NZ weather summary December 1973

[Rwood]

December 1973: Pressures were unusually high to the south-east of the South Island in December, and easterly winds were somewhat more frequent than usual. It was a dry month, and also warm and sunny though less so in the east.

Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal over almost all the country, mainly by about 40%. It was less than half of normal over almost the whole of Northland; in the greater part of Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu; and also in the greater part of Otago and Southland. The only 2 periods of considerable and fairly general rain were the 17th-18th and the 24th-25th. Many stations received very little or no rain in the first half of the month. In a thunderstorm at Taupo on the afternoon of Christmas Day 30mm were recorded in half an hour.

Temperatures:  Temperatures were mainly above normal by about 1C. However in some coastal areas, mainly in the east, they were only normal. This is the 4th successive month of generally warm temperatures, and 1973 has been a warm year.

33.6C maximum at Orari Estate on the 4th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly above normal by 30-80 hours. However, on the east coast from Wairarapa to Bay of Plenty it was only normal or a little above. New Plymouth’s total of 296 hours was one of the highest ever recorded there for December; and Paraparaumu’s total of 300 hours was also unusually high.

[Some totals:  Kaitaia 236, Kerikeri 241, Whangarei 236, Leigh 251, Auckland 284, Tauranga 255, Whakatane 244, Taupo 246, Opotiki 239, Auckland Aero 276, Hamilton 258, New Plymouth Aero 296, Masterton 225, Gisborne 251, Napier 254, Wairoa 244, Paraparaumu 300, Ohakea 283, Kairanga 272, Palmerston North 254, Levin 279, Wellington 263, Stratford 244, Ohakune 194, Wanganui 270, Takaka 275, Westport 223, Hokitika 224, Greymouth 214, Haast 226, Riwaka 269, Nelson 266, Blenheim 268, Grassmere 224, Kaikoura 205, Mt Cook 207, Mt John 306, Methven 228, Christchurch 233, Tekapo n/a, Timaru 219, Waimate 210, Omarama 293, Palmerston 230, Dunedin Aero 239, Dunedin 240, Oamaru 214, Queenstown 275, Alexandra 274, Invercargill 250, Raoul Is 134, Campbell Is 93, Chatham Is 173].

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments in italics or bracketed.

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[Rwood]

A very sunny month, in the top 5-10% of Decembers. The annual summary for 1973 notes it as the driest year, along with 1914 and 1930, in the period of a sufficient number of reliable records, i.e. since about 1900. The deficiency in an area west of Nelson city was close to 50%. It was also a warm year, and sunnier than normal over most of the country.