September 1972:  September was a warm month marked by exceptionally strong winds from a westerly quarter. Over most of the North Island and in Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury conditions were rather too dry but favourable for lambing. However, in Southland and Otago this was a particularly wet month and it followed 6 months of predominantly wet weather, especially in Southland. There were stock losses due to flooding and lack of feed. Many gales were reported, especially in the South Island on the 13th, with particularly severe damage in Dunedin on this occasion. At the airport the wind reached gale force during nearly all the afternoon and evening, with the highest mean speed over a 10-minute interval being 59 kts and the highest gust 84 kts. Two small local tornadoes were reported, the first at Frankton, Hamilton, on the 17th, the second at Levin on the 21st. Considerable damage was done, particularly at Levin.

Rainfall: Rainfall showed wide variations. It was below normal except in western and southern districts of the South Island. On the Canterbury Plains and in most of Marlborough, also in the Waimea plains of Nelson and in Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay, it was less than half the normal value. By contrast, over nearly the whole of Fiordland, Southland and Otago rainfall was from 2 to 4 times the normal value. Over most of Otago and part of Southland more than half the month’s rain, amounting to 70-150 mm, fell on the 8th and 9th, causing serious flooding of the Clutha and Mataura Rivers.

1375mm at Milford Sound (its highest for September), 5mm at Cape Campbell.

Temperatures:  Temperatures were above normal by 0.5C to 2.5C, with the highest departures in Canterbury and Marlborough. Blenheim had its warmest September in 40 years of observation. Snow was reported in parts of Southland and Otago and in a few areas of inland Canterbury from the 7th to the 9th and from the 27th to the 29th.

27.0C maximum at Wither Hills on the 26th, -6.4C minimum at Moa Creek on the 18th.

Sunshine:  Eastern districts north of Timaru together with Bay of Plenty and Northland were favoured with 30-55 hours more sun than normal. Western districts of both islands received 30-40 hours below normal.

[Some totals:  Kaitaia 202, Kerikeri 205, Whangarei 217, Leigh 203, Auckland 176, Tauranga 214, Whakatane 240, Taupo 190, Opotiki 237, Auckland Aero 166, Hamilton 170, New Plymouth 132, Masterton 182, Gisborne 232, Napier 239, Wairoa 237, Paraparaumu 136, Ohakea 161, Kairanga 133, Palmerston North 108, Levin 116, Wellington 175, Stratford 165, Ohakune 113, Wanganui 152, Takaka 217, Westport 125, Hokitika 124, Greymouth 112 Haast 128, Riwaka 239, Nelson 218, Blenheim 244, Grassmere 217, Kaikoura 196, Mt Cook 119, Mt John 203, Methven 210, Christchurch 191, Tekapo 197, Timaru 170, Waimate 165, Omarama 201, Palmerston 160, Dunedin Aero 142, Dunedin 138, Oamaru 166, Queenstown 170, Alexandra 174, Invercargill 127, Raoul Is 160, Campbell Is 61, Chatham Is 136].

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