January 1978: Pressures were unusually high over the whole of New Zealand during January, with a predominance of westerly winds over most of the country. Rainfall was below normal over most of the country with the exception of northern Northland and the West Coast. In most areas this was a sunny, warm month. The only appreciably cold spell was on the 1st/2nd, when some areas had daily maximum temperatures well below normal. The longest fine dry spell was from the 21st to the 29th. Throughout the country pastures had become very dry with negligible grass growth.
Rainfall: The only areas with rainfall above normal were the extreme north of Northland and the West Coast. Parts of Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Taranaki, Nelson and Marlborough, had less than 10% of the average total. Blenheim Aerodrome had no rainfall, its first January time since records started in 1941. At Motueka only 0.1mm was recorded during the month. Although 86 mm was recorded at Kaitaia Aerodrome, 84 mm of this fell in 36 hours on the 8th/10th during the passage of cyclone “Bob” across Northland. Many areas in both islands had less than 20% of the normal totals. Parts of Westland were above normal by more than 50%.
Some monthly totals (mm): Hokitika 360, Harihari 519; Albert Park 38, Tauranga 14, Rotorua 9, New Plymouth 26, Waipukurau 4, Paraparaumu 9, Ohakune 7, Motueka 0.1, Blenheim Aero 0, Tekapo 5.
Temperatures: Temperatures were above normal over the whole of New Zealand. In Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Wairarapa and the majority of the South Island, apart from the West Coast, they were at least 1.0C above normal. Some areas in the central North Island and Otago were above normal by almost 2.0C.
35.1C maximum at Gisborne on the 17th,
0.1C minimum at Waiouru on the 2nd.
Sunshine: The only area with below or near normal sunshine for the month was Westland, the rest of the country having at least 10% more than usual. Many places had at least 20 hours more sunshine, and in some parts of both islands more than 40 hours greater than average. The total of 305 hours at Manaia, Taranaki was its highest for any month (records from 1968).
[Some totals: Kaitaia 262, Waitangi 275, Whangarei 224, Auckland 259, Tauranga 273, Whakatane 273, Rotorua 270, Taupo 271, Hamilton 240, Te Kuiti 244, Taumarunui 250, New Plymouth 283, Masterton 275, Dannevirke 255, Gisborne 285, Napier 272, Wairoa 280, Paraparaumu 261, Ohakea 287, Palmerston North 256, Levin 252, Wellington 274, Manaia 305, Wanganui 271, Westport 223, Hokitika 180, Greymouth 188, Riwaka 296, Nelson 295, Blenheim 304, Grassmere 259, Kaikoura 214, Mt Cook 211, Mt John 291, Methven 239, Christchurch 219, Tekapo 290, Timaru 216, Oamaru Aero 190, Omarama 267, Palmerston 211, Dunedin 218, Te Anau 242, Queenstown 267, Alexandra 253, Gore 206, Invercargill 192].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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February 15, 2012, 01:09:57 PM