December 1976: In December barometric pressures were low over New Zealand, with a high frequency of winds form a westerly quarter. The rainfall was more than normal over much of the country. Cloudy conditions prevailed over the greater part of the country. Hailstorms on the 22nd caused widespread damage to apple and pear orchards in the Nelson province.
Rainfall: Rainfall was above the December average throughout the whole of the South Island and in parts of the North Island, especially east of the ranges. It was more than twice the normal value in Otago, Nelson, Wellington, and parts of Marlborough and southern Wairarapa. In the remaining areas of the North Island it was at least half the normal. Exceptionally heavy rainfalls of 200-300mm were recorded in the Wellington/Hutt Valley area on the 20th. 85mm was recorded in 6 hours at Kelburn, the highest since measurements began in 1928. At Taita, 258mm was recorded in a 12 hour period. It is estimated that damage caused by flooding and many slips in these areas could reach a total value of approximately 30 million dollars.
Some monthly totals (mm): Napier 109, Levin 202, Taita 420, Kelburn 321, Stratford Mountain House 648, Hokitika 458, Nelson 181, Grassmere 102, Mt Cook 634, Christchurch 115, Hawea 172, Alexandra 88; Cape Reinga 29, Palmerston North 75, Chatham Is 33.
Temperatures: Temperatures were close to normal over most of the country. In some areas of the North Island and parts of Canterbury they were below normal by 0.5C. Coastal districts from Dunedin to Invercargill and some inland areas were 1C warmer than normal.
30.5C maximum at Earnscleugh on the 12th,
-1.5C minimum at Ohakune on the 18th.
Sunshine: Sunshine was above normal by 25 to 75 hours in places north of Auckland. Kaitaia with 264 hours had its highest December total in 25 years of observations. In Wellington, South Canterbury, and parts of Otago and Westland, sunshine was below normal by up to 65 hours. Wellington’s total of 174 hours was its lowest on record for December. [Comfortably beaten by 149 hours in 1992].
[Some totals: Kaitaia 264, Whangarei 262, Leigh 286, Auckland 247, Tauranga 225, Whakatane 224, Rotorua 210, Taupo 219, Hamilton 256, Te Kuiti 187, Taumarunui 205, New Plymouth 223, Masterton 167, Dannevirke 156, Gisborne 209, Napier 198, Wairoa 192, Paraparaumu 169, Ohakea 223, Palmerston North 153, Levin 177, Wellington 174, Manaia 236, Wanganui 218, Westport 176, Hokitika 171, Greymouth 156, Riwaka 229, Nelson 200, Blenheim 209, Grassmere 188, Kaikoura 170, Mt Cook 117, Mt John 177, Methven 159, Christchurch 179, Tekapo 187, Timaru 140, Oamaru Aero 150, Omarama 147, Palmerston 133, Dunedin Aero 125, Dunedin 138, Queenstown 171, Alexandra 180, Gore 157, Invercargill 146, Chatham Is 82 (2nd lowest)].
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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February 12, 2012, 08:58:36 PM