New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => Historical => 1965 - 1969 => Topic started by: Rwood on June 18, 2018, 03:05:42 PM
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January 1965: Marked by an unusually high frequency of northeasterly winds. Canterbury had some relief from dry weather, especially on the 21st, and many farmers in the area found January a good month. In most other parts of the country the combination of warmer than usual temperatures with good rains produced exceptional growth; some found it too lush for fattening lambs. In some districts, especially in the North Island, conditions were too wet and unsettled for haymaking.
Rainfall: Rainfall was above average over the greater part of the country. It was double the average value in southern Northland, Coromandel and parts of Bay of Plenty; also over considerable areas of Central and South Canterbury (mainly inland), and in northern Central Otago. The principal areas with rainfall below average, by 20 to 50 percent, were coastal Hawkes Bay and parts of southern Manawatu, Wairarapa, Wellington, the Kaikoura Coast, and Buller.
As in December, there was excessive thunderstorm activity, especially over the North Island, with some heavy short-period downpours. Many thunderstorms were reported over the North Island from the 12th-15th and 28th-31st; and over the South Island, 22nd-24th. Some exceptionally heavy hail accompanied a thunderstorm in the Ashburton area on the 24th.
Temperatures: Temperatures showed unusually large variations. The greater part of the country was 1F-3F warmer than average. However, it was particularly warm in most western districts from Waitomo southward, also in Wellington and Nelson, on the Canterbury coast, and around Dunedin; departures in these areas ranged from 3F-5F. On the other hand, parts of the South Island high country were 1F cooler than normal. Snowfall was reported on the South Island ranges on the 24th.
Sunshine: In the South Island sunshine was more than 20 hours below average, except in Marlborough. It was 50-80 hours below average over most of the South Island high country and the West Coast. Record low totals for January in over 30 years of observation were received at Tekapo (187) and Queenstown (161). The North Island was mostly favoured with 10-30 hours more sunshine than average; the surplus was greater in southern Manawatu and Wellington. The only part of the North Island with sunshine appreciably below average was the Bay of Plenty-Taupo area, with a deficiency of 20-60 hours.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 242, Kerikeri 224, Whangarei 187, Auckland 237, Tauranga 230, Whakatane 234, Taupo 207, Opotiki 217, Hamilton 239, New Plymouth 268, Masterton 229, Gisborne 260, Napier 274, Wairoa 263, Paraparaumu 291, Ohakea 263, Palmerston Nth 241, Levin 275, Wellington 304, Stratford 243, Ohakune 200, Wanganui 250, Westport 178, Hokitika 142, Greymouth 141, Haast 136, Riwaka 245, Nelson 230, Blenheim 262, Grassmere 240, Kaikoura 233, Mt Cook 122, Mt John 187, Methven 163, Christchurch 180, Tekapo 187, Timaru 146, Waimate 124, Dunedin Aero 139, Dunedin 144, Queenstown 161, Alexandra 169, Invercargill 169, Campbell Is 149 {2nd highest on record}, Chatham Is 216].
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Wellington’s 304 hours was the highest sunshine total, followed by 291 at Paraparaumu. Nelson was relatively cloudy with 230, showing the reversal effects of persistent northeasterlies with blocking to the east of the country. Wellington also had the largest temperature anomaly (about +4.5F=2.5C), and with its fairly low windrun this produced its best ever January in my rating system.