New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => Historical => 1965 - 1969 => Topic started by: Rwood on July 27, 2018, 06:37:30 PM
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December 1967: It was a wet month in many districts and also comparatively warm. Pasture growth was good in the North Island, but conditions were too unsettled for haymaking. In Marlborough, Canterbury and parts of Otago more rain would have been appreciated, but a wet November in these areas left a good reserve of soil moisture, and stock were not yet affected.
Rainfall: Rainfall was above average over almost all of the North Island and also west of a line from Hokitika to Balclutha. The surplus was mainly 50%, but in parts of central and southern Hawkes Bay, in some central districts of the North Island, and in the southern lakes district rainfall was more than double the average. In eastern and northern districts of the South Island rainfall was mainly below average by 25%. In central Marlborough and on the Canterbury coast and plains from Christchurch to Timaru it was less than half the average value.
Thunderstorms were unusually frequent over the North Island. Many stations heard thunder on the 28th, with heavy downpours, especially in the Taihape district and in Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa, causing serious disruption of road transport in some places. On the same day New Plymouth reported a hailstorm with stones 1” in diameter.
Temperatures: In the North Island mean temperatures were mainly 1F-3F above average, highest departures being in Waitomo and North Taranaki. In the South Island they were mainly close to average.
Sunshine: Sunshine was below average by 30-60 hours in an area extending from Waitomo and Bay of Plenty through central districts of the North Island to Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa, and also on the Kaikoura Coast. On the other hand most of Westland, South Canterbury and Otago were favoured with 20-40 hours above average.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 236, Kerikeri 229, Whangarei 189, Auckland 213, Tauranga 209, Whakatane 226, Taupo 200, Opotiki 206, Hamilton 219, New Plymouth 202, Masterton 162, Gisborne 235, Napier 199, Wairoa 224, Paraparaumu 209, Ohakea 201, Palmerston North 185, Levin 190, Wellington 216, Stratford 171, Ohakune 181, Wanganui 184, Westport 210, Hokitika 236, Greymouth 197, Haast 200, Riwaka 225, Nelson 236, Blenheim 236, Grassmere 195, Kaikoura 185, Mt Cook 177, Mt John 271, Methven 221, Christchurch 206, Tekapo 284, Timaru 185, Waimate 178, Omarama 244, Dunedin Aero 191, Dunedin 194, Oamaru 192, Queenstown 227, Alexandra 241, Invercargill 176, Campbell Is 109, Chatham Is 150].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.
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Rather warm, wettish for many, and an unusual distribution of sunshine anomalies. A family connection picked out Invercargill's wettest day of the year for a wedding.