New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => Historical => 1960 - 1964 => Topic started by: Rwood on March 11, 2015, 01:25:49 PM
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March 1962: March was for the most part wet and warm. In the North Island and in Marlborough good rains relieved the dry conditions which had persisted through summer, though in some districts still more rain would have been appreciated. In Canterbury, Otago and Southland it was a good month for pastures and stock, but rather unsettled weather made conditions difficult for harvesting and haymaking.
Rainfall: Rainfall was mainly above normal. For a considerable part of Nelson and for inland areas of South Canterbury and North Otago it was double the average value; and in the Auckland province it was mainly from 2-5 times average. Around Rotorua it was by far the wettest March on record, with totals ranging from 15” to 26”. In this and surrounding areas a large proportion of the rain – up to 21.5” – fell in the period 2-8 March. Flooding was reported on the 8th-9th in the Reporoa district and also in the Hauraki Plains and Thames. About and west of the Southern Alps rainfall was mainly half the average value. The only North Island area appreciably drier than normal was northern Hawkes Bay. In nearly all districts most of the rain occurred in the first half of the month, which was very unsettled.
Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly above average by 1F-2F, highest departures being in western districts from Taranaki southward and also in Nelson, South Canterbury, and Southland. It was exceptionally warm and humid during the first 3 days, with mainly places exceeding 80F. On the 3rd Wellington had its warmest March day in a century of observations, with a maximum of 83F.
Sunshine: Over the greater part of the country sunshine was below average by about 20 hours. In Otago and inland Southland, and also in Wairarapa, the deficiency was 30-40 hours. The West Coast was favoured with 20-50 hours more than normal, and it was also somewhat sunnier than usual in South Canterbury and from Hamilton to Bay of Islands.
[Some totals: Te Hapua 212, Kaitaia 187, Kerikeri 182, Whangarei 180, Auckland 205, Tauranga 188, Whakatane 202, Taupo 184, Hamilton 184, New Plymouth 187, Masterton 153, Gisborne 175, Napier 182, Wairoa 178, Paraparaumu 197, Ohakea 184, Palmerston North 162, Foxton 198, Levin 176, Wellington 180, Wanganui 178, Westport 195, Hokitika 212, Greymouth 186, Haast 199, Nelson 203, Blenheim 197, Grassmere 178, Kaikoura 162, Mt Cook 164, Methven 171, Christchurch 151, Tekapo 217, Timaru 178, Waimate 170, Oamaru Aero 164, Omarama 170, Dunedin 109, Queenstown 152, Alexandra 159, Invercargill 125, Raoul Is 112, Campbell Is 52, Chatham Is 126].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.