December 1985: December was cloudy over the majority of the country and wetter in most places, with above average temperatures over the whole country. North-westerly winds prevailed and strong winds were less frequent than usual. North-easterlies and south-easterlies were about 10% more frequent than usual. South-westerlies had their lowest frequency over the southern South Island for almost 30 years. Mean sea level pressures were above average everywhere, with greatest departures of 2hPa in the east of the North Island. Surface flooding was reported in Auckland City and Paraparaumu on the 2nd and 23rd respectively, with heavy rainfall affecting other areas on those dates.
Rainfall: Rainfall was above average over most of the country and several records were set for maximum December rainfall. However Southland, Hawkes Bay and Gisborne received below average rainfall. On the 2nd Auckland City Weather Office recorded 52mm from midday to midnight, and 133mm fell at Paraparaumu Airport within 24 hours over the 22nd-23rd. Some of the greatest departures were (station, start year, fall (mm), %average, [rank]): Whenuapai 1943, 236, 248%, highest; Auckland City 1961, 172, 214%, highest; Paraparaumu Airport 1945, 215, 282%, 2nd highest; Gisborne 1937, 22, 25%.
Some totals (mm): North Egmont 697, Totaranui 410, Hokitika 343, Cropp Waterfall 1423, Nelson 161, Peel Forest 225, Tekapo 127; Whakatu 30, Invercargill 52.
Temperatures: Mean daily temperatures were at least 0.5C above average, and mostly 1.5C above average for the whole country. The West Coast had mean daily temperatures 2.0C above average, with average minima being up to 2.5C above normal.
30.7C maximum at Fairlie on the 28th,
0.6C minimum at Molesworth on the 4th.
Sunshine: The South Island was generally fairly cloudy throughout the month, while sunny days in the North Island were evenly spread. Sunshine totals were above average in Northland, Auckland, north Taranaki, Gisborne, Wanganui and northern Manawatu, and just above normal in Southland. Elsewhere they were average or below, and only 70% of normal in Canterbury, Otago and Westland. Some of the greatest departures were at Kaikoura (-64 hrs, lowest on record), Christchurch (-56 hrs), Hokitika (-43 hrs) and Dunedin Airport (-55 hrs).
[Some totals: Kaitaia 237, Waitangi 215, Whangarei 219, Leigh 238, Auckland 226, Tauranga 216, Whakatane n/a, Rotorua 206, Taupo 189, Auckland Aero 241, Hamilton 229, New Plymouth 244, Masterton 190, Dannevirke n/a, Gisborne 255, Napier 225, Wairoa 238, Paraparaumu 218, Ohakea 242, Palmerston North 178, Levin 162, Wellington 212, Stratford 201, Wanganui 252, Westport 148, Arapito 145, Hokitika 159, Greymouth 126, Nelson 210, Blenheim 194, Grassmere 173, Kaikoura 142, Mt Cook 132, Methven 123, Christchurch 154, Timaru 124, Oamaru Aero n/a, Omarama 153, Palmerston 122, Dunedin Aero 127, Dunedin 139, Te Anau n/a, Queenstown 179, Cromwell 203, Alexandra 182, Gore 195, Invercargill 198].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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May 09, 2015, 08:45:30 AM