NZ weather summary August 1963

[Rwood]

August 1963:  August was marked by an unusually high frequency of winds from a southerly quarter. It was a cold month, and also rather cloudy in many districts. The winter as a whole has been severe over the greater part of the South Island, especially in inland districts, with some losses of sheep.

Rainfall:  In the North Island, and on the West Coast, and in Southland, rainfall was mainly close to or somewhat below average. In Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and northern Manawatu it was only half the normal value. Over the remainder of the South Island and also around Wellington rainfall was somewhat above average. In the Marlborough Sounds and parts of central Marlborough and Central Otago it was double.

Temperatures: Temperatures were below average by 1F-3F, except in northern and western districts of both islands, where they were close to average. In many inland districts of the South Island this has been the coldest winter since 1943. The coldest spells were from the 6th to the 14th and from the 18th to the 23rd, and during these periods snow was reported at times to low levels in southern and eastern areas of the South Island. A light fall also occurred in southern Hawkes Bay on the 12th-13th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was below normal over the southern half of both islands by 10-40 hours, greatest departures being in Wanganui-Manawatu and Central Otago. Elsewhere sunshine was mainly close to normal. However, parts of Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Marlborough were favoured with 15-25 hours sunshine above average.

[Some totals: Te Hapua 165, Kaitaia 158, Kerikeri 149, Whangarei 153, Auckland 162, Tauranga 177, Whakatane 192, Taupo 162, Opotiki 176, Hamilton 153, New Plymouth 155, Masterton 125, Gisborne 152, Napier 145, Wairoa 149, Paraparaumu 151, Ohakea 111, Palmerston Nth 104, Levin 134, Wellington 120, Stratford 146, Ohakune 125, Wanganui 132, Westport 145, Hokitika 132, Greymouth 127, Haast 149, Nelson 193, Blenheim 192, Grassmere 187, Kaikoura 164, Mt Cook 100, Methven 158, Christchurch 138, Tekapo 141, Timaru 130, Waimate 128, Omarama 145, Dunedin Aero 118, Dunedin 116, Queenstown 107, Alexandra 121, Invercargill 118, Campbell Is 30, Chatham Is 100].


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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