New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => Historical => 1955 - 1959 => Topic started by: Rwood on March 25, 2018, 07:14:26 PM
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May 1955: May was the 7th month of an unusually lengthy warm spell which had commenced in November 1954. It was the first time since 1938 that temperatures had been above normal for so many months. Good growth was reported in most districts, though some areas, particularly the Kaikoura Coast, were too dry. Northerly gales which affected most of the South Island on the 19th were particularly strong in Dunedin and caused some damage there.
Rainfall: Rainfall was appreciably above normal in northern, western and inland districts of the South Island, and also in western districts of the North Island as far north as New Plymouth. Most of inland Canterbury and Central Otago received more than double the normal rainfall. There was a deficiency of more than 50% in the east from East Cape to north of Christchurch; Gisborne, Napier and Kaikoura all received less than 1”. Rainfall was also somewhat below normal over the Auckland Province.
Some very heavy rain was recorded in western and northern districts from Taranaki to Westland during a spell of northerly winds from the 4th to the 8th. Local flooding was reported in many districts, but was especially serious in Greytown and parts of Marlborough, including Picton. An exceptional fall of 1.25” in an hour at Wellington on the 4th caused brief flooding in the city streets. In parts of Nelson and Westland roads were blocked by slips and several bridges were carried away.
Temperatures: Temperatures were above normal over the whole country, mainly by about 3F. A wintry spell accompanied a southerly change on the 22nd, with snow on some of the mountains in the North Island.
Sunshine: Sunshine was appreciably below normal over the provinces of Auckland, Taranaki and Westland. The deficiency exceeded an hour a day over most of the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Northland. Eastern and inland districts from Hanmer to Invercargill had a small surplus.
[Some totals: Te Hapua 108, Kaitaia 124, Kerikeri 87, Whangarei 104, Auckland 115, Tauranga 131, Taupo 118, Hamilton 114, New Plymouth 121, Masterton 136, Gisborne 139, Napier 149, Paraparaumu 138, Ohakea 131, Palmerston Nth 127, Levin 140, Wellington 132, Wanganui 128, Westport 132, Hokitika 113, Greymouth 102, Haast 122, Nelson 159, Blenheim 163, Grassmere 157, Mt Cook 89, Methven 164, Christchurch 143, Tekapo 144, Timaru 148, Waimate 152, Omarama 154, Dunedin 133, Queenstown 87, Alexandra 145, Invercargill 102].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.