NZ weather summary August 1961

[Rwood]

August 1961:  Marked by an unusually high frequency of winds from the south and east, with a reversal of the usual weather patterns, so that the West Coast was much sunnier and even a little drier than Hawkes Bay. A southerly storm raged over the southern half of the North Island from about the 4th to the 10th. Air services were disrupted and there were many interruptions to road and rail transport through slips and washouts. In the centre of the Island the heaviest snowfall for many years blocked the Desert Road for several days. Heavy losses of lambs were reported at this time from west of the Ruahines and in eastern districts of the North Island. In the remainder of the country the month was regarded as reasonably favourable for farming.

Rainfall: Rainfall was less than 3/4 of the normal value over Taranaki and southern Auckland; also over the South Island, except for the Kaikoura Coast, Canterbury and North Otago. It was appreciably wetter than usual in eastern districts from Gisborne to Wairarapa, also in Taihape and parts of Canterbury. In Taihape, central and southern Hawkes Bay, and northern Wairarapa rainfall was double the normal value, and for a few stations it was the wettest August in many years. Flooding was reported from around the 7th, during the southerly storm, in Wanganui, Manawatu, and Wairarapa. Many stations received 5-7 in. of rain over the period 4th to 9th; Orongorongo in the ranges east of Wellington received nearly 19”. [The NZ-France test match at Athletic Park was played during this period.]

Temperatures: For most of the country temperatures were below normal by about a degree (F). However on the West Coast they were above by a degree; and Canterbury, Nelson and Taranaki had temperatures close to average.

Sunshine: Sunshine showed extreme variations. It was above average over the greater part of the country, mainly by about 20 hours. For the West Coast it was the sunniest August on record, and Hokitika’s 210 hrs was nearly double Napier’s 111 hrs. Eastern districts from Gisborne to Wairarapa received 30-70 hours less than usual, and sunshine was also somewhat below normal in inland Manawatu, about Wellington city, and in coastal Otago near Dunedin. [Westport’s total of 221 hours was one of the highest recorded in NZ in any August – the many sunny days in the west, north and hinterland of the South Island would have given great scenic views, with good winter snow cover on the mountains].

[Some totals: Te Hapua 171, Kaitaia 184, Kerikeri 156, Whangarei 146, Auckland 177, Tauranga 164, Whakatane 184, Taupo 175, Hamilton 174, New Plymouth 179, Masterton 103, Gisborne 115, Napier 111, Wairoa 108, Paraparaumu 157, Ohakea 140, Palmerston North 110, Foxton 178, Levin 148, Wellington 125, Wanganui 153, Westport 221, Hokitika 210, Greymouth 194, Haast 204, Nelson 210, Blenheim 205, Grassmere 189, Kaikoura 167, Mt Cook 128, Methven 186, Christchurch 157, Tekapo 197, Timaru 175, Waimate 159, Oamaru Aero 167, Omarama 207, Dunedin 114, Queenstown 130, Alexandra 173, Invercargill 144, Campbell Is 32, Chatham Is 81].


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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