New Zealand Local Weather Forum
Weather Discussion => Historical => 1965 - 1969 => Topic started by: Rwood on June 30, 2018, 02:07:43 PM
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October 1965: October was a cool month and in many areas also rather dry. In Marlborough and Bay of Plenty, after two months with very little rain, pastures were being seriously affected. In many other districts growth was somewhat retarded by cool temperatures or lack of rain, but Gisborne and Hawkes Bay had more favourable conditions. A particularly strong northwesterly gale buffeted inland Canterbury on the 3rd, in some areas more destructive than the gale of 13 July 1945.
Rainfall: Over the greater part of the country rainfall was 25% below average. In Bay of Plenty and Marlborough it was less than half; some stations in Marlborough had totals of under an inch for September plus October, the lowest recorded for this period. There were two main areas with rainfall above average. The first included the whole of Southland, Otago except for coastal districts from about Dunedin northward, and inland South Canterbury. In parts of Central Otago and inland Southland it was twice as wet as normal. The other main area, with rainfall up to 50% above average, consisted of Gisborne away from the coastal districts, and Hawkes Bay.
Temperatures: Except in parts of the Gisborne district temperatures were below normal, mainly by 2F. In Southland and Central Otago departures were as high as 3F. On the 6th a cold front brought snow to the high country of both islands, extending to low levels in parts of the South Island, including Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson.
Sunshine: Sunshine was somewhat above normal over the greater part of the country, and some eastern districts were favoured with a surplus of 30 hours or more. In western and northern districts of both islands sunshine was somewhat below average, with deficits of up to 30 hours in Northland and Manawatu.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 147, Kerikeri 152, Whangarei 143, Auckland 175, Tauranga 193, Whakatane 207, Taupo 199, Opotiki 186, Hamilton 190, New Plymouth 161, Masterton 223, Gisborne 214, Napier 238, Wairoa 231, Paraparaumu 183, Ohakea 168, Palmerston North 131, Levin 157, Wellington 222, Stratford 176, Ohakune 167, Wanganui 163, Westport 176, Hokitika 148, Greymouth 131, Haast 184, Riwaka 250, Nelson 241, Blenheim 255, Grassmere 241, Kaikoura 232, Mt Cook 161, Mt John 241, Methven 217, Christchurch 221, Tekapo 242, Timaru 197, Waimate 206, Dunedin Aero 194, Dunedin 196, Queenstown 200, Alexandra 222, Invercargill 169, Raoul Is 231, Campbell Is 84, Chatham Is 186 (highest)].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.
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A cool month, but surplus sunshine in many parts was some compensation.
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I remember this month well as I had to study for exams. Getting up in the morning at 5am to swot up stuff. And feeling quite cold!