September 1986: This September it was wetter than normal in some northern regions of the North Island, and in most eastern regions of the country. Strong winds occurred with only half their normal frequency for September over the north of the North Island. South-westerly winds prevailed with almost twice their average frequency over the North Island for September. Westerlies prevailed over the South Island, with little variation from normal. Mean sea level pressures ranged from 2hPa below normal at Invercargill to almost 5hPa below normal at New Plymouth. A small tornado caused some damage to approximately one thousand properties in Auckland City on the afternoon of the 8th.
Rainfall: Rainfall was above normal for September in Whangarei, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay (where up to 200% of normal was recorded), Marlborough, Nelson and Canterbury. Heavy rain occurred at Whangarei Airport in the 48 hours to 9am/21st, when just over 150mm was recorded. It was much drier than usual in Otago, where total rainfall was only 30%-50% of normal in most places.
Some totals (mm): Whangarei Aero 192, Castlepoint 172, Waikaremoana 354, Napier 122, Wairoa 222, Appleby 110, Peel Forest 99; Hokitika 139, Milford 377, Bendigo 12, Dunedin Aero 20, Alexandra 7.
Temperatures: Mean daily temperatures were near average throughout New Zealand, being slightly colder than usual in inland and east coast regions, and slightly higher than usual in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Buller and Westland.
25.0C maximum at Christchurch on the 28th,
-6.1C minimum at Rotoiti on the 23rd.
Sunshine: Up to 20% above normal sunshine for September was recorded in places on the west coast of the North Island from Taranaki to Wellington, and in Northland, Nelson, North Canterbury, Timaru and Southland. To date this year Kelburn has had 14% more sunshine than normal, each month being average or sunnier than average. Hours of sunshine were up to 10% below normal in the Bay of Plenty and Manawatu.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 201, Waitangi n/a, Whangarei 177, Leigh 169, Tauranga 151, Whakatane 186, Rotorua 141, Taupo 141, Auckland Aero 153, Hamilton 166, New Plymouth 179, Masterton 157, Dannevirke 123, Gisborne 166, Napier 166, Wairoa 150, Paraparaumu 181, Ohakea 141, Palmerston North 119, Levin 135, Wellington 182, Stratford 136, Wanganui n/a, Takaka 206, Westport 165, Arapito 132, Hokitika 154, Greymouth 133, Nelson 224, Blenheim 181, Grassmere n/a, Kaikoura 177, Mt Cook 135, Methven 157, Christchurch 178, Timaru 183, Palmerston 138, Dunedin Aero 152, Dunedin 137, Te Anau 172, Queenstown 190, Cromwell 187, Alexandra 171, Gore 163, Invercargill 161].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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April 21, 2012, 12:58:35 PM