NZ weather summary October 1975

[Rwood]

October 1975:  October was marked by an unusually high frequency of easterly winds over the northern half of the North Island, with considerable cloud and rain in these areas. It was a favourable month for dairy production.

Rainfall: Rainfall was above normal over most of the North Island from Ruapehu northward, and over northern and eastern districts of the South island as far south as Waimate. It was more than double the normal value in most of eastern Northland, in Coromandel, over inland Bay of Plenty, and also on the north Canterbury coast. In eastern Northland and Coromandel 2/3 of the rain fell from the 8th to the 13th. At Hikurangi, 256mm was reported from the 9th to the 11th. Flooding was reported in both areas, with easterly gales. Rainfall less than 3/4 of normal was reported in a few districts, mainly in the southern half of the North Island.

Some monthly totals (mm): Kaikohe 278, Whangarei 306, Port Fitzroy 360, Rotorua 226, Milford 640, Hanmer 165, Raoul Is 234; Gisborne 42, Hastings 38, Waiouru 65, Alexandra 23, Milton 36.

Temperatures:  Temperatures were above normal by about 1C over nearly all of the North Island, with highest departures in Waikato-King Country. They were below normal by about 0.5C in Southland and South Otago and in the Mackenzie Basin. Wide variations in temperature occurred, especially in Canterbury and Otago. Two of the coldest days were the 19th and 27th, with maxima at Christchurch of only 9C. On the 19th a fall of snow was reported on the upper Canterbury Plains around Methven.
 
27.6C maximum at Hastings on the 26th, -5.2C minimum at Molesworth on the 11th.

Sunshine:   Sunshine was below normal in most northern and eastern districts of the North Island by 20-70 hours, and also on the Southland coast, by 20-25 hours. Kaitaia received only 134 hours, its lowest for October, while Gisborne had only 142 hours. In most western districts form New Plymouth to Wellington and over the greater part of Canterbury, sunshine was above normal by 25-60 hours. Paraparaumu received the unusually high total of 237 hours.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 134, Dargaville 145, Whangarei 145, Auckland 162, Tauranga 145, Whakatane 160, Taupo 158, Hamilton 156, Te Kuiti 148, Taumarunui 166, New Plymouth 199, Masterton 182, Dannevirke 151, Gisborne 142, Napier 175, Wairoa 164, Paraparaumu 237, Ohakea 221, Palmerston North 197, Levin 204, Wellington 213, Stratford 183, Wanganui 205, Westport 178, Hokitika 162, Greymouth 161, Haast 177, Riwaka 226, Nelson 224, Blenheim 235, Kaikoura 225, Mt Cook 139, Mt John 218, Methven 203, Christchurch 208, Tekapo 214, Timaru 200, Waimate 168, Omarama 206, Palmerston 174, Dunedin 159, Te Anau 172, Queenstown 197, Alexandra 214, Gore 171, Invercargill 139, Raoul Is 114 (lowest), Campbell Is 93 (3rd highest), Chatham Is 96 (3rd lowest)].

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.

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