May 1989: May was much warmer than usual for the first three and a half weeks, but southerly conditions brought much cooler weather at the end of the month. A very cold southerly airstream spread onto the country on the 29th, bringing snow showers to low levels in eastern regions of both islands. Snow settled on roads in high country areas, causing their closure.

Rainfall: Rainfall totals of 150-200mm were recorded in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay from the 24th to the 27th. It was caused by a moist south to southeast airstream, following a depression passing over the area. Totals for the month amounting to 300-350% of normal were recorded in eastern regions of the North Island from Poverty Bay to Hawkes Bay, and 200% of normal in South Canterbury. The total of 240mm (338% of normal) at Napier Airport was its highest for May, records beginning in 1950. Totals were 120-200% of normal on the Central Plateau of the North Island, in Wairarapa, Manawatu, North Canterbury and North Otago. Significant rainfall brought relief to previous drought affected areas in eastern regions of both islands. Rainfall totals of 40-70% of normal were recorded in Northland, Fiordland, Southland and Central Otago.

290mm at Gisborne (2nd highest), 634mm at Frasertown (Wairoa), 18mm at Cromwell.

Temperatures: Mean temperatures for May were 0.5C-1.0C above normal in most regions of the North Island south of Auckland, and in Marlborough, Nelson, much of Westland and coastal areas of Otago and Southland. Temperatures as high as 25C were recorded at Kawerau on the 3rd and Gisborne Airport on the 5th. Severe screen frosts were recorded in Otago and the Mackenzie Basin on the 30th, with temperatures as low as -7C and -8C.

25.5C maximum at Ngaumu Forest (Wairarapa) on the 14th, -8.2C minimum at Tekapo on the 31st.

Sunshine: Hours of sunshine were 60-75% of normal in Manawatu, 75-80% of normal in Gisborne and North Canterbury and 80-95% of normal in regions south of Bay of Plenty and Taranaki and north of South Westland and Otago. It was sunnier than usual in Northland and Southland with totals about 115% of normal.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 174, Tauranga 170, Whakatane 170, Rotorua 150, Taupo 138, Mangere 147, Te Kauwhata 133, New Plymouth 148, Masterton 104, Dannevirke 82, Gisborne 116, Napier 118, Ohakea 78, Palmerston North 64, Levin 93, Wellington 98, Stratford 127, Wanganui 107, Takaka 128, Arapito 130, Hokitika 107, Greymouth 102, Nelson 143, Blenheim 142, Kaikoura 106, Mt Cook 79, Christchurch 93, Timaru 92, Palmerston 99, Dunedin Aero 103, Dunedin 80, Queenstown 87, Cromwell 122, Alexandra 122, Invercargill 102, Chatham Is 48 {lowest}.]

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