New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => Historical => 1985 - 1989 => Topic started by: Rwood on June 25, 2012, 08:47:40 AM
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March 1987: March was colder and wetter than normal over much of the country. Southwest winds prevailed over the north of the North Island, and northwesterlies predominated in the south. Northwesterlies were more frequent than usual over the South Island. Pressures were below normal over the whole of New Zealand, especially in Gisborne, where they were nearly 5 hPa down. Southerly gales disrupted Cook Strait ferry services on the 4th.
Rainfall: Heavy rainfall in the Central Otago and Southland high country caused river flooding in these regions on the 10th and 11th. A state of civil emergency was declared in Otautau and Mataura, and 2300 people were evacuated. Flooding later occurred at Invercargill Airport when stopbanks collapsed. Water covered the floor of the terminal building to a depth of 0.5m. Heavy rain also affected Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay later in the month, with 98mm at Hamilton Airport in the 24 hours to 9am on the 22nd, and 109mm at Napier Airport. An extremely heavy fall of approximately 560mm was recorded in the 48 hours to 9am on the 31st at Milford Sound. Rainfall totals for the month were well above normal in many eastern regions of the country. At Mt John 4 times the March average was recorded. It was also wetter than usual in most other regions, except Northland, Buller and Westland.
Some totals (mm): Albert Park 153, Tauranga 299, Taupo 186, Hamilton 198, New Plymouth 224, Gisborne 161, Napier 236, Waiouru 221, Milford 780, Nelson 146, Hanmer 301, Ashburton 163, Tekapo 185, Wanaka 203, Dunedin 150, Queenstown 200.
Temperatures: Over much of the country mean temperatures were 0.5C-1.5C below normal. In inland Canterbury the mean daily maximum was as much as 3C below normal for March. At Kelburn, the mean daily maximum was the lowest since 1974, and the 3rd lowest since records began in 1928. Temperatures were near normal in Westland, Fiordland and Southland.
30.0C maximum at Waiau on the 9th, -3.3C minimum at Burwood Bush on the 27th.
Sunshine: Sunshine varied over the country, being above normal from Waikato northwards and in Westland, and below normal in Manawatu, Wellington, eastern regions of the North Island, and most of the rest of the South Island. Sunshine hours were only 70-80% of normal in Wairarapa and on the Kaikoura Coast.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 198, Whangarei 184, Leigh 204, Tauranga 232, Whakatane 220, Rotorua 200, Taupo 182, Auckland Aero 204, Te Kauwhata 194, New Plymouth 209, Masterton 136, Dannevirke 154, Gisborne 169, Napier 191, Wairoa 173, Paraparaumu 170, Ohakea 163, Palmerston North 153, Levin 140, Wellington 156, Stratford 168, Manaia 186, Westport 159, Arapito 146, Hokitika 178, Greymouth 165, Nelson 194, Blenheim 184, Grassmere 163, Kaikoura 142, Mt Cook 132, Methven 156, Christchurch 159, Timaru 149, Palmerston 157, Dunedin Aero 134, Dunedin 125, Te Anau 139, Queenstown 167, Cromwell 174, Alexandra 165, Invercargill 117].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).