New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => Historical => 1955 - 1959 => Topic started by: Rwood on March 21, 2015, 07:18:09 PM
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April 1957: It was warmer than usual. Rainfall was comparatively low over the North Island but mainly adequate. Generally it was a good month for stock and for pasture growth.
Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal over the North Island. Totals were less than half the usual value in Hawkes Bay and in the Auckland province, excepting Northland. Rainfall was doubled in many districts of the South Island from the Waitaki River northward. Total falls exceeded 20” in parts of the West Coast and also around Motueka [Riwaka had 20.03”, over 400% of average and exceeded only by August 1990]. Bainham in northwest Nelson received nearly 34”, and at the Moeraki River near Haast, 39” were recorded. There was some unusually heavy rain over the Nelson province from the 12th-17th in a northerly airstream, and total for the 6 days were up to 19” in parts of the Motueka-Takaka area. Serious flooding occurred in the Motueka River and Waimea Plains.
Temperatures: Temperatures were above normal, mainly by about 2F. Departures were highest in western districts.
Sunshine: Sunshine was below normal by about an hour a day in Nelson, Westland and Central Otago; and above normal by the same amount in parts of the Auckland province.
[Some totals: Te Hapua 188, Kaitaia 176, Kerikeri 171, Whangarei 176, Auckland 179, Tauranga 193, Whakatane 214, Taupo 154, Hamilton 167, New Plymouth 165, Masterton 144, Gisborne 203, Napier 195, Paraparaumu 153, Ohakea 140, Palmerston Nth 128, Levin 133, Wellington 142, Wanganui 160, Westport 106, Hokitika 108, Greymouth 105, Haast 90, Nelson 142, Blenheim 173, Grassmere 167, Mt Cook 97, Methven 138, Christchurch 141, Tekapo 136, Timaru 117, Waimate 110, Omarama 125, Dunedin Aero 104, Dunedin 102, Queenstown 105, Alexandra 121, Invercargill 107, Campbell Is 32, Chatham Is 105].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.