August 1976: In August barometric pressures were low over New Zealand and comparatively high to the south; and an unusually high frequency of winds from an easterly quarter brought considerable cloud and rain to eastern and northern districts of the South Island. In these areas and in some southern districts of the North Island conditions were not favourable for lambing, with some stock losses. However, over most of the North Island the weather was relatively mild for August, with good growth and conditions for stock.
Rainfall: Rainfall was above normal over the greater part of the North Island and also in most northern and eastern districts of the South Island. It was more than double the normal value in Dunedin with a considerable part of North and Central Otago, and also in the Lyttelton-Banks Peninsula area. Rainfall was less than 3/4 of the normal value over a considerable area extending eastward from Westland and Fiordland over the Southern lakes district, the Alps, and part of the Canterbury high country. In the Christchurch-Banks peninsula area more than half the rain fell on the 26th and 27th, with over 200mm at some stations. Flooding affected part of Christchurch.
Some monthly totals (mm): Te Aroha 341, Hamilton 179, Taita 213, Christchurch 112, Oamaru Aero 69, Dunedin 96, Alexandra 49; Milford 147, Tekapo 22, Queenstown 29, Invercargill 40.
Temperatures: In most northern and some western districts of the North Island temperatures were more than 1C above normal. Elsewhere in the North Island and in Nelson and Marlborough they were about 0.5C above normal. In the rest of the South Island they were close to normal. The coldest periods were the first 8 days and the last 5 days, with considerable snow in the high country of Canterbury on the 26th-27th.
21.0C maximum at Waiau on the 25th,
-7.2C minimum at Twizel on the 3rd.
Sunshine: Sunshine was below normal in northern and eastern districts of the South Island by 30-60 hours, except in the Mackenzie Country. Timaru’s total of 85 hours and Dunedin’s 87 hours were the lowest August values on record for these cities. In Wairarapa and most of Hawkes Bay sunshine was below normal by up to 30 hours. South Westland had a surplus of 30 hours.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 143, Dargaville 126, Whangarei 140, Auckland 145, Tauranga 153, Whakatane 158, Rotorua 137, Taupo 128, Hamilton 157, Taumarunui 111, New Plymouth 158, Masterton 107, Dannevirke 101, Gisborne 140, Napier 132, Wairoa 141, Paraparaumu 141, Palmerston North 111, Levin 125, Wellington 128, Stratford 120, Wanganui 133, Westport 138, Hokitika 140, Greymouth 130, Haast 174, Riwaka 143, Nelson 150, Blenheim 159, Kaikoura 125, Mt Cook 95, Mt John 159, Methven 117, Christchurch 115, Tekapo 146, Timaru 85, Oamaru Aero 106, Omarama 132, Palmerston 96, Dunedin 87, Te Anau 102, Queenstown 113, Alexandra 134, Gore 128, Invercargill 114, Campbell Is 42 (record high)].
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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February 12, 2012, 08:58:36 PM