NZ weather summary February 1962

[Rwood]

February 1962: It was for the most part dry and sunny. In western Northland there were severe feed shortages. Conditions elsewhere varied, but in many areas farmers were finding the weather rather too dry.

Rainfall: Rainfall was appreciably below average over the greater part of the country. It was less than half over the northern half of the South Island; and also in central and southern Hawkes Bay and parts of Gisborne, eastern Bay of Plenty and the Auckland district. In Marlborough few stations received even 1/4 of the normal amount. Rainfall was mainly close to or somewhat above average over the southern half of the South Island; and also in southern Manawatu, Waitomo, Coromandel and eastern Northland.

Temperatures: Temperatures were 1F-2F above average in western and northern districts of both islands, but elsewhere they were close to or slightly below average. Two comparatively cool spells with southerly winds occurred from about the 5th to the 7th and the 13th to the 16th. During the first of these snow fell on the Canterbury ranges down to about 3000’.

Sunshine: Sunshine was above average except in most of Canterbury, Otago and Southland, and parts of Bay of Plenty. Greatest surpluses, exceeding 30 hours, were recorded in western districts of both islands and also in Northland and Auckland. [The southwestern part of the North Island had a substantial surplus in the 1961-62 summer, and Paraparaumu’s 850 hours was a record national high, not surpassed until 1972-73].

[Some totals: Te Hapua 243, Kaitaia 228, Kerikeri 208, Whangarei 199, Auckland 238, Tauranga 217, Whakatane 239, Taupo 221, Hamilton 225, New Plymouth 253, Masterton 219, Gisborne 234, Napier 224, Wairoa 230, Paraparaumu 255, Ohakea 238, Palmerston North 233, Levin 247, Wellington 226, Wanganui 244, Westport 229, Hokitika 201, Greymouth 186, Haast 191, Nelson 235, Blenheim 231, Grassmere 225, Kaikoura 164, Mt Cook 156, Methven 170, Christchurch 171, Tekapo 211, Timaru 163, Waimate 154, Oamaru Aero 166, Omarama 192, Dunedin 131, Queenstown 184, Alexandra 178, Invercargill 140, Campbell Is 75, Chatham Is 141].


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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