April 1973: The main feature of April was a continuation of the dry weather of the previous 5 months until Easter on the 20th-23rd, which was the wettest part of the month. However, the rain received still left the soil too dry in many areas. Conditions were particularly poor in Marlborough and North Canterbury, where the drought that had developed about 2 months previously persisted. On the 22nd a tornado caused considerable damage at Opunake. This was one of the very few New Zealand tornadoes in which life was lost, one man being killed.
Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal, mainly by 25-50%, over most of the North Island, and also in Nelson, Marlborough, North and central Canterbury. The only area where it was more than 50% above normal was most of Otago with part of Southland. For the period November-April the total rainfall at Blenheim was 106mm, the lowest ever recorded for these 6 months of the year in nearly 70 years of observation [Since surpassed by 79mm for 2000-2001, with only 106mm for the 7 months November- May].
1008mm at Milford (187% of average), 7mm at Rangiora.
Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly above normal, but only by about 0.5C.
27.7C at Bromley, Christchurch on the 15th.
Sunshine: Sunshine totals were below normal in eastern and southern districts of the North Island and on the Southland coast, by 15-40 hours. They were above normal in Otago and Canterbury and in Northland, by a similar amount.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 179, Kerikeri 192, Whangarei 161, Leigh 173, Auckland 162, Tauranga 175, Whakatane 185, Taupo 173, Opotiki 171, Auckland Aero 165, Hamilton 157, New Plymouth Aero 182, Masterton 115, Gisborne 135, Napier 121, Wairoa 130, Paraparaumu 153, Ohakea 118, Kairanga 121, Palmerston North 100, Levin 140, Wellington 135, Stratford 155, Ohakune 95, Wanganui 124, Takaka 189, Westport 140, Hokitika 149, Greymouth 126, Haast 156, Riwaka 183, Nelson 185, Blenheim 194, Grassmere 168, Kaikoura 177, Mt Cook 136, Mt John 193, Methven 177, Christchurch 183, Tekapo n/a, Timaru 168, Waimate 162, Omarama 192, Palmerston 166, Dunedin Aero 147, Dunedin 146, Oamaru 175, Queenstown 144, Alexandra 173, Invercargill 86, Raoul Is 192, Campbell Is 39, Chatham Is 86].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
Share Topic
July 30, 2019, 01:59:47 PM