NZ weather summary February 1980

[Rwood]

February 1980:  February was the third consecutive month with pressures below normal over the whole of New Zealand, although they were higher than usual to the south of the country. There was a greater frequency than usual of southwest winds over the North Island, but in the South Island wind directions and speed frequencies were about normal. Apart from Northland, conditions were dry in most districts, and cooler than average in the South Island. From the 14th to the 16th a depression lying to the northwest of Northland caused northeasterly winds gusting to more than 130km/h.

Rainfall: The only areas with rainfall totals appreciably above normal were Northland, Auckland, parts of Hawkes Bay, and Banks Peninsula. In Northland totals ranged from 100% to more than 300% above average. In eastern Bay of Plenty, parts of Manawatu, and southern Wairarapa less than 25% of the normal February rainfall was recorded, and in Poverty Bay and some areas of Canterbury less than 50%. The depression that brought strong winds in Northland also brought heavy rain to the area between the 13th and the 17th. From 9am/13th to 9am/18th inclusive the following totals were recorded: Cape View 256mm, Kaitaia 199mm, Kaikohe 235mm, and Whangarei 255mm. At Cape Reinga in that period over 350mm were recorded, with a record high February total. Many stations in Northland recorded falls in excess of 120mm in the 24-hour period to 9am on the 14th, and this caused widespread flooding.

Some monthly totals (mm): Cape Reinga 417, Kaitaia 268, Kerikeri 366, Esk Forest 136, Westport 236, Dunedin 79; Whakatane 17, Palmerston North 36, Wanganui 34, Blenheim 24, Tekapo 15.

Temperatures:   Temperatures were near or above normal in the North Island, and in Poverty Bay and Hawkes Bay they were above by 1.0C. In the South Island parts of Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago were below normal by 0.5C to 1.0C. Most of New Zealand had cooler daytime temperatures, but in the South Island night-time temperatures were also below average. There were two cool spells during the month from the 11th-14th and 22nd-29th with maximum temperatures below average by 5C in eastern districts.

34.9C maximum at Waiau on the 2nd, -4.1C minimum at Molesworth on the 12th.

Sunshine:  The only areas with above normal sunshine were parts of the West Coast and Southland. In Northland, Auckland, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough the totals for the month were 30-40 hours less than usual. In Wellington this was the lowest February sunshine since 1966.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 158, Dargaville 130, Waitangi 163, Whangarei 131, Auckland 159, Tauranga 179, Whakatane 201, Rotorua 191, Taupo 192, Auckland Aero 169, Hamilton 159, New Plymouth 171, Masterton 159, Dannevirke 160, Gisborne 206, Napier 197, Wairoa 197, Paraparaumu 182, Ohakea 177, Palmerston North 149, Levin 156, Wellington 160, Stratford 157, Wanganui 188, Westport 188, Arapito 142, Hokitika 186, Greymouth 161, Riwaka 166, Nelson 182, Blenheim 185, Grassmere 179, Kaikoura 171, Mt Cook 142, Mt John 214, Methven 158, Christchurch 179, Tekapo 205, Timaru 163, Oamaru Aero 158, Omarama 189, Palmerston 167, Dunedin 140, Te Anau 181, Queenstown 185, Cromwell 199, Alexandra 183, Gore 159, Invercargill 162, Chatham Is 187 (2nd highest)].

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

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