November 1961: Barometers were unusually high, as in the previous month, again with warm and mainly dry weather. Hawkes Bay crops suffered from lack of rain. Rain at the end of the month brought some relief to many areas. Exceptionally strong W/NW winds were reported on the 15th in parts of northern Southland, with severe wind erosion and the destruction of many trees.
Rainfall: Below average in most of the North Island, and appreciably below average in Marlborough and most of Nelson and Canterbury. It was above average in western and southern districts of the South Island, being double in parts of Buller and the Southern Lakes district. It was less than 50% of normal in most of Hawkes Bay, in the Taihape-Taupo-eastern Bay of Plenty area, in the SW of Auckland province, and in parts of Gisborne, Manawatu, Nelson and Marlborough. Totals of under 25 mm for October and November together were recorded in some drier areas, including Napier (21mm), Blenheim (15mm) and Christchurch (22mm).
Temperatures: Warmer than average, mainly by 1-2F. Departures exceeding 2F were recorded in Hawkes Bay and in parts of Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury. The warmest spell was from about the 7th to the 16th, in a period of persistent westerly to north-westerly winds. Following a change to southwesterlies on the 18th, conditions were unusually cool until about the 23rd, with snow on the ranges at first and some sharp frosts.
Sunshine: Areas north of Manawatu and Wairarapa were favoured with above average sunshine, mainly by 20-50 hours. Highest national totals were recorded in Bay of Plenty and Taupo – 289 at Whakatane, 279 at Tauranga and 268 at Taupo. Sunshine was 40-80 hours below normal on the West Coast, and average or slightly above average elsewhere.
[Some totals: Te Hapua 226, Kaitaia 225, Kerikeri 219, Whangarei 188, Auckland 214, Tauranga 279, Whakatane 289, Taupo 268, Hamilton 248, New Plymouth 241, Masterton 220, Gisborne 260, Napier 251, Wairoa 254, Paraparaumu 188, Ohakea 232, Palmerston North 172, Levin 174, Wellington 215, Wanganui 239, Westport 152, Hokitika 159, Greymouth 127, Haast 138, Nelson 232, Blenheim 255, Grassmere 241, Kaikoura 220, Mt Cook 149, Methven 232, Christchurch 207, Tekapo 234, Timaru 179, Waimate 164, Oamaru Aero 162, Omarama 208, Dunedin 164, Queenstown 225, Alexandra 237, Invercargill 180, Campbell Is 84, 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 11, 2018, 10:25:31 PM