NZ weather summary December 1959

[Rwood]

December 1959:  It was cloudy and warm, with an unusually high frequency of northerly to easterly winds. It was a good month for stock, except that in southern and western districts of the North Island and in Nelson it was considered to be too dry, and crops were affected. A small local whirlwind caused some damage at Howick on the 15th.

Rainfall: Rainfall was appreciably below average in the North Island south of Hamilton (except Gisborne) and in Marlborough and North Canterbury. In eastern districts from Christchurch to Napier and in Manawatu it was less than half normal. Parts of southern Wairarapa received only 0.5”. There was much more rain than usual near Whangarei and about the Hauraki Plains-Coromandel area, also over most of Otago and the Gisborne district. Coromandel received more than twice its normal rainfall, with totals up to 12”. There was considerable thunderstorm activity on the 14th, 15th, 29th and 30th, especially in western districts.

Temperatures: Temperatures were above average. Highest departures of 3F-4F were recorded on the West Coast, in Taranaki and in the National Park-Taihape area. In Northland departures were 2F-3F. Elsewhere it was only about 1F warmer than usual.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly below average, except in most of Westland. Greatest deficiencies of 50-110 hours were recorded in eastern districts. Hanmer, Ashburton, Timaru, Waimate and Dunedin all had their cloudiest December in over 30 years of observation. The total of 60 hours at Waimate (*) was the lowest ever recorded in New Zealand in a summer month.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 239, Kaitaia 215, Kerikeri 194, Whangarei 172, Auckland 186, Tauranga 205, Whakatane 218, Taupo 193, Hamilton 213, New Plymouth 170, Masterton 167, Gisborne 190, Napier 215, Wairoa 199, Paraparaumu 209, Ohakea 222, Palmerston Nth 188, Levin 204, Wellington 205, Wanganui 221, Westport 177, Hokitika 203, Greymouth 193, Haast 142, Nelson 238, Blenheim 226, Grassmere 196, Mt Cook 120, Methven 123, Christchurch 124, Tekapo 176, Timaru 90, Waimate 60, Omarama 125, Dunedin 100, Queenstown 190, Alexandra 181, Invercargill 140, Campbell Is 88, Chatham Is 75 (lowest)].

[(*) Waimate recorded only about 13% of its possible sunshine. Only in June and July has relatively less been recorded anywhere, and in those cases the exposures are somewhat suspect].


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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[ato2]

Thanks for that RWood.