NZ weather summary December 1963

[Rwood]

December 1963: December was a dry, windy month over the greater part of the country. In Northland it was the 3rd successive month of dry weather and in many areas pasture growth was poor, with declining dairy production. Conditions were also very dry in Nelson and Marlborough. Some sheep were lost in Canterbury due to heavy rain with cold temperatures on the 20th.

Rainfall: Over the greater part of the country rainfall was less than 3/4 of the average value. The greatest deficits were recorded in Marlborough and Nelson. By contrast, on the East Coast rainfall was 2-5 times the average value. It was also somewhat above average in Bay of Plenty and eastern Waikato, northern and central Hawkes Bay; and on Banks Peninsula and the North Canterbury coast. On Banks Peninsula and about Christchurch some exceptionally heavy falls were reported on the 20th – over 6” at Lyttelton, and 14” at Pigeon Bay. Flooding occurred in some of these areas.

Temperatures: Temperatures were more than 2F below normal in South Otago and Southland, and also in some parts of North Canterbury and Marlborough. Elsewhere they were mainly 1F cooler than average, except over most of the Auckland province, where they were close to normal.

Sunshine: Sunshine was above average in eastern [north of Christchurch] and northern districts of the South Island [and in Central Otago and Tekapo] and also in North Taranaki, mainly by 20-40 hours. New Plymouth and Nelson were particularly favoured, with a surplus of more than 50 hours. By contrast, Gisborne and parts of Hawkes Bay had 20-40 hours below normal, and most of Southland had 20-25 hours below normal.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 240, Kaitaia 237, Kerikeri 239, Whangarei 215, Auckland 217, Tauranga 232, Whakatane 230, Taupo 239, Opotiki 210, Hamilton 223, New Plymouth 271, Masterton 218, Gisborne 208, Napier 215, Wairoa 204, Paraparaumu 251, Ohakea 228, Palmerston Nth 185, Levin 204, Wellington 242, Stratford 263, Ohakune 181, Wanganui 238, Westport 238, Hokitika 190, Greymouth 174, Haast 197, Nelson 300, Blenheim 265, Grassmere 240, Kaikoura 234, Mt Cook 193, Methven 207, Christchurch 209, Tekapo 283, Timaru 204, Waimate 174, Omarama 235, Dunedin Aero 158, Dunedin 171, Queenstown 244, Alexandra 254, Invercargill 168, Campbell Is 87, Chatham Is 141].


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]

14" = 355mm. That's a massive one-day total. No doubt lots of slips and flooding on Banks Peninsula.

[Rwood]

I don't know what was recorded at Akaroa, but the Onawe site in Duvauchelle Bay had 8.55" on the 20th, quite a hefty amount.

[ato2]

Have there been heavier falls in that area, since then? Just curious.

[Rwood]

On a 2-day basis, Hickory Bay had 16.21" on 10-11 April 1968 (Giselle event).

[ato2]

Have there been heavier falls in that area, since then? Just curious.

On a 2-day basis, Hickory Bay had 16.21" on 10-11 April 1968 (Giselle event).
[/quote]
Thanks, RWood