January 1962: January was unusually warm. Although barometric pressures remained high, as in the previous 3 months, rainfall was not particularly low, except in Northland. The dry spell form which central districts had been suffering was broken completely in most areas by heavy rain on the 12th, and growth thereafter was satisfactory. In parts of Hawkes Bay, northern Manawatu and Taranaki more rain would have been appreciated. In parts of Northland conditions were very dry, with a falling-off in dairy production.

Rainfall: Rainfall was from 2-4 times the average in central districts from southern Manawatu and southern Wairarapa to the northern end of the Kaikouras. In these areas 7-10” of rain fell on the 12th-13th, contributing about 3/4 of the monthly total and causing some flooding in the Greytown area. It was also appreciably wetter than usual over the remainder of the Wellington province and Taranaki, also in Buller, parts of North Canterbury, and parts of the east coast from Cape Colville to Portland Island. On the other hand, in western and northern Northland and about Auckland city rainfall was less than half of the average.

Temperatures: Temperatures were above average, in the North Island mainly by 4F, and in the South Island mainly by 3F. On the 21st Timaru recorded 97F and Waipukurau 91F. Some snow was reported on the tops of the ranges in Southland on the 5th, and again on the 22nd-23rd.

Sunshine: Sunshine was above average, except in the east of the North Island and in Otago and Southland. Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Westport and Lincoln were all favoured with surpluses of at least 30 hours. In Bay of Plenty, Taupo and Hawkes Bay sunshine was below average by more than 25 hours.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 283, Kaitaia 256, Kerikeri 230, Whangarei 221, Auckland 266, Tauranga 219, Whakatane 227, Taupo 214, Hamilton 230, New Plymouth 275, Masterton 249, Gisborne 240, Napier 218, Wairoa 216, Paraparaumu 287, Ohakea 257, Palmerston North 236, Levin 253, Wellington 276, Wanganui 265, Westport 263, Hokitika 234, Greymouth 214, Haast 207, Nelson 289, Blenheim 281, Grassmere 278, Kaikoura 247, Mt Cook 187, Methven 254, Christchurch 231, Tekapo 268, Timaru 207, Waimate 189, Oamaru Aero 205, Omarama 239, Dunedin 171, Queenstown 234, Alexandra 221, Invercargill 186, Campbell Is 112, Chatham Is 202].


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