June 1982: June was generally drier, cooler and less windy than usual over New Zealand. Mean pressures at Campbell Island were unusually high, and consequently there was a very high frequency of light winds from the easterly quarter over New Zealand. There was widespread fog over northern districts of the North Island on the 1st and 2nd, causing disruptions to air traffic. Widespread freezing fog on the 15th-16th blanketed the McKenzie Basin area during the daytime.
Rainfall: Apart from central New Zealand, rainfall over the country during June was generally below average. It was particularly low about Westland and Fiordland, and in some eastern areas of the South Island. In parts of central New Zealand, more than 150% of the average June rain was recorded. Most of the month’s rain fell between 9am/21st and 9am/26th. Large daily totals included Nelson (61mm on 21st), Kaikoura (71mm on 24th) and Wellington (60mm on 25th). Intense short period heavy rainfall leading to surface flooding occurred in New Plymouth on the 4th and in Auckland City on the 22nd. At New Plymouth, 30mm fell between midnight and 7am. In one hour at Auckland, 38mm was measured. A rain storm of this magnitude has a return period of about 40 years.
Some monthly totals (mm): Wainuiomata 408, Kelburn 199, Riwaka 232, Kaikoura 148; Greymouth 77, Milford 154, Bromley (Ch’ch) 20, Oamaru Aero 10, Invercargill 59, Campbell Is 57.
Temperatures: Over the North Island mean temperatures were mainly 0.5C-1.0C below average. Many areas of the South Island were close to or just below normal, though parts of Westland were more than 0.5C above, and Central Otago and inland Southland were at least 1.5C below the normal June temperatures. The low temperatures were largely due to the position of the persistent anticyclone near Campbell Island which brought air from the far south to New Zealand. There was a brief mild spell on the 1st and 2nd, when warm north-westerlies covered the country. Maximum temperatures were above average, by as much as 8C over the eastern South Island. Locations to record temperatures of at least 20C included Ashley Forest, Hororata, Christchurch and Ashburton. During the 15th-22nd there was a cold spell, which affected the southern half of the South Island, when maximum temperatures remained mostly below 10C. Alexandra had maxima below freezing on 4 consecutive days from the 18th-21st. The last time there were a number of days of below freezing maxima occurred in 1973.
22.1C maximum at Rangiora on the 1st,
-9.4C minimum at Omarama on the 16th.
Sunshine: Sunshine hours were above normal except in eastern areas of both islands where there was less than usual. Among stations with greatest departures this month were: Alexandra (-48 hours), Wellington (-44 hours), Gisborne (-39 hours), Hokitika (+30 hours), Westport (+29 hours), Tauranga (+26 hours) and Invercargill (+21 hours). Kelburn and Alexandra had their lowest ever recorded values for any month.
[Some totals: Kaitaia 143, Waitangi 121, Whangarei 125, Auckland 151, Tauranga 158, Whakatane 141, Rotorua 135, Taupo 103, Auckland Aero 145, Hamilton 136, New Plymouth 158, Masterton 75, Dannevirke 83, Gisborne 93, Napier 84, Wairoa 63, Paraparaumu 98, Ohakea 109, Palmerston North 85, Levin 99, Wellington 61, Stratford 117, Wanganui 107, Westport 140, Arapito 135, Hokitika 140, Greymouth 142, Nelson 155, Blenheim 144, Grassmere 146, Kaikoura 97, Mt Cook 99, Methven 120, Christchurch 107, Timaru 124, Oamaru Aero 125, Omarama 142, Palmerston 106, Dunedin Aero 90, Dunedin 87, Te Anau 51, Queenstown 77, Cromwell 55, Alexandra 50, Gore 90, Invercargill 91].
Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).
Share Topic
April 19, 2012, 07:34:56 PM