February 1971: February was exceptionally warm, especially in the west and south. As in January, there was an unusually high frequency of northeasterly winds. It also resembled the previous month in that many districts had nearly all their rain in a few days, from the 23rd to the 25th. Between the rains from cyclone Rosie early in January and this period in February there were 6 weeks of dry hot weather, affecting especially the South Island and southern districts of the North Island. Parts of the Southland Plain and western Southland were still very dry by the end of the month, with stock being sold off and young trees affected. Forest fires were unusually frequent in Westland, Otago, and Southland, and they also affected some North Island areas, especially around Wellington.

Rainfall: Rainfall showed unusually wide variations from record low February values of less than 10% of normal on parts of the Southland Plain to record high values of more than 4 times normal around New Plymouth and Kaitaia. It was below normal, mainly by 50%, over most of the South Island besides Wellington, Wairarapa, southern Hawkes Bay and Taihape. Northern Northland, western Taranaki and Taupo received more than double the normal rainfall. A slow-moving trough brought most of the month’s rain to Kaitaia from the 20th to the 25th and to New Plymouth in a little over 24 hours on the 24th-25th, with flooding in both areas. The 24-hour fall at New Plymouth Airport of 12.94” was quite exceptional, and the flooding in the city was reported to be the worst in living memory. [11.41” on 24th at the city site]. The total rainfall for the 23rd and 24th at Stratford Mountain House was 31.3”, one of the highest 2-totals recorded in New Zealand.

Some totals: Kaitaia Aero 373mm, New Plymouth 381mm, New Plymouth Aero 431mm, Stratford Mountain House 898mm; Mt Cook 97mm, Akaroa 17mm, Otautau 12mm.

Temperatures: This was equal with February 1935 as the 3rd warmest month on record, the 2 warmest being February 1938 and January 1956, also about equal. [Now ranked quite a few places lower, and 1C cooler than February 1998; January 2018 was 0.7C warmer than February 1998]. Departures ranged from 0.5C in east coast districts from Kaikoura to Gisborne to 4C over parts of the Alps and Fiordland. The mean departure for the North Island was 1.4C and over the South Island 2.5C. Darfield’s maximum of 38.4C on the 10th equalled the Ashburton record set on 19 January 1956 [Record shattered on 7/2/1973].

38.4C maximum at Darfield on the 10th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was below normal by 20-70 hours over most of the North Island, with particularly low values in Bay of Plenty. The South Island was favoured with 20-60 hours above normal, except for Nelson.

[Some totals:  Kaitaia 184, Kerikeri 152, Whangarei 161, Leigh 164, Auckland 180, Tauranga 153, Whakatane 129, Taupo 162, Opotiki 125, Auckland Aero 174, Hamilton 163, New Plymouth 217, Masterton 183, Gisborne 173, Napier 161, Wairoa 175, Paraparaumu 216, Ohakea 207, Kairanga 190, Palmerston North 178, Levin 176, Wellington 207, Stratford 205, Ohakune 166, Wanganui 213, Takaka 201, Westport 192, Hokitika 223, Greymouth 201, Haast 222, Riwaka 205, Nelson 194, Blenheim 222, Grassmere 191, Kaikoura 205, Mt Cook 189, Mt John 270, Methven 238, Christchurch 199, Tekapo 262, Timaru 185, Waimate 187, Omarama 248, Palmerston 199, Dunedin Aero 196, Dunedin 180, Oamaru 204, Queenstown 224, Alexandra 247, Invercargill 188,  Campbell Is 32 {lowest}, Chatham Is 157]

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

Taranaki Story - Taranaki Underwater – the great flood of 1971[/url]

Very impressive. Hopefully there is somewhat less vulnerability now. The 6 weeks of dry conditions referred to in the met. summary made things worse because of runoff, no doubt.

That is amazingly depressing....