NZ weather summary June 1966

[Rwood]

June 1966: June was unusually dry in Canterbury. Spells of several days of settled weather were somewhat more common than usual for June, the 15th to the 19th being one such spell over the whole country. Generally farmers found it a good month for stock.

Rainfall: Rainfall was less than half the average value in most eastern districts from East Cape to Balclutha. It was less than a tenth on the Canterbury Plains from Rakaia to Temuka and inland to Methven, and in this area many stations received their lowest June rainfall on record. Ashburton’s total of 0.08” was its lowest for any month in nearly 60 years of observation. [New record low is 1.7mm in July 1993]. Elsewhere rainfall was mainly somewhat above average. In a few areas, especially parts of Taranaki, the surplus exceeded 50%.

Temperatures: Mean temperatures were mainly close to average. However, they were 1F-2F below average in Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo and North Taranaki; and 1F-2F above in parts of Canterbury, Otago and Southland. A light snowfall was reported in Central Otago on the 14th. However, most of the snow fell during southwesterlies in the last week of the month, disrupting road traffic in Southland and Otago, and in the central high country of the North Island. The 29th was a particularly cold day with extensive snow, especially in Southland.

Sunshine: Canterbury, Otago, Southland and parts of Northland were favoured with up to 25 hours more sun than usual. On the other hand, Waitomo, Taranaki and Buller received 15-25 hours below average.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 142, Kerikeri 147, Whangarei 148, Auckland 126, Tauranga 145, Whakatane 148, Taupo 106, Opotiki 132, Hamilton 106, New Plymouth 94, Masterton 106, Gisborne 135, Napier 139, Wairoa 139, Paraparaumu 101, Ohakea 115, Palmerston North 103, Levin 104, Wellington 110, Stratford 108, Ohakune 90, Wanganui 114, Westport 85, Hokitika 121, Greymouth 99, Haast 115, Riwaka 143, Nelson 151, Blenheim 165, Grassmere 146, Kaikoura 144, Mt Cook 83, Mt John 173, Methven 160, Christchurch 139, Tekapo 131, Timaru 146, Waimate 139, Dunedin Aero 117, Dunedin 113, Oamaru 139, Queenstown 83, Alexandra 118, Invercargill 83, Campbell Is 12, Chatham Is 73].

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

• Tweet

[Rwood]

Very dry in Canterbury, in the absence of easterly and southerly airflows. In Dunedin, a considerable improvement on May.

[ato2]

A lousy month for New Plymouth's June sunshine total. Yet Stratford has a higher total than New Plymouth. Wonder if it was the same airflow patterns as for Canterbury?

[Rwood]

Very dry in Canterbury, in the absence of easterly and southerly airflows. In Dunedin, a considerable improvement on May.
A lousy month for New Plymouth's June sunshine total. Yet Stratford has a higher total than New Plymouth. Wonder if it was the same airflow patterns as for Canterbury?
[/quote]

Could have been a slight benefit for Stratford with NP not getting much of its typical easterly sheltering that month (cloudwise). Mind you, in the now-era of electronic measurement there is always a big gap (too big) in favour of New Plymouth - which is suspicious.