December 1975: December was a cool month, and dry over the greater part of the country. During the first 3 weeks westerly conditions prevailed, with little or no rain in most districts apart from the West Coast. The holiday week from Christmas to the end of the month was marred by cold southerly to easterly winds, with cloudy wet weather in most of the east from Kaikoura to East Cape.
Rainfall: Rainfall was mainly only half to three-quarters of the normal value. Central Marlborough received less than a quarter of the normal. However, rainfall was above normal over nearly the whole area east of the ranges in the North Island, and also in Southland and parts of Otago. Considerable areas of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay had more than double the average, but nearly all of this rain fell during the last 3 days, during which up to 307mm were recorded, of which up to 160mm fell on the 31st. Hail fell in many parts of the North Island on the 25th and 26th, and some of it was comparatively large.
Some monthly totals (mm): Kaitaia 25, Tauranga 34, Wanganui 44, Blenheim 9, Omarama 10; Gisborne 171, Napier 122, Wairoa 220, Invercargill 154.
Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly below normal, with departures averaging 1C over the South Island and somewhat less over the North Island. Some very warm days were reported in eastern districts during the first 3 weeks. On the 13th Christchurch’s maximum was 35.0C, the highest recorded there in December. By contrast, snow fell to comparatively low levels in both islands on the 25th-26th. Light falls were even reported at an altitude of about 300m in southern and central Hawkes Bay.
35.0C maximum at Christchurch on the 13th,
-4.5C minimum at Moa Creek on the 15th.
Sunshine: Over most of the country sunshine was close to or a little above average. However, it was above average by up to 75 hours in Canterbury and Nelson and by 25 hours in Central Otago and parts of Northland. Wellington city and coastal Southland were 25 hours below normal.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 233, Dargaville 219, Whangarei 250, Auckland 212, Tauranga 243, Whakatane 232, Taupo 252, Auckland Aero 228, Hamilton 246, Taumarunui 211, New Plymouth 234, Masterton 198, Dannevirke 203, Gisborne 249, Napier 239, Paraparaumu 214, Ohakea 242, Palmerston North 189, Levin 187, Wellington 197, Stratford 234, Manaia 248, Wanganui 232, Westport 219, Hokitika 199, Greymouth 180, Haast 216, Riwaka 316, Nelson 307, Blenheim 253, Grassmere 200, Kaikoura 206, Mt Cook 189, Mt John 305, Methven 249, Christchurch 233, Tekapo 289, Timaru 198, Waimate 209, Omarama 279, Palmerston 201, Dunedin 181, Queenstown 246, Alexandra 254, Gore 170, Invercargill 152,
Chatham Is 212 (2nd highest, but far less than in
1990)].
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