NZ weather summary April 1960

[Rwood]

April 1960: It was dry and sunny, except in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. Growth was satisfactory, but in some western districts of the North Island it was adversely affected by exceptionally dry weather. Stock were in good condition, except that in Gisborne and parts of Hawkes Bay young sheep were suffering from the wet conditions.

Rainfall: Rainfall was less than half the average value over most of the country. In South Auckland and Taranaki, Nelson and Marlborough, Central Otago and the Wellington district it was not even 1/4 of average; and for many stations in these areas it was the driest April on record. [These included Molesworth (0.14”), Alexandra (0.18”, equal to 1955) and Paraparaumu (0.42”)].

The only parts of the country with rainfall appreciably above normal were Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. In these areas some stations were twice as wet as usual. [An ex-tropical depression produced falls of up to about 5” in Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay around the 12th].

Temperatures: Temperatures were 1F below average over the greater part of the North island, highest departures being in Northland and Auckland. Southland was about 1F warmer than normal.

Sunshine: Sunshine was above average, except in eastern districts from Gisborne to Wairarapa. The surplus amounted to 40-70 hours on the West Coast; and Auckland’s total of 200 hours was its highest on record for April. From Gisborne to Wairarapa sunshine was 30-50 hours below normal.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 182, Kaitaia 188, Kerikeri 149, Whangarei 146, Auckland 200, Tauranga 205, Whakatane 214, Taupo 188, Hamilton 190, New Plymouth 188, Masterton 124, Gisborne 127, Napier 130, Wairoa 119, Paraparaumu 196, Ohakea 182, Palmerston Nth 149, Levin 184, Wellington 164, Wanganui 194, Westport 204, Hokitika 202, Greymouth 183, Haast 185, Nelson 207, Blenheim 181, Grassmere 154, Kaikoura 161, Mt Cook 156, Methven 186, Christchurch 165, Tekapo 229, Timaru 157, Waimate 148, Omarama 206, Dunedin 148, Queenstown 150, Alexandra 195, Invercargill 142, Campbell Is 42, Chatham Is n/a].

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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