November 1980: November in New Zealand was generally wetter, windier, and cooler than usual with a very high frequency of south-westerly winds. In the South Island frosts during the month caused some damage to orcharding areas. Thunderstorms during the 4th & 5th affected western parts of the North Island from Northland to Taranaki. Hailstones to 3cm diameter were reported in New Plymouth. In Auckland the storm disrupted power and caused faults to fire alarms, with extensive damage to orchards and vineyards. On three separate occasions during the month heavy snow falls were recorded in the mountains of both islands, and reached low levels in Otago and Southland.
Rainfall: Rainfall was below average in the far north of the country, about Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, and in parts of Fiordland, but elsewhere rainfall was above the November normal. After 2 dry months in parts of Canterbury, November rainfall was over 150% of average making it the wettest November south of Banks Peninsula since at least 1967. Cape Reinga with 12mm of rain had the second lowest November total since 1945 when 11mm fell. At Waingawa (Masterton) the total was 133mm, the highest November total since 1952. It was also the wettest November in Dunedin since 1971 and in Invercargill since 1964. The highest daily rainfalls during the month occurred along the West Coast on the 27th. The 24-hour 9am-9am totals for selected sites included Milford Sound (156mm), Fox Glacier (95mm) and Bainham (82mm).
Some monthly totals (mm): Albert Park 141, Te Kuiti 230, Pahiatua 239, Paraparaumu 167, Timaru 98, Dunedin 117, Invercargill 130; Waitangi 29, Port Fitzro7 66, Napier 28.
Temperatures: Mean temperatures were below average over the country with areas of the South Island more than 1.5C below their normals. Apart from a period during the middle of the month maximum temperatures were generally below average. During a very cold spell from the 24th to the 26th when some mean temperatures in the south of the country were at least 7C below average, snow fell to low levels in parts of Otago and Southland, with fresh snow on other alpine areas of both islands.
32.5C maximum at Mangatu Forest on the 20th,
-4.5C minimum at Omarama on the 10th.
Sunshine: Sunshine hours were above average in the east of the country north of Otago and about Cook Strait. Elsewhere they were below average. Greymouth was more than 50 hours below average, and Invercargill with 34 hours less than usual had its lowest total since 1973. Locations with above normal sunshine included Gisborne (+23 hours), Wellington (+26) and Timaru (+27).
[Some totals: Kaitaia 194, Waitangi 225, Whangarei 220, Auckland 223, Tauranga 217, Whakatane 226, Rotorua 223, Taupo 225, Te Kauwhata 191, Hamilton 205, New Plymouth 198, Masterton 208, Dannevirke 179, Gisborne 251, Napier 248, Wairoa 251, Paraparaumu 206, Ohakea 204, Palmerston North 145, Levin 166, Wellington 230, Stratford 193, Wanganui 197, Westport 143, Arapito 127, Hokitika 155, Greymouth 105, Nelson 248, Blenheim 241, Grassmere 240, Kaikoura 212, Mt Cook 112, Methven 193, Christchurch 212, Tekapo 184, Timaru 196, Oamaru Aero 167, Omarama 200, Palmerston 156, Dunedin 141, Te Anau 148, Queenstown 166, Cromwell 198, Alexandra 170,Gore 117, Invercargill 137, Campbell Is 123 (3rd highest)].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
Share Topic
May 05, 2015, 09:50:56 PM