NZ weather summary October 1976

[Rwood]

October 1976:  October was the third successive month with a higher frequency of winds from an easterly quarter than normal. This has been reflected in the persistence of cloudy wet conditions in the east, with unusually cold temperatures in Canterbury. Farmers in eastern areas of both islands have found these conditions unfavourable, but elsewhere growth was good. The month was also less windy than usual.

Rainfall: Eastern districts from Gisborne to Otago averaged about 50% above normal rainfall. It was also above normal in a number of other areas, notably Buller and Nelson, Manawatu, Bay of Plenty with Coromandel, and eastern Northland. On the other hand, it was drier than normal in most western districts of the North Island and also in Marlborough (except the Kaikoura Coast), Westland with the Alps and the Canterbury high country, and most of Southland. As in the previous month, it was particularly dry in a considerable area of Fiordland and the Southern Lakes, with mainly less than half the normal value. The total rainfall for Milford Sound for August to October was only 483mm, by far the lowest for these 3 months in 47 years of record. Hydroelectric storage in the South Island has been unusually low for some months.

Some monthly totals (mm): Whangarei 212, Kawerau 231, Waipukurau 115, Napier 104, Palmerston North 141, Westport 284, Nelson 103, Rotoiti 169, Kaikoura 156, Temuka 77; Albert Park 69, Kelburn 62, Milford 281, Mt Cook 197, Tekapo 26, West Arm 202, Queenstown 37.

Temperatures:   Temperatures were below normal, mainly by up to 1C, in the North Island and in western districts of the South Island. However, east of the ranges in the South Island departures exceeded 1C, and in the Christchurch-Ashburton area they exceeded 2C. The coldest periods were the 3rd-5th and the 26th-27th.

25.0C maximum at Napier on the 9th, -6.4C minimum at Springs Junction on the 5th.

Sunshine:  Sunshine was below normal in eastern districts of both islands and also in northern districts of the South Island, mainly by 10-25%. The greatest percentage deficiency was recorded in South Canterbury and Otago. Very low totals of 90 hours were recorded at Dunedin and Palmerston. Above average totals were recorded from Waikato to Taranaki, and in eastern Northland.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 179, Dargaville 170, Whangarei 193, Leigh 200, Auckland 191, Tauranga 194, Whakatane 187, Rotorua 177, Taupo 183, Hamilton 202, Taumarunui 166, New Plymouth 205, Masterton 147, Dannevirke 141, Gisborne 182, Napier 187, Ohakea 181, Palmerston North 141, Levin 160, Wellington 168, Stratford 195, Wanganui 167, Westport 172, Hokitika 157, Greymouth 160, Riwaka 165, Nelson 163, Blenheim 186, Grassmere 174, Kaikoura 164, Mt Cook 127, Methven 153, Christchurch 166, Tekapo 168, Timaru 125, Oamaru Aero 118, Omarama 136, Palmerston 90, Dunedin 90, Te Anau 143, Queenstown 151, Alexandra 153, Gore 136, Invercargill 133].

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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[tich]

I just discovered an old diary of mine of a family trip to Lake Taupo, Ruapehu and Taranaki in late October 1976. Not a weather diary, but the entry for the 25th mentions it was "very cold and windy with big waves on the lake." (Taupo) The following day we went up to Mt Ruapehu, and sledged/tobogganed in the snow at the Top o' the Bruce. I remembered that trip and (not mentioned in the diary) there was still thick snow down to the bottom of the Whakapapa Ski Field and on Mt Taranaki, plus a little halfway down down to the Chateau.

[Rwood]

Yes, a run of cold months in the east.