NZ weather summary January 1955

[Rwood]

January 1955:  A warm, dry month. For many districts, especially between Hamilton and Nelson and Blenheim, it was the driest January since 1928. Rains which had fallen before Christmas benefited pastures and crops. Fruit crops were good, but by the end of the month the countryside looked very parched. Gales caused some damage in Otago and Canterbury on the 3rd.

Rainfall: Rainfall was less than half normal over most of the country north of Westport and Timaru. The deficiency was greatest in Waikato, South Taranaki, Wellington from Rangitikei southward, and the Waimea-Sounds-Wairau area of Nelson and Marlborough. One station in the eastern Sounds recorded nil rainfall.
There was an appreciable surplus over most of Southland and in Central Otago. A series of severe thunderstorms affected Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty on the night of 17th/18th.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly 1F-2F above normal. Highest departures of over 2F were recorded in Bay of Islands, Central Otago, and in the Ashburton-Christchurch-Banks Peninsula area. In many places the 18th-21st was a particularly warm period.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly about or slightly above normal. The Wairarapa and most of Canterbury from Christchurch southward had a surplus of 20-40 hours. In the Waikato and King Country it was appreciably cloudier, with a deficit of 20 hours.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 228, Kaitaia 237, Kerikeri 250, Whangarei 214, Auckland 231, Tauranga 261, Taupo 239, Hamilton 224, New Plymouth 243, Masterton 260, Gisborne 253,  Napier 263, Paraparaumu 249, Ohakea 257, Palmerston North 222, Wellington 229, Wanganui 264, Westport 218, Hokitika 209, Greymouth 199, Haast 179, Nelson 269, Blenheim 251, Grassmere 241, Mt Cook 186, Methven 205, Christchurch 249, Tekapo 268, Timaru 209, Waimate 199, Omarama 220, Queenstown 249, Dunedin 191, Alexandra 224, Invercargill 189].


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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