October 1978: Pressures were higher than normal of the whole of New Zealand, and slightly below to the north of the country. Winds were predominantly westerly with a period of strong winds about the middle of the month. Most areas had above normal sunshine hours apart from the east coast of the North Island, Otago and Southland. It was a cool month over most of the country, and drier than usual except in parts of the South Island. This was the 5th consecutive month that parts of Canterbury and Otago have had above normal rainfall. North Island farmers needed more rain. Some heavy stock losses occurred during the heavy rain in Southland/Otago on the 13th/14th.
Rainfall: Rainfall was below or near normal over the whole of New Zealand apart from Otago, Southland, parts of Canterbury and the West Coast. Conditions were very dry in Northland and Auckland where some stations had less than half of the average totals. During the 24-hour period from the morning of the 13th almost continuous heavy rain was recorded in many areas of Southland and Otago. Civil emergencies were declared at Mataura and Riversdale as rivers burst their banks, and extensive flooding and land slips isolated other towns and blocked the main highway from Dunedin to Invercargill. Kelso and parts of Alexandra were evacuated. The highest 24-hour falls were reported in an area south of Queenstown to Invercargill. These included: Tapanui 119mm (record for any month), Clinton 125mm, Roxburgh 117mm, Balclutha 116mm, Queenstown 87mm and Alexandra 70mm.
Some monthly totals (mm): Milford 786, Ashburton 81, Dunedin 114, Queenstown 141, Earnscleugh 115, Tapanui 182, Balclutha 240; Mokohinau 24, Albert Park 47, Havelock North 33, Cape Campbell 18.
Temperatures: Temperatures were below or near normal over the whole country. In Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay and Hawkes Bay they were below by 1C-1.5C. In other areas of the North Island cooler night time temperatures reduced the mean to 0.5C-1C below normal. In the South Island colder day time temperatures caused a drop in the monthly mean of approximately 0.5C. There was a warm spell of 3 days at the beginning of the month, and another from the 12th-14th, the rest of the month having cooler temperatures in most areas.
28.1C maximum at Winchmore on the 13th,
-4.5C minimum at Ranfurly on the 16th.
Sunshine: Most areas had above normal sunshine hours for the month, the only areas below being Poverty Bay, Hawkes Bay, Otago and Southland. Many stations on the west coast of both islands recorded 40 hours more sun than usual. The total of 234 hours at Wellington was the highest for October there since 1937.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 221, Dargaville 179, Waitangi 210, Whangarei 196, Auckland 216, Tauranga 222, Whakatane 227, Rotorua 214, Taupo 241, Hamilton 203, Taumarunui 210, New Plymouth 249, Masterton 207, Dannevirke 186, Gisborne 192, Napier 192, Wairoa 189, Paraparaumu 214, Ohakea 226, Palmerston North 191, Levin 207, Wellington 234, Manaia 237, Wanganui 230, Westport 202, Hokitika 205, Greymouth 186, Riwaka 240, Nelson 233, Blenheim 236, Grassmere 214, Kaikoura 231, Mt Cook 154, Mt John 246, Methven 221, Christchurch 230, Tekapo 242, Timaru 182, Oamaru Aero 182, Omarama 211, Palmerston 168, Dunedin 156, Te Anau 184, Queenstown 179, Alexandra 211, Gore 151, Invercargill 148].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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February 15, 2012, 01:09:57 PM