NZ weather summary September 1962

[Rwood]

September 1962: Fairly typical, but in many districts it was a little warmer, drier and sunnier than usual. The first half of the month was rather cloudy and unsettled, with some cold rains early on. Thunderstorms were widespread on the 5th in the Taranaki-Wanganui, with a small tornado at the New Plymouth showgrounds. Other small tornadoes were reported at Temuka on the 9th and Ohiwa (east of Whakatane) on the 14th.

Rainfall: Rainfall was about 2/3 of the average in eastern and inland districts of the South Island, also in the south of Wellington province, Taranaki and northern Northland. Elsewhere it was mainly close to normal, but at least 50% above average in parts of Bay of Plenty and Gisborne, and about Nelson city.

Temperatures: It was the 12th month in succession with temperatures above average, mainly by 0.5C or less. Snow was reported in the high country of both islands and to low levels in Southland on the 1st and 2nd.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly about normal or 10-25 hours above. Eastern districts of the North Island from Wairarapa to Gisborne received up to 30 hours less than usual.

[Nearly all SI locations were above average. Dunedin’s sun was about 20% up, and lowish rainfall and light winds made for a pleasant month. October there was much warmer than usual and also sunnier, and the combination of those two months was the best weather for that time of year (and probably for any other, for that matter) I experienced in my time in Dunedin].

[Some totals: Te Hapua 163, Kaitaia 158, Kerikeri 144, Whangarei 146, Auckland 187, Tauranga 181, Whakatane 180, Taupo 160, Opotiki 175, Hamilton 191, New Plymouth 182, Masterton 137, Gisborne 148, Napier 164, Wairoa 144, Paraparaumu 173, Ohakea 160, Palmerston Nth 137, Levin 162, Wellington 166, Ohakune 126, Wanganui 158, Westport 177, Hokitika 172, Greymouth 163, Haast 163, Nelson 226, Blenheim 219, Grassmere 200, Kaikoura 183, Mt Cook 150, Methven 184, Christchurch 169, Tekapo 218, Timaru 165, Waimate 164, Oamaru 168, Omarama 191, Dunedin Aero 165, Dunedin 167, Queenstown 168, Alexandra 189, Invercargill 137, Campbell Is 68, Chatham Is 98].

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