NZ weather summary May 1986

[Rwood]

May 1986:  May was another mild and sunny month in most regions. Westerlies prevailed over the North Island with fewer strong winds than usual. Westerlies also prevailed over the South Island. Southwesterlies had their normal frequency over the South Island, and this was their highest frequency since November last year. Mean sea level pressures were 1hPa above normal in the south of the South Island, and almost 3hPa above normal in the North Island. Most farmers reported stock in good condition. There was a shortage of feed in parts of Hawkes Bay, and little pasture growth in Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

Rainfall: Rainfall was above average in the Waikato (130% of normal at Hamilton Airport). Elsewhere in the North Island it was near or below average. Rainfall was only 56% of normal in Masterton, and about 70% of normal in Wellington and most east coast regions. Over the South Island rainfall was above average in most places in inland Canterbury, Otago and Southland. West Coast and Fiordland locations had 75-80% of normal. It was very dry on the east coast from Kaikoura to Banks Peninsula and also in north Otago. Monthly totals at Kaikoura, Christchurch Airport and Oamaru Airport were only 21, 29 and 22mm respectively. There was no rain in Whakatane, Christchurch and Timaru until the 17th.

795mm rainfall at North Egmont, 238mm at Totaranui, 112mm at Waimate, 24mm at Hastings.

Temperatures: Over most of the country the mean daily maximum temperature was near normal, but 1C above average on the east coast of the North Island, in Waikato, Wellington, Marlborough and North Canterbury. Napier Airport recorded 24.5C on the 4th, its highest for May for at least 16 years. Mean daily minimum temperatures were near normal. Some severe frosts were recorded in Canterbury and Otago between the 5th and 8th and from the 23rd to 28th due to cold southwesterly flows followed by clear nights.

24.5C maximum at Napier Aero on the 4th, -8.0C minimum at Tekapo on the 20th.

Sunshine:   Sunshine was above normal in most places, particularly in Auckland and North Canterbury. Sunshine was below normal in Southland and Westland.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 145, Leigh 165, Tauranga 176, Whakatane 186, Rotorua 157, Taupo 126, Auckland Aero 178, Hamilton 149, New Plymouth 149, Masterton 138, Dannevirke 114, Gisborne 143, Napier 146, Palmerston North 126, Levin 125, Wellington 138, Stratford 138, Wanganui 131, Takaka 165, Westport 102, Hokitika 108, Greymouth 78, Nelson 179, Blenheim 173, Kaikoura 147, Mt Cook 93, Christchurch 162, Timaru 145, Palmerston 127, Dunedin 111, Te Anau 89, Queenstown 93, Cromwell 135, Alexandra 124, Gore 92, Invercargill 73, Chatham Is 58 {2nd lowest}.]

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) .

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