October 1963: It was exceptionally dry, and also rather warm. Barometers were high during the month and there was much less wind than usual. Pasture growth was somewhat retarded, and some crops were badly in need of rain, though there was some relief from light falls near the end of the month.
Rainfall: Very few places in the North Island and the northern half of the South Island had even half the average rainfall; but in Otago and Southland rainfall was mainly about average. Some areas received less than 10% of average, notably the Kaitaia-Dargaville area; east of Lake Taupo, parts of South Taranaki; Wellington and parts of southern Wairarapa; northwest Nelson; and Nelson city and the area to the east. There has not been a drier October in
Wellington in 102 years of record; and in Nelson in 81 years of record; and for a number of other stations it was also the driest October on record.
Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly about 2F above average, highest departures being in inland and some eastern parts of the South Island and in central districts of the North Island. There was snow to low levels in Southland on the 13th, with some lamb losses.
Sunshine: Most of the country received a little more than average sunshine. Nelson and inland districts of the South Island together with the Gisborne-Taupo area were especially favoured, with surpluses of more than 20 hours. In Wanganui-Manawatu, Westland and coastal South Canterbury totals were somewhat below average.
[Some totals: Te Hapua 213, Kaitaia 215, Kerikeri 178, Whangarei 181, Auckland 186, Tauranga 215, Whakatane 224, Taupo 208, Opotiki 209, Hamilton 190, New Plymouth 181, Masterton 220, Gisborne 238, Napier 228, Wairoa 228, Paraparaumu 175, Ohakea 174, Palmerston Nth 144, Levin 145, Wellington 189, Stratford 206, Ohakune 192, Wanganui 184, Westport 155, Hokitika 144, Greymouth 119, Haast 149, Nelson 237, Blenheim 224, Grassmere 197, Kaikoura 191, Mt Cook 191, Methven 182, Christchurch 191, Tekapo 231, Timaru 165, Waimate 157, Omarama 212, Dunedin Aero 191, Dunedin 182, Queenstown 215, Alexandra 226, Invercargill 174, Campbell Is 59, Chatham Is 158].
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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May 10, 2015, 09:52:30 AM