June 1976: June was marked by a high frequency of southerly to south-westerly winds, and it was a cold month. During the coldest period, on the 20th and 21st, storm force southerly winds disrupted the Cook Strait ferry service.
Rainfall: Rainfall was above normal in western and southern districts of both islands. In the South Island it was also above normal over most of the high country and in the area around Christchurch. In part of northern Manawatu rainfall was more than double the average. On the other hand, Northern and Central Hawkes Bay received less than half the normal rainfall. Most other northern and eastern districts had about 3/4 of the normal. Serious flooding was reported around Feilding and in parts of Palmerston North on the 29th as a result of heavy rain on the 28th, amounting mainly to 80-110 mm.
Some monthly totals (mm): New Plymouth 277, Ohakea 245, Wainuiomata 339, Stratford Mountain House 1107, Wanganui 209, Otira 641, Invercargill 163; Mokohinau 44, Tauranga 75, Napier Aero 23, Timaru 18.
Temperatures: Mean temperatures were below normal over the whole country, with departures averaging 1C over the North Island but only 0.5C over the South Island. In Northland, it was the coldest June for nearly 30 years. Temperatures showed considerable variation during the month. They were unusually high for the first 3 days; on the 2nd many stations in Canterbury and a few in Otago, Marlborough and Nelson experienced their warmest June day on record.
Kaikoura’s 24.0C was the highest temperature recorded so far in June anywhere in New Zealand. The period 20th-25th was particularly cold; and over the country as a whole the 21st was one of the coldest days experienced for many years. Widespread snow to low levels was reported from the 20th to the 22nd in the South Island and also over considerable areas of the North Island. Another fall affected many parts of the South Island east of the ranges on the 29th and 30th. On the 23rd, Kaitaia aerodrome registered its first sub-freezing air temperature in 28 years of record: -0.5C.
24.0C maximum at Kaikoura on the 2nd,
-9.5C minimum at Twizel on the 30th.
Sunshine: Considerable areas were favoured with sunshine 10-30 hours above normal, namely the Southland plain with parts of South Otago; the Canterbury Plains; the North Taranaki-King Country-Waikato area; and Northland. Gore’s total of 112 hours was the highest recorded there in June for 30 years. Eastern districts from Pahiatua to Wairoa received 10-30 hours less sun than normal, as did Wanganui.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 155, Dargaville 117, Whangarei 155, Auckland 128, Tauranga 134, Whakatane 142, Taupo 110, Hamilton 122, Te Kuiti 109, Taumarunui 84, New Plymouth 128, Masterton 106, Dannevirke 88, Gisborne 142, Napier 126, Wairoa 102, Paraparaumu 112, Ohakea 108, Palmerston North 84, Levin 103, Wellington 94, Manaia 104, Wanganui 86, Westport 108, Hokitika 142, Greymouth 101, Haast 117, Riwaka 137, Nelson 147, Blenheim 149, Kaikoura 125, Mt Cook 65, Mt John 143, Methven 138, Christchurch 127, Tekapo 107, Timaru 128, Oamaru Aero 147, Omarama 117, Palmerston 128, Dunedin 103, Te Anau 65, Queenstown 76, Alexandra 90, Gore 112, Invercargill 79].
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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February 12, 2012, 08:58:36 PM