January 1959: A month of very warm and mainly settled weather. As in the previous 4 months, it was wetter and more cloudy in the north than in the south. Dairy production was maintained at a high level in the North Island. Feed shortages developed in Marlborough and North Canterbury.
Rainfall: Rainfall was below average over the South Island (except Central Otago) and in eastern districts from Wairarapa to Gisborne. About and west of the Alps and in most of Nelson and Marlborough it was only 1/3 of normal. It was twice as wet as usual in northern Northland and the Wanganui-Manawatu area, with Wanganui City’s 7.43” its highest for January. On the 31st a violent thunderstorm brought unusually heavy hail to South Canterbury, causing severe local damage to wheat, vegetable crops and glasshouses.
Temperatures: As in the previous 3 months, temperatures were above normal over the whole country. Departures mainly amounted to 3F but were somewhat higher in the central high country of the North Island and Central Otago. Highest temperatures were recorded between the 17th and 27th. During this period the maxima recorded at many places east of the main ranges exceeded 95F, the highest being 99F (37.2C) at Ashburton on the 18th.
Sunshine: Sunshine showed great variations from the average. Western districts as far north as Manawatu and Otago and Southland, plus the South Canterbury high country were favoured with 30-90 more hours than usual. It was the sunniest January on record for Hokitika, Queenstown, Alexandra and Dunedin. On the other hand in the Hawkes Bay and Auckland provinces sunshine was below average by 30 to 100 hours. The lowest value was 143 hours at Kerikeri. [Hokitika record still stands, but the others have been broken since].
[Some totals: Te Hapua 169, Kaitaia 161, Kerikeri 143, Whangarei 144, Auckland 188, Tauranga 201, Whakatane 223, Taupo 212, Hamilton 184, New Plymouth 245, Masterton 244, Gisborne 214, Napier 209, Wairoa 213, Paraparaumu 270, Ohakea 246, Palmerston Nth 242, Levin 229, Wellington 266, Wanganui 260, Westport 285, Hokitika 294, Greymouth 255, Haast 293, Nelson 295, Blenheim 252, Grassmere 249, Mt Cook 224, Methven 202, Christchurch 216, Tekapo 293, Timaru 200, Waimate 172, Omarama 290, Dunedin 239, Queenstown 300, Alexandra 284, Invercargill 235, Campbell Is 106, Chatham Is 223].
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May 08, 2018, 08:54:57 AM