December 1960: A cool month, with a marked reversal in the usual patterns in rainfall and sunshine, so that Gisborne and Hawkes Bay were cloudy and wet while the West Coast was sunny and dry. This was caused by persistent south-easterly winds during the first half of the month, with unusually cool temperatures, snow on the ranges of both Islands, and cloud and rain in eastern districts, while the West Coast basked in sunshine. For the greater part of the country conditions were considered to be somewhat too dry for satisfactory growth, affecting especially hay crops. In a few areas, such as Bay of Plenty and parts of the Nelson district, the dry weather was becoming rather serious.
[The reversal referred to applied somewhat to 1960 overall – the West Coast was much sunnier than average and somewhat drier. Eastern districts were cloudier than average, particularly from Wairarapa to Gisborne. Gisborne had one of its wettest years. Annual sunshine totals included Hokitika 2105, Napier 1954 (lowest on record), Gisborne 1987, Blenheim 2286 (about 170 below average), Masterton 1779]
Rainfall: Below average in most of the South Island (except the Kaikoura Coast and most of Canterbury), and in the North Island west of the main ranges. In most of these areas it was about half; but in parts of North Taranaki, southern Manawatu, the Marlborough Sounds, northwest Nelson, Buller, Westland and Central Otago it was less than a quarter of the average. For some stations in these areas it was the driest December on record, including Hokitika and New Plymouth. In Gisborne and Hawkes Bay rainfall was two to five times the normal values, and a few stations in these districts had their wettest December on record.
Temperatures: Temperatures were 1F-3F below average, except in Taranaki and Nelson and on the West Coast, where they were close to normal. Highest departures were in eastern districts from eastern Northland to central Canterbury.
Sunshine: Sunshine was below normal in the North Island and in northern and eastern districts of the South Island from Christchurch northward, except Nelson.
Greatest deficiencies of over 50 hours were recorded in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. By contrast, the West Coast was favoured with 30-90 hours above average sunshine, and the Hokitika total of 284 was the highest in the country. Sunshine was also above normal by 15-30 hours in South Canterbury, Otago and Southland, except near Dunedin.
[Some totals: Te Hapua 226, Kaitaia 214, Kerikeri 188, Whangarei 194, Auckland 237, Tauranga 231, Whakatane 215, Taupo 208, Hamilton 211, New Plymouth 200, Masterton 195, Gisborne 209, Napier 186, Wairoa 189, Paraparaumu 218, Ohakea 207, Palmerston North 181, Levin 179, Wellington 235, Wanganui 223, Westport 256, Hokitika 284, Greymouth 245, Haast 252, Nelson 250, Blenheim 217, Grassmere 205, Kaikoura 177, Mt Cook 183, Methven 178, Christchurch 178, Tekapo 261, Timaru 216, Waimate 160, Omarama 245, Dunedin 164, Queenstown 268, Alexandra 243, Invercargill 196, Campbell Is 111, Chatham Is 181].
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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May 09, 2018, 09:19:24 AM