NZ weather summary January 1980

[Rwood]

January 1980:   Throughout January pressures were lower than normal over the whole of New Zealand, but slightly above average to the north and south of the country. There was an exceptionally high frequency of northwest winds in all districts, with a greater number of days than usual with high gusts in the Wellington region. Conditions were wetter and cloudier than usual in most areas, with temperatures slightly warmer than normal. Gales on the 2nd & 3rd, with winds gusting to 122 km/h, disrupted ferry and aircraft movements in Wellington.

Rainfall: Areas recording below normal rainfall for the month were parts of Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Taranaki, Manawatu, Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury. In some eastern districts of the North Island totals were less than 50% of average. The wettest areas were Northland, Waikato, coastal Canterbury, inland Otago, and Southland. At Christchurch Airport the total of 139mm was the highest for January since records began in 1944. A number of places along the Canterbury coast had monthly totals of between 200% and 300% above the normal value. Heavy rain fell in the Christchurch area from 7pm on the 2nd until 11pm on the 3rd. During the period of very heavy rain 108mm were recorded in 12 hours, this being the highest ever recorded in 12 hours at this station in any month. Strong winds uprooted trees and telephone poles. Many South Canterbury bridges were washed out and there was extensive flooding on the state highway to Kaikoura. On the 16th heavy rain started in Otago and Southland in the afternoon. Some rivers broached their banks. Gore was isolated from neighbouring towns, and Kelso and Mataura were evacuated. Roads and bridge approaches were washed out and there was widespread flooding. At Kelso 116mm fell in the 24 hours to 9am/17th. Serious flooding occurred in the Greytown area on the 20th, when the Waiohine River broached its banks after heavy rain in the Tararuas during the night. Many market gardens and orchards suffered extensive damage when they were inundated by flood waters. Parts of Greymouth, Cobden and Blaketown were evacuated when heavy rain caused flooding on the 24th and 25th. In the lower areas of Greymouth water at its peak was almost 2 metres deep, submerging cars and flooding the central business area. Dobson recorded 97mm in the 48 hours to 9am/25th, and Atarau 120mm.

Some monthly totals (mm): Kaitaia 225, Hamilton 143, Tauherenikau 156, Kaitoke 371, Stratford Mountain House 673, Greymouth 401, Cropp Hut 1102, Mt Cook 778, Templeton 172, Tekapo 123, Temuka 159, Dunedin 115, Rankleburn Forest 290; Napier 25, Wairoa 61, Palmerston North 61, Cape Campbell 38.

Temperatures:  Temperatures were above normal by 0.5C to 1.0C, except in inland Canterbury and Central Otago where they were below normal by the same amount. The coldest spell was from the 3rd-6th with daytime maximum temperatures below average by more than 5.0C in eastern districts. During a warm spell at the end of the month they were above normal by 5.0C-10.0C in the same areas.

37.1C maximum at Ashburton on the 30th, -2.4C minimum at Naseby on the 4th.

Sunshine:   The only areas with above normal sunshine for the month were in South Canterbury, with an excess of about 10 hours. The cloudiest areas were in Bay of Plenty with deficits of more than 60 hours. Many parts of the North Island were 30 to 50 hours below average.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 202, Waitangi 211, Whangarei 190, Auckland 193, Tauranga 186, Whakatane 193, Rotorua 183, Taupo 177, Te Kauwhata 179, Hamilton 187, New Plymouth 200, Masterton 199, Dannevirke 173, Gisborne 230, Napier 223, Wairoa 228, Paraparaumu 208, Ohakea 199, Palmerston North 172, Levin 199, Wellington 216, Stratford 164, Wanganui 208, Westport 197, Arapito 157, Hokitika 191, Greymouth 171, Nelson 246, Blenheim 241, Grassmere 219, Kaikoura 202, Mt Cook 144, Mt John 243, Methven 222, Christchurch 206, Tekapo 244, Timaru 195, Oamaru Aero 169, Omarama 207, Palmerston 165, Dunedin 155, Te Anau 160, Queenstown 186, Cromwell 211, Alexandra 198, Gore 177, Invercargill 172].

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

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