January 1961: It was the 3rd successive month of unusually cloudy, wet weather in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, owing to the comparatively high frequency of winds from an easterly quarter. In these districts many crops were affected, and in some areas sheep were lost in flooding on the 16th-17th. In many areas elsewhere there was very little rain from the middle of December to the middle of January, and in parts of the Taranaki and Nelson provinces and on the West Coast conditions became unusually dry. However, heavy rain in the 3rd week of January caused a marked recovery.

Rainfall: Rainfall was about double the average in Coromandel, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, around Taihape, and also in parts of Marlborough. Over the remainder of the North Island and in most eastern districts of the South Island it was mainly close to or somewhat above normal. In and west of the Alps and in western Southland, rainfall was only 1/3 to 1/2 of the average value. Many thunderstorms were reported in the North Island from the 18th-23rd, with some severe local flooding causing disruption of road and rail services at times. During a violent thunderstorm at Palmerston North on the 20th 2.09” of rain fell in half an hour. On the previous day during a thunderstorm at Omarama, 2.66” were recorded in an hour.

Temperatures: Temperatures were more than 2F above normal in Taranaki and Nelson and on the West Coast, but more than 1F below average in eastern districts from Gisborne to Canterbury. Intermediate areas between east and west were mainly somewhat above normal.

Sunshine: Except in and west of the Alps, in parts of Central Otago, and in Wellington, sunshine was below normal. In Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, with deficiencies of 60-90 hours, it was one of the cloudiest Januaries on record. Elsewhere the deficiency was mainly 30-50 hours. In Gisborne and Hawkes Bay the last season with similar persistent cloud and rain in November, December and January was 1952-53.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 219, Kaitaia 215, Kerikeri 187, Whangarei 176, Auckland 186, Tauranga 199, Whakatane 209, Taupo 209, Hamilton 200, New Plymouth 210, Masterton 193, Gisborne 166, Napier 184, Wairoa 174, Paraparaumu 225, Ohakea 215, Palmerston North 167, Levin 176, Wellington 239, Wanganui 206, Westport 223, Hokitika 203, Greymouth 188, Haast 224, Nelson 245, Blenheim 226, Grassmere 239, Kaikoura 179, Mt Cook 197, Methven 168, Christchurch 166, Tekapo 247, Timaru 141, Waimate 135, Omarama 241, Dunedin 164, Queenstown 261, Alexandra 219, Invercargill 157, Campbell Is 100, Chatham Is 169].


Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments by the poster.