NZ weather summary May 1961

[Rwood]

May 1961:  In many districts it was not as wet as usual, and this was mainly welcomed as providing favourable conditions for stock. In some western and northern districts of the North Island the ground was too dry after 4-8 months of below average rainfall. On the other hand, in Canterbury (excluding the high country) it was wet and also rather cloudy and cold, affecting the health of young sheep.

Rainfall: Rainfall was close to or below average over the greater part of the country. In the central North Island, Central Otago, and parts of the Alps and West Coast it was less than half the normal value. In Central Otago, Clyde received only 0.17”, and Alexandra only 0.06”, both record lows. It was wetter than usual in Canterbury (excluding the high country) and on the Kaikoura Coast, west of Nelson city, and in the Wairarapa. The Canterbury plains received more than twice the average rainfall, and in parts of inland North Canterbury totals ranged from 9” to 14”. Most of the heavy rain fell from the 11th-13th in easterly weather. At Tauranga, during a thunderstorm on the 6th an exceptionally high rainfall of 3.75” was recorded in an hour.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly close to average. However, the West Coast was 1F-2F warmer than normal, and north Otago and parts of Canterbury 1F colder.

Sunshine: Sunshine was average or below except in the Auckland province, about Cook Strait, and in Otago and Southland. Largest deficiencies were observed in coastal South Canterbury and North Westland. Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Horowhenua-Kapiti had totals 20-30 hours above average.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 169, Kaitaia 175, Kerikeri 153, Whangarei 155, Auckland 164, Tauranga 174, Whakatane 176, Taupo 142, Hamilton 145, New Plymouth 147, Masterton 126, Gisborne 151, Napier 134, Wairoa 137, Paraparaumu 165, Ohakea 143, Palmerston North 122, Levin 147, Wellington 139, Wanganui 130, Westport 125, Hokitika 104, Greymouth 82, Haast 119, Nelson 170, Blenheim 179, Grassmere 158, Kaikoura 145, Mt Cook 67, Methven 135, Christchurch 120, Tekapo 125, Timaru 96, Waimate 95, Oamaru Aero 86, Omarama 135, Dunedin 93, Queenstown 95, Alexandra 120, Invercargill 98, Campbell Is 27, Chatham Is 79].


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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[ato2]

RWood: I see what you meant when you drew our attention to the rainfall. The contasts of Alexandra and Tauranga. Then again, the sharp difference between Central and the Canterbury Plains/Inland Canterbury.

[Rwood]

Yes, bang-on.  That Tauranga 1-hour rainfall must have been close to a NZ record, which got increased in May 2001 at Leigh (to 109mm, from memory). If I had the report and data for August 1952 (I don't) it would show a really strong contrast between record low rainfall in the southwest and some hinterland of the SI, and high easterly totals in coastal Canterbury. But when I eventually get to September 1989 (!) there will be something similar ...