NZ weather summary June 1974

[Rwood]

June 1974:   June was marked by an unusually high frequency of easterly winds, especially over the North Island, where the weather was very wet and cloudy east of the ranges. Heavy seas affected many areas on the east coast of both islands on the 21st, causing some damage.

Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal in northern and most western districts of the South Island besides the greater part of Southland and Otago; also in western areas of the North Island and in northern Northland. A considerable area of Nelson and Marlborough received less than 1/4 of the normal value. By contrast, east of the North Island ranges and on the Northland coast from Whangarei to Bay of Islands, rainfall was more than 50% above normal. It was more than double the average over most of the Hawkes Bay coast and extending inland over the Heretaunga Plains; also in parts of Gisborne. In these areas some stations had 130-270mm on the 15th, causing serious and extensive flooding around Hastings. At Napier Aerodrome 124mm of rain were recorded in 12 hours, corresponding to the maximum fall expected once in 50 years.

238mm at Napier (3rd highest), 8mm at Blenheim (record low).

Temperatures:  In the North Island temperatures were above normal by up to 1C. In the South Island they were mainly close to normal, but in parts of Central Otago and inland Canterbury they were below normal by up to 1.5C. There was a marked cold spell in southerlies, especially over the South Island, from the 11th to the 20th; and this was followed by a marked mild spell in westerlies from the 21st to the 26th.

22.0C maximum at Esk Forest on the 25th, -12.1C at Tekapo on the 20th.

Sunshine:   Sunshine was mainly close to normal. However, it was below normal by up to 60 hours east of the ranges in the North Island; and above normal by 20-40 hours in most of Southland, Otago and South Canterbury.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 134, Whangarei 103, Auckland 132, Tauranga 128, Whakatane 135, Taupo 103, Hamilton 128, New Plymouth 148, Masterton 93, Dannevirke 79, Gisborne 102, Napier 127, Ohakea 141, Palmerston North 109, Wellington 110, Stratford 122, Wanganui 124, Takaka 163, Westport 132, Hokitika 101, Haast 107, Nelson 172, Blenheim 178, Kaikoura 124, Methven 134, Christchurch 128, Timaru 145, Omarama 138, Dunedin 115, Oamaru 139, Queenstown 91, Alexandra 94, Invercargill 100, Raoul Is 89].

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).

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