March 1981: Warm, cloudy weather was experienced in most parts of New Zealand in March. Rainfall was highly variable in different parts of the country, some of which had drought and others floods. North-easterly winds continued to be more frequent than usual in the north of the country again this month. The south also experienced more north-easterlies than usual, and winds were generally much lighter than expected at this time of year.
Rainfall: March was dry over nearly all of the North Island, particularly in Auckland, East Cape-Bay of Plenty and the Wairarapa, these areas recording less than 50% of normal. Local areas of drought occurred in parts of South Auckland where 30% of average rainfall occurred. Although isolated heavy falls in Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Matamata caused monthly totals to be well above normal, these areas were otherwise dry as well. The north-east coast, Southland and Fiordland had below or close to normal rainfall, but the rest of the South Island was much wetter than usual. Areas of Nelson, Golden Bay, Westland, the Mount Cook region and Central Otago had more than twice the average totals. Severe localised flooding occurred in Kerikeri after torrential rain from a thunderstorm during the night of the 19th-20th. Kerikeri Aerodrome reported 265mm in the 24 hours to 9am/20th, an event expected less frequently than once in 200 years; 130mm fell between 8pm and 9.30pm, again with a return period of over 200 years. One person drowned in flash floods, and damage to property was estimated at $2 million. At Waitangi, 257mm fell in the 24-hour period. Heavy rain also fell in Matamata on the afternoon of the 26th. 112mm fell in the 24 hours to 9am/27th, 100mm falling between 4pm and 5.30pm. Shops and houses in low-lying areas were flooded to a depth of 75cm.
Some totals (mm): Kerikeri 396, Waitangi 327, Hokitika 430, Cropp Hut 1468, Riwaka 220, Mt Cook 620, Wanaka 150, Alexandra 88; Albert Park 25, Waipukurau 23, Waipara 18.
Temperatures: Mean temperatures were above normal by an average of 1C in the South Island and 2C in the North. Unusually high temperatures were recorded in a warm spell from the 8th-10th, particularly in Manawatu. These included 27.6C at New Plymouth on the 8th, the highest since the station opened in 1944; 30.1C at Ohakea and 31.2C at Palmerston North on the 9th, both records since 1964. Masterton (Waingawa) had 32C on the 9th, its highest for March since 1956. Temperatures over the whole country became much cooler towards the end of the month. They were as much as 5.5C lower than average on the 29th and 5C lower on the 30th, with -1C recorded at Dunedin Airport.
32.1C maximum at Waipukurau on the 10th,
-2.5C minimum at Lake Coleridge on the 29th.
Sunshine: Although March was a warm month it was also cloudy. All areas received less sunshine than normal although coastal areas south of Christchurch were close to average. Stations recording large deficits included: Rotorua (-71 hours), Taupo (-63 hours), Auckland City (-46 hours), Tauranga (-39 hours), Hokitika (-59 hours), Nelson (-51 hours) and Westport (-48 hours).
[Some totals: Kaitaia 160, Waitangi 135, Whangarei 112, Auckland 148, Tauranga 165, Whakatane 164, Rotorua 122, Taupo 127, Auckland Aero 161, Hamilton 146, New Plymouth 155, Masterton 154, Dannevirke 127, Gisborne 184, Napier 180, Wairoa 182, Paraparaumu 169, Ohakea 174, Palmerston North 144, Levin 146, Wellington 175, Manaia 160, Wanganui 150, Westport 126, Arapito 125, Hokitika 110, Greymouth 107, Nelson 160, Blenheim 194, Grassmere 184, Kaikoura 156, Mt Cook 95, Methven 161, Christchurch 150, Tekapo 157, Timaru 145, Oamaru Aero 135, Omarama 141, Palmerston 139, Dunedin Aero 135, Dunedin 130, Te Anau 115, Queenstown 171, Cromwell 175, Alexandra 172, Gore 144, Invercargill 134, Campbell Is 38 {3rd lowest}].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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April 19, 2012, 07:27:35 PM