September 1977: During September pressures were unusually low over the whole of New Zealand, and for the third month in succession higher than normal to the south of the country. There was a higher frequency than normal of winds from a southerly quarter. Over most of the country this was the coldest September for many years. The majority of the country east of the main ranges experienced cloudy wet conditions throughout the month, the only areas having rainfall totals significantly below normal being the northern half of the North Island and the West Coast. Continuing cold southerly winds and rain at the beginning of the month added to stock and lamb losses experienced in the Wairarapa at the end of August. Heavy rain caused many large land slips and extensive road scouring; many farms were affected by large-scale erosion.
Rainfall: Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty had rainfall totals between 20% and 30% below normal. The Nelson, Marlborough, Buller, Westland and Fiordland regions were below normal by up to 50% in some areas. The greatest falls during the month were recorded in Poverty Bay, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington, and Canterbury. Some stations in southern Wairarapa recorded totals more than 200% above normal and many others were more than 150% above. At Waingawa, Masterton over 84mm was recorded in the 48 hours from the 18th to the 20th.
Some monthly totals (mm): Mt Bruce 385, Masterton 203, Gisborne 176, Lower Hutt 296, Kaitoke 391, Wanganui 113, Hanmer 169, Christchurch 119, Musselburgh 100, Invercargill 118; Leigh 45, Nelson 33, Tekapo 42, Alexandra 14.
Temperatures: The predominance of cold southerly winds was reflected in the below normal temperatures throughout the whole country. Many stations in both islands recorded mean temperatures below normal by more than 2.0C, the majority of the country being below average by more than 1.5C. At Kelburn the mean temperatures of 8.3C was the lowest ever recorded for September. The longest cold spell was from the 5th to the 11th.
23.5C maximum at Vernon Lagoons (Blenheim) on the 29th,
-8.0C minimum at Twizel on the 8th.
Sunshine: Sunshine hours were near to or above normal in the northern half of the North Island and on the West Coast, elsewhere they were below normal. Hokitika recorded nearly 40 hours above normal, but stations at Waipukurau, Dannevirke and Masterton were below by at least 40 hours. Many stations in the southern half of the North Island and Canterbury were below by 30 hours.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 200, Dargaville 175, Waitangi 204, Whangarei 182, Auckland 151, Tauranga 165, Whakatane 175, Rotorua 146, Taupo 155, Hamilton 145, Taumarunui 124, New Plymouth 160, Masterton 107, Dannevirke 87, Gisborne 166, Napier 142, Wairoa 128, Paraparaumu 130, Ohakea 120, Palmerston North 107, Levin 133, Wellington 127, Stratford 106, Wanganui 122, Westport 182, Hokitika 190, Greymouth 183, Riwaka 180, Nelson 176, Blenheim 193, Grassmere 170, Kaikoura 124, Mt Cook 120, Mt John 152, Methven 124, Christchurch 137, Tekapo 141, Timaru 142, Oamaru Aero 138, Omarama 169, Palmerston 116, Dunedin 116, Queenstown 136, Alexandra 159, Gore 111, Invercargill 104].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
Share Topic
February 14, 2012, 03:56:45 PM