February 1982: February was a warm, dry month with sunshine mainly close to average. In the north, north-easterly winds were most frequent, which is usual for February, though the winds were generally lighter than usual. North-westerly winds predominated in the south, which had more strong winds than usual. Pressures were slightly higher than average except in the north of the North Island. Low rainfall and high temperatures led to many scrub and bush fires and extensive fire bans were imposed.
Rainfall: Most of the country was drier than normal this month, with eastern areas north of Dunedin in the South Island and central areas in the North Island being particularly dry. Areas having totals above normal were Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, East Cape, Gisborne, Manawatu and south Wairarapa in the North Island and Blenheim, South Westland, Fiordland, Southland and parts of Otago in the South Island. During the first 18 days of the month much of New Zealand had little or no rainfall and, following the generally dry conditions of January, extensive areas with drought conditions developed. These included many of those areas showing near or above normal totals by the end of the month due to heavy rainfalls from the 18th onwards. Many parts of the country had little significant rain between late December and the falls on the 18th or 22nd-23rd of February.
Some totals (mm): Whangarei 210, Waihi 272, Taupo 148, Ruatoria 248, Milford 850, Queenstown 106; Kelburn 49, Hanmer 18, Lincoln 16, Tekapo 19, Alexandra 19.
Temperatures: The effects of lack of rainfall were accentuated by temperatures that were, on average, 1C above normal over the whole country. Some high temperatures were recorded in central and southern parts of the North Island on the 9th. These included 32.8C at Palmerston North and 30.4C in Waiouru, 29.6C at Karioi Forest and 30.1C at Kelburn (equal 2nd highest in records from 1870). Temperatures above 30C were recorded in many parts of the South Island on several days, but particularly high temperatures were reached in parts of Otago and Canterbury on the 15th. These included 38.5C at Ashburton and Fairlie, 37.7C at Timaru Airport, 37.4C at Temuka, 36.9C at Christchurch Airport, 36.3C at Winchmore and 35.2C at Earnscleugh. In many cases these have only been exceeded by the record high temperatures of February 1973. There was a cold spell on the 5th-6th, with frost in some central North Island areas and fresh snow to 1500m on Mt Egmont and 1000m on some South Island ranges.
-1.5C minimum at Waiouru on the 7th.
Sunshine: Sunshine totals were close to or a little above normal over most of the country. Among those with greatest departures were Christchurch (+40 hrs), Wellington (+39 hrs), Timaru (+31 hrs), Gisborne (-29 hours), Rotorua (-16 hrs).
[Some totals: Kaitaia 188, Waitangi 171, Whangarei 175, Leigh 184, Auckland 191, Tauranga 182, Whakatane 200, Rotorua 182, Taupo 195, Auckland Aero 187, Hamilton 197, New Plymouth 232, Masterton 225, Dannevirke 200, Gisborne 179, Napier 177, Wairoa 172, Paraparaumu 229, Ohakea 233, Palmerston North 196, Levin 200, Wellington 241, Stratford 219, Wanganui 229, Westport 172, Arapito 174, Hokitika 176, Greymouth 159, Nelson 248, Blenheim 247, Grassmere 220, Kaikoura 231, Mt Cook 175, Methven 207, Christchurch 223, Timaru 195, Oamaru Aero 185, Omarama 228, Palmerston 172, Dunedin Aero 175, Dunedin 164, Te Anau 194, Queenstown 208, Cromwell 244, Alexandra 238, Gore 187, Invercargill 188].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
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April 19, 2012, 07:34:56 PM