June 1972: After a relatively warm autumn, temperatures fell rapidly near the end of May accompanied by very early snowfalls which persisted for much of the month, and there were further snowfalls to low levels. Losses of several thousand stock and other damage also occurred as a result of flooding in Southland and South Otago on the 12th. For the country as a whole it was the coldest June for many years, though only a little colder than June 1969. Conditions were, however, in marked contrast to the very mild conditions experienced during the two intervening winters in 1970 and 1971.
Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal over most of the country, mainly by about 25%. Some unusually low totals were recorded in Manawatu. In Southland and most of Otago rainfall was above normal. In an area extending 50 miles inland from just east of Invercargill to just southwest of Dunedin it was more than double the average. The heaviest rain in this area was on the 12th, with daily values of up to 150mm, causing floods at Inchclutha, in the Tokomariro River at Milton, and also in the Taieri and Mataura Rivers. Southland was isolated by road and rail.
265mm rain at Mahinerangi Dam (SW of Dunedin), 308% of average; 210mm at Milton (318%). 4mm rain at Adair (near Timaru), 16mm at Waitarere forest.
Temperatures: Temperatures were appreciably below normal except in Otago and Southland and western Northland, where they were close to normal. Departures averaged 1.5C over the North Island and 1C over the South Island. In Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Manawatu and Wellington this was the coldest June for more than 40 years. Snow was unusually frequent in both islands. The main snowfalls were on the 6th-7th, from the 11th to the 13th, and on the 18th-19th. Parts of Otago reported snow falling on about half of the days of the month, and in the mountainous area to the west and northwest of Dunedin some places were isolated for several days.
Lowest minimum,
-11.4C at Molesworth.
Sunshine: Over the greater part of the country sunshine was 20-50 hours above normal. However in Otago and Southland it was normal or up to 30 hours below; while in Northland, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay it was close to normal.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 131, Kerikeri 128, Whangarei 122, Leigh 145, Auckland 142, Tauranga 174, Whakatane 180, Taupo 146, Opotiki 183, Auckland Aero 144, Hamilton 144, New Plymouth 129, Masterton 104, Gisborne 143, Napier 144, Wairoa 130, Paraparaumu 147, Ohakea 146, Kairanga 142, Palmerston North 133, Levin 154, Wellington 129, Stratford 140, Ohakune 104, Wanganui 143, Takaka 184, Westport 129, Hokitika 131, Greymouth 117, Haast 159, Riwaka 183, Nelson 185, Blenheim 196, Grassmere 178, Kaikoura 151, Mt Cook 90, Mt John 149, Methven 155, Christchurch 145, Tekapo 93, Timaru 140, Waimate 133, Omarama 120, Palmerston 111, Dunedin Aero 94, Dunedin 75, Oamaru 122, Queenstown 75, Alexandra 108, Invercargill 56, Raoul Is 131, Campbell Is 5.6, Chatham Is 52].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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June 28, 2019, 04:56:07 PM