November 1986:   November was drier than normal over much of the North Island, but wetter than normal in most regions of the South Island. It was also slightly warmer in most places. South-westerlies prevailed over the north of the North Island, while north-westerlies prevailed over the South Island. Wind strengths were generally lighter than usual. Mean sea level pressures ranged from almost 1hPa below normal over the north of the North Island, to 1.5hPa above at Invercargill.

Rainfall: November was much wetter than normal at East Cape, and in Christchurch, where the monthly total was just over 200% of normal. At Christchurch Airport this was the wettest November since 1967, and the 3rd wettest for over 40 years. 57mm of the 106mm was recorded in the 24 hours to 9am/26th, with the Heathcote River overflowing. Over much of the North Island rainfall for the month ranged from 50% to 75% of normal. Only 40% of the average was recorded at Paraparaumu Airport, and 20% of normal at Whangarei.

Some totals (mm): Christchurch 134, Cromwell 40, Tuatapere 142; Whangarei 20, Napier Aero 27, Waitarere 26, Milford 278.

Temperatures: Mean daily temperatures were about normal over the North Island. Over the South Island they were about 0.5C above normal in most coastal areas apart from North Canterbury. In inland Canterbury mean daily temperatures were almost 2C above normal at The Hermitage, and at Mount John. Many places on the east coast of the South Island recorded temperatures of 25 to 30C on the afternoon of the 5th. A maximum of 32.6C at Blenheim Airport was not far short of the New Zealand record of 33.9C (Hastings, 30 November 1949). Mean daily maxima were 1.2C below average this month at Christchurch Airport, the 2nd equal coolest there since November 1953.

32.6C maximum at Blenheim Airport on the 5th, -3.5C minimum at Molesworth on the 30th.

Sunshine:  Hours of sunshine were near normal in most places. It was cloudier in the Manawatu where about 85% of normal was recorded, but sunnier in eastern Northland, Waikato, Taranaki, eastern Bay of Plenty, Wellington, and the Wairarapa, where total hours of bright sunshine were 110% to almost 120% of normal. To date this year 10 months at Kelburn have recorded above normal sunshine.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 215, Whangarei 218, Leigh 218, Tauranga 230, Whakatane 270, Rotorua 214, Taupo 219, Auckland Aero 217, Hamilton 229,  New Plymouth 229, Masterton 218, Martinborough 216, Gisborne 226, Napier 209, Wairoa 196, Paraparaumu 195, Ohakea 192, Palmerston North 149, Levin 152, Wellington 230, Stratford 232, Manaia 218, Takaka 234, Westport 192, Arapito 138, Hokitika 182, Greymouth 148, Nelson 233, Blenheim 245, Grassmere 211, Kaikoura 211, Mt Cook 165,  Methven 194, Christchurch 214, Timaru 195, Palmerston 182, Dunedin Aero 160, Dunedin 162, Te Anau 179, Queenstown 185, Cromwell 228, Alexandra 201, Gore 181,  Invercargill 174].

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