NZ weather summary February 1983

[Rwood]

February 1983:   It was a cool month, with below average rainfalls everywhere except Southland and South Otago. South-westerly winds were more frequent than usual, with Auckland having its highest frequency of winds from this quarter for February since 1965 and Invercargill its greatest February number since 1972. There were also more strong winds than usual at Invercargill. Horticulture was affected by dry weather, and honey production was well down. The very dry conditions in the North Island meant fire bans were continued in many areas.

Rainfall: Rainfall for the whole country was below normal, with the exception of Southland and coastal South Otago, where it was normal or slightly above normal. Apart from areas of Nelson and Marlborough the rest of the South Island had 10%-50% of average rainfall. Parts of Nelson and Marlborough were without rain this month, stations recording nil rainfall including Havelock, Grovetown and Picton. The North Island was also very dry. Apart from some areas of Wanganui and Central Districts and in Whangarei where about 80% of normal rainfall was recorded, the rest of the North Island had less than half the usual rainfall. Areas around East Cape and Gisborne were particularly dry, with less than 10% of average at many stations.

Some totals (mm): Whangarei 84, Beaumont 124, Gore 104; Leigh 22, Ohope 11, New Plymouth 22, Gisborne 4, Napier 8, Paraparaumu 9, Rotoiti 14, Milford 234, Motueka 4, Blenheim 1, Tekapo 4, Wanaka 6, Cromwell 9.

Temperatures: Temperatures were about 1C below normal over the whole country, with the exception of Cape Reinga and Mt Cook, where they were normal. There were several particularly cool periods, including the 5th-6th (means 3C-6C below average in the South Island and 2C-4C below in the North Island). Temperatures everywhere were 3C-7C below average during the 8th and 9th. There was only one notably mild period, on the 2nd-3rd when maximum temperatures were especially high in Otago and Southland. Earnscleugh recorded 35.2C on the 2nd (highest for February, records from 1948), and Invercargill 29.8C – its highest for February since 1949. Mean temperatures were generally normal or above on the 16th-18th and again during the last few days of the month.

35.2C maximum at Earnscleugh on the 2nd, -2.6C minimum at Molesworth on the 6th.

Sunshine:  Sunshine hours were normal or above normal in eastern, southern and some central areas of the North Island and in Bay of Plenty, Nelson and some areas in the Mackenzie and Central Otago but were below normal elsewhere. Auckland and Invercargill were particularly dull. Auckland’s total of 147 hours was the lowest at city sites going back to 1963, and Invercargill’s 136 hours its lowest since 1961. Among stations with greatest departures were Auckland City (-53 hours), Hokitika (-58 hours), Oamaru (-33 hours) and Dunedin (-28 hours).

[Some totals: Kaitaia 182, Waitangi 192, Whangarei 153, Leigh 168, Auckland 147, Tauranga 198, Whakatane 229, Rotorua 221, Taupo 201, Auckland Aero 147, Hamilton 179, New Plymouth 219, Masterton 199, Dannevirke 186, Gisborne 220, Napier 215, Wairoa 203, Paraparaumu 200, Ohakea 199, Palmerston North 184, Levin 179, Wellington 202, Stratford 183, Wanganui 192, Westport 160, Arapito 146, Hokitika 117, Greymouth 94, Nelson 224, Blenheim 216, Grassmere 181, Kaikoura 152, Mt Cook 172, Methven 153, Christchurch 159, Timaru 147, Oamaru Aero 137, Omarama 207, Palmerston 148, Dunedin Aero 138, Dunedin 130, Te Anau 193, Queenstown 199, Cromwell 217, Alexandra 197, Gore 131, Invercargill 136].

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

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