January 1973: January was dry and warm. For most farming districts of the South Island it was the third successive month with rainfall below normal, with feed shortages. In the North Island dry weather was causing concern from South Taranaki to Wairarapa.
Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal over nearly the whole country. In the South Island it was the driest January since about 1944, with mainly less than half the normal value but less than a quarter over the Clutha River catchment. In the North Island on the average it was about 2/3 of the normal value, with a considerable range. It was less than half the average in a number of east coast areas from Wairarapa to Bay of Islands and also in southern Manawatu; but somewhat above normal in the Taumarunui-Taupo area. At Dannevirke exceptionally heavy rain was recorded on the 6th. 78mm fell in 2 hours, and of this 72mm fell in one hour.
Some totals: Dannevirke 126mm, Milford 470mm; Tekapo 6mm, Alexandra 8mm.
Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly above normal by 1C. Highest departures exceeding 1.5C were recorded in the Rotorua-Gisborne area, around Waiouru, and in the Alps. Temperatures were unusually high in some eastern districts on the 22nd when Gisborne recorded 37C and Blenheim Aero 35C.
36.7C maximum at Gisborne on the 22nd.
Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly close to or slightly above normal over the North Island and 20-60 hours above normal in the South Island.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 222, Kerikeri 226, Whangarei 249, Leigh 229, Auckland 228, Tauranga 260, Whakatane 241, Taupo 242, Opotiki 214, Auckland Aero 228, Hamilton 243, New Plymouth Aero 244, Masterton 274, Gisborne 229, Napier 269, Wairoa 225, Paraparaumu 249, Ohakea 258, Kairanga 248, Palmerston North 227, Levin 223, Wellington 258, Stratford 241, Ohakune 262, Wanganui 251, Takaka 288, Westport 256, Hokitika 247, Greymouth 222, Haast 220, Riwaka 281, Nelson 272, Blenheim 301, Grassmere 256, Kaikoura 236, Mt Cook 250 {record}, Mt John 309, Methven 200, Christchurch 225, Tekapo n/a, Timaru 196, Waimate 192, Omarama 287, Palmerston 210, Dunedin Aero 192, Dunedin 195, Oamaru 215, Queenstown 287, Alexandra 284, Invercargill 203, Raoul Is 228, Campbell Is 95, Chatham Is 172].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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July 30, 2019, 01:59:47 PM