September 1985: September was mainly dry and sunny with temperatures above average in most places. North-easterlies were much more frequent than usual, especially over the North Island. This was due to an anticyclone which remained almost stationary to the east of the country from the 12th to the 26th. This also resulted in fewer southerly and north-westerly winds than usual. Near gale force northerly winds occurred in the Northland and Auckland regions on the 3rd, with gusts to 93 km/h at Kaitaia Observatory and 107 km/h at Auckland Airport. 15 yachts and pleasure boats broke their moorings. A small tornado was reported at Waitara on the 4th, demolishing a haybarn. Strong to gale force winds affected Northland and Auckland again on the 17th, with 5000 households in North Shore losing hot water power when 2 lines were forced together. Snow fell at Blenheim Airport on the 6th during part of the afternoon, with a 2pm reading of 2C.
Mean sea level pressures were about 2hPa higher than average for the whole country.
Rainfall: Regions which received above average rainfall were Northland, parts of the Bay of Plenty, Marlborough, Nelson, and the Canterbury high country regions. Cape Reinga had 166% of normal rainfall, Whangarei Airport 152%, and Lake Coleridge 178%. Oamaru Airport recorded only 9mm (33% of normal). To date this year at Oamaru Airport only one month has had above average rainfall. In total 42% of normal has fallen, the driest year there so far since records began in 1941. A number of places experienced drought conditions (more than 14 days without rain). These included Waiouru (17 days from the 9th-25th), Ohakea (19, 7th-25th), Kelburn (15, 11th-25th), Paraparaumu Airport (19, 7th-25th), Nelson Airport (15, 11th-25th), Timaru Airport (20, 11th-30th), Dunedin Airport (15, 11th-25th) and Alexandra (15, 11th-25th). For Kelburn, this equalled 1958 for September’s driest period.
Some totals (mm): Kaikohe 229, Glenbervie 239, Waimana 226, Nelson 111, Waihopai 122, Lake Coleridge 103; Napier 18, Taihape 38, Puysegur Pt 78, Christchurch 18, Oamaru 8, Dunedin 29, Alexandra 10.
Temperatures: Over the whole country mean temperatures were near or above average. Daytime temperatures were up to 2C higher than average in Central Otago. The mean daily maximum at Alexandra was 17.0C, equalling Gisborne Airport’s value as the country’s highest, and a record for Alexandra (records from 1929). There were 4 days when afternoon temperatures reached 21C or higher, compared with an average of 1 day there for September.
23.3C maximum at Whakatu on the 27th,
-7.1C minimum at Boyle River on the 6th.
Sunshine: Sunshine hours were average or above average throughout the country apart from the Bay of Plenty and regions north of Auckland. Stations with the largest departures included: Kaitaia (-42 hours, lowest for records from 1952), Kaikoura (+33 hours), Ohakea (+36 hours), Christchurch Aero (+46 hours, 2nd after 1958), Dunedin Aero (+46 hours, highest for records from 1963), Kelburn (+68 hours, 2nd after 1958) and Paraparaumu Aero (+74 hours, 2nd after 1958).
[Some totals: Kaitaia 127, Waitangi 122, Whangarei 121, Leigh 138, Auckland 154, Tauranga 159, Whakatane n/a, Rotorua 138, Taupo 145, Auckland Aero 168, Hamilton 157, New Plymouth 191, Masterton 176, Dannevirke n/a, Gisborne 184, Napier 203, Wairoa 197, Paraparaumu 233, Ohakea 194, Palmerston North 184, Levin 205, Wellington 229, Stratford 151, Wanganui 206, Westport 161, Arapito 172, Hokitika 163, Greymouth 145, Nelson 199, Blenheim n/a, Grassmere 205, Kaikoura 202, Mt Cook 125, Methven 209, Christchurch 208, Timaru 172, Oamaru Aero 158, Omarama 197, Palmerston 158, Dunedin Aero 187, Dunedin 162, Te Anau 149, Queenstown 182, Cromwell 202, Alexandra 181, Gore 178, Invercargill 157].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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May 09, 2015, 08:45:30 AM