July 1975: July was marked by an unusually high frequency of winds from west to southwest. There were 2 very cold spells, the one in the 3rd week bringing exceptional snow to parts of the North Island. Gales were widespread east of the ranges during the last 5 days of the month. On the 31st north-westerly winds reached storm to hurricane force over Central and North Otago, uprooting many trees and blowing roofs off buildings. This storm was to extend to Canterbury, Marlborough and Wairarapa on 1st August. On the 14th a small local tornado caused some damage in New Plymouth.
Rainfall: Rainfall was above normal on the West Coast, in Southland, and nearly the whole of Otago; also in western and northern districts of the North Island from Kapiti to Waitomo. The percentage excess was greatest in the South Island. Eastern Southland with parts of Central Otago had more than double the normal value. Most northern and eastern districts of both islands received less than 3/4 of the normal rainfall. Eastern and northern Northland, Coromandel, most of Gisborne and western Bay of Plenty, and also the Kaikoura Coast with the coast of Central Marlborough, received less than half. The heaviest rains were recorded on the 14th in the Alps and parts of the West Coast, with daily falls of 100 to 160mm.
Some monthly totals (mm): Taumarunui 197, Chateau 382, Paraparaumu 202, Wanganui 143, Hokitika 358, Milford 618, Omarama 64, Alexandra 37, Milton 101; Whangarei 65, Albert Park 73, Tauranga 47, Gisborne 55, Napier 37, Blenheim 36, Kaikoura 19.
Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly 0.5C below normal in the North Island and western and northern districts of the South Island, and the same amount above normal in eastern and inland areas of the South Island. However, they were more 1C below normal in Gisborne with parts of Bay of Plenty and Taupo. The coldest days of the winter to date were the 21st-23rd, when unusually heavy snow covered the high country of the central North Island and lighter falls were reported to low levels in the southern part of the North Island, while in the South Island parts of Canterbury were affected. An earlier cold spell with snow in parts of the South Island and also some in the central North Island was reported on the 3rd and 4th. By contrast, most of the last week was unusually warm, especially in the east of the South Island.
22.0C maximum at Kaikoura on the 31st,
-16.8C minimum at Moa Creek on the 24th.
Sunshine: Sunshine was from 20 to 60 hours above normal over most of the North Island south of Auckland and also over most of Marlborough and parts of Nelson. Central and northern Hawkes Bay were especially favoured, with Napier’s 184 hours equalling the previous highest for July. Sunshine was 15-25 hours below normal over Southland and most of Otago.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 143, Dargaville 115, Whangarei 137, Auckland 153, Tauranga 178, Whakatane 181, Taupo 147, Hamilton 146, Te Kuiti 129, Taumarunui 108, New Plymouth 143, Masterton 122, Dannevirke 130, Gisborne 176, Napier 184, Wairoa 179, Paraparaumu 116, Ohakea 149, Palmerston North 118, Wellington 122, Stratford 123, Wanganui 120, Westport 122, Hokitika 113, Greymouth 103, Haast 123, Riwaka 161, Nelson 178, Blenheim 197, Kaikoura 144, Mt Cook 70, Mt John 137, Methven 135, Christchurch 121, Timaru 120, Waimate 125, Omarama 135, Palmerston 113, Dunedin 80, Te Anau 73, Queenstown 83, Alexandra 107, Gore 91, Invercargill 81, Campbell Is 8].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments in italics.
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February 12, 2012, 12:56:08 PM