Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal over the greater part of the country. Over most of Hawkes Bay and a considerable part of Canterbury, it was less than half the normal value. However, it was somewhat above normal in many northern districts of the North Island, in Nelson, and in most of Southland with parts of Otago. Daily falls of up to 75mm on the 8th caused flooding around Kawakawa. Hokitika and parts of the Nelson district also reported flooding after heavy rain on the 11th, amounting to 175mm at Hokitika.

Some totals: Hokitika 337mm, Musselburgh 80mm; Napier 26mm, Timaru 14mm.

Temperatures: Temperatures were below normal, mainly by 1C. The coldest periods were from the 5th to the 7th, the 14th-15th, and the 26th to the 28th. On the night of the 26th several inches of snow fell to low levels in Marlborough, Wairarapa and southern Hawkes Bay, and this was reported to be the heaviest snow in these areas for some years. In a large area extending from Waikato and Rotorua to Nelson and Marlborough this winter season has been the coldest for at least 20 years and in some districts 30 years.

24.2C maximum at Hanmer on the 30th, -9.0C minimum at Naseby on the 7th.

Sunshine:  Sunshine was above normal by 20-60 hours over the greater part of the country. Westland with south Canterbury and most of Marlborough, Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu were especially favoured. However, over most of the Southland Plain and in South Otago sunshine was up to 20 hours below normal.

 [Some totals:  Kaitaia 151, Kerikeri 150, Whangarei 152, Leigh 169, Auckland 171, Tauranga 178, Whakatane 190, Taupo 157, Opotiki n/a, Auckland Aero 173, Hamilton 166, New Plymouth 187, Masterton 144, Gisborne 188, Napier 191, Wairoa 181, Paraparaumu 178, Ohakea 193, Kairanga 180, Palmerston North 156, Levin 157, Wellington 156, Stratford 177, Ohakune 154, Wanganui 182, Takaka 197, Westport 156, Hokitika 183, Greymouth 166, Haast 195, Riwaka 198, Nelson 181, Blenheim 226 {record high until 2011}, Grassmere 215, Kaikoura 174, Mt Cook 148, Mt John 201, Methven 186, Christchurch 167, Tekapo 193, Timaru 170, Waimate 171, Omarama 198, Palmerston 160, Dunedin Aero 133, Dunedin 131, Oamaru 168, Queenstown 141, Alexandra 164, Invercargill 122, Raoul Is n/a, Campbell Is 20, Chatham Is 104].

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).