November 1979: Pressures were higher than normal over the whole of New Zealand during November, and were exceptionally high to the east near the Chatham Islands. Winds were mainly north-westerly and there was a lower frequency than usual of strong winds. Most areas were warmer and drier than normal, but some areas of Bay of Plenty were rather cloudy. Although some districts had high monthly rainfall totals, these could be attributed to isolated storms in these areas.
Rainfall: The only areas with rainfall appreciably above normal were parts of Northland, Bay of Plenty, Buller and coastal Canterbury. At Invercargill the lowest rainfall for November (22mm) since the station began in 1940 was recorded. Some parts of Hawkes Bay and Southland had less than 25% of their November average, and in Poverty Bay, Manawatu, South Canterbury, Otago and Fiordland less than 50% of normal fell. Between 9am on the 10th and 9am on the 11th nearly 83mm was recorded at Whangarei, its highest daily fall for November since records began in 1967. On the 20th at Albert Park, Auckland, 21mm were recorded between 4am and 5am. During the same afternoon and evening a severe thunderstorm passed over the Christchurch area. Between 2pm and 7pm 45mm of rain fell, and at 4pm more than 22mm of rain were measured in one hour. This storm contributed nearly half the total rainfall for the month, making this November with more than 100% above normal the wettest at Christchurch since 1967.
Some monthly totals (mm): Whangarei Aero 162, Albert Park 108, Kawerau 235, Hamilton 159, Westport 317, Christchurch Aero 97; Cape Reinga 40, Hastings 12, Taihape 27, Milford 339, Hawarden 26, Tekapo 27, Queenstown 34, Cromwell 14, Winton 18.
Temperatures: Temperatures were above normal throughout most of the country by 0.5C to 1C. In parts of Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and inland Canterbury they were above average by more than 1.5C. In most districts both day and night temperatures were greater than usual. During a warm spell from the 20th to the end of the month, afternoon maximum temperatures were above normal by 5C-8C in areas along the east coast of both islands. On the 27th Hawkes Bay had departures of 7C-9C above the usual maximum.
29.3C maximum at Earnscleugh on the 27th,
-1.8C minimum at Naseby on the 10th.
Sunshine: The only areas with sunshine hours below normal were Bay of Plenty, Nelson and parts of Westland with up to 30 hours less than usual. Taranaki and Wellington were above average by more than 30 hours.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 225, Dargaville 199, Waitangi 208, Whangarei 203, Auckland 197, Tauranga 200, Whakatane 224, Rotorua 187, Taupo 192, Auckland Aero 215, Hamilton 200, New Plymouth 247, Masterton 202, Dannevirke 192, Gisborne 233, Napier 232, Wairoa 236, Paraparaumu 206, Ohakea 234, Palmerston North 202, Levin 180, Wellington 244, Stratford 212, Manaia 242, Wanganui 212, Westport 185, Arapito 130, Hokitika 175, Greymouth 141, Riwaka 207, Nelson 199, Blenheim 243, Grassmere 221, Kaikoura 219, Mt Cook 160, Mt John 237, Methven 183, Christchurch 206, Tekapo 235, Timaru 175, Oamaru Aero 168, Omarama 203, Palmerston 176, Dunedin 157, Te Anau 192, Queenstown 212, Cromwell 224, Alexandra 205, Gore 176, Invercargill 183, Chatham Is 115 (2nd lowest)].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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February 17, 2012, 07:33:36 AM