December 1974:  There was an unusually high frequency of north-easterly winds and this was a warm month besides being one of the sunniest Decembers on record. For some areas, especially Canterbury, this was the second successive month with very low rainfall. In Manawatu, Wellington, Wairarapa and in eastern districts of the South Island, farmers were finding conditions too dry. At Oakura, west of New Plymouth, a small local tornado caused some damage on the 8th.

Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal over nearly the whole of the South Island and also as far north as Palmerston North and Wanganui and Taranaki, Northland, and eastern areas of Hawkes Bay. It was less than half the average in most of Canterbury and Marlborough. In parts of bay of Plenty and Taupo rainfall was more than double the normal value. Thunderstorms were unusually frequent. They were comparatively widespread over both islands on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 17th and 31st. A severe hailstorm caused serious damage to crops in the Darfield-Hororata area on the 6th. Another one with hailstones the size of marbles was reported at Moeraki on the 8th.

Some totals: Whakatane 290mm, Taupo 248mm, Taumarunui 286mm, Ruatoria 374mm; Riwaka 18mm, Cape Campbell 10mm, Temuka 11mm.

Temperatures:   Mean temperatures were above normal, mainly by 2C. Highest departures of 3C were recorded in the King Country and in the east of Central Otago.

34.7C maximum at Waiau on the 30th.

Sunshine:  Sunshine was above normal, by up to 100 hours. Southern areas of the North Island were particularly favoured. Highest December totals in 35-40 years of observation were recorded at New Plymouth, Masterton, Wallaceville and Blenheim.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 237, Dargaville 271, Auckland 270, Tauranga 261, Whakatane 241, Taupo 244, Hamilton 242, Taumarunui 233, New Plymouth 305, Masterton 279, Dannevirke 234, Gisborne 243, Napier 246, Paraparaumu 300, Palmerston North 251, Wellington 292, Wallaceville 306, Stratford 272, Wanganui 284, Takaka 289, Westport 247, Hokitika 208, Haast 185, Riwaka 303, Nelson 288, Blenheim 321, Kaikoura 258, Mt Cook 174, Mt John 268, Christchurch 250, Timaru 200, Dunedin 213, Oamaru 189, Queenstown 241, Alexandra 257, Gore 230, Invercargill 219].

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).