NZ weather summary January 1982

[Rwood]

January 1982:   Over the North Island and north and east of the South Island sunny warm and dry weather prevailed. In the remainder of the country, wet cool and cloudy weather was experienced. Pressures were lower than average over the country, especially in the south and to the southeast of New Zealand. There were slightly more westerly winds than usual with a high frequency of strong ones at Invercargill.

Rainfall: Over the North Island and north and east of the South Island, dry conditions were experienced with many northern and eastern areas having less than 40% of the January average. In the remainder of the country, rainfall was above normal with over 200% of the average being measured in some areas. At Milford Sound 1500mm of rain fell, making it the wettest January since records began in 1930, {surpassed in 1983} and the 2nd wettest month. Otira’s 906mm was its highest January total since 1931. The total of 215mm at Invercargill was the highest in records from 1939 {easily beaten in 1984}. Heavy rainfalls along the West Coast during 21-22 January caused flooding at Otira and slips closed the Otira Gorge road. The fall of 241mm at Otira on the 22nd corresponded with a maximum rainfall return period of about 3 years. There were further heavy rainfalls on the 25th-26th, with 252mm at Otira and 291mm at Whataroa.

Some totals (mm): Greymouth 289, Cropp Hut 1523, Mt Cook 773, Dunedin 142, Stewart Is 246; Cape Reinga 12, Whakatane 24, Waipukurau 10, Napier Aero 9, Kelburn 11, Ashburton 12.

Temperatures: Temperatures were above normal over most of the country. Areas having lower mean temperatures than usual were South Westland, Fiordland and coastal parts of Southland and Otago, where means were about 0.5C below the January normals. Over the rest of the country mean temperatures were about 1.0C above normal. During a cold spell over the South Island on the 4th-5th snow fell on the Remarkables. At times during the month, eastern districts had high temperatures in northwesterly conditions. On the 13th Gisborne recorded 32.0C, Napier 34.9C, Christchurch Airport 35.5C, Hororata 33.9C and Timaru 31.8C. On the 21st and 26th further warm conditions were experienced, especially over the South Island.

36.4C maximum at Christchurch on the 13th, -1.7C minimum at Naseby on the 20th.

Sunshine:  In many areas there were appreciable departures from the January normals. Southern areas of the country had large shortfalls: Dunedin 39 hours, and Invercargill 37 hours. Those areas with over 40 hours more than usual include Kaitaia (53 hours), Auckland City (51 hours), Gisborne (45 hours), Kelburn (47 hours), Nelson (46 hours) and Timaru (42 hours).

[Some totals: Kaitaia 285, Waitangi 285, Whangarei 274, Leigh 288, Auckland 287, Tauranga 279, Whakatane 281, Rotorua 281, Taupo 235, Auckland Aero 298, Hamilton 263, New Plymouth 250, Masterton 238, Dannevirke 216, Gisborne 293, Napier 288, Wairoa 279, Paraparaumu 224, Ohakea 256, Palmerston North 193, Levin 181, Wellington 281, Stratford 234, Wanganui 251, Westport 214, Arapito 181, Hokitika 206, Greymouth 189, Nelson 304, Blenheim 296, Grassmere 274, Kaikoura 248, Mt Cook 169, Methven 235, Christchurch 250, Timaru 227, Oamaru Aero 195, Omarama 250, Palmerston 158, Dunedin Aero 146, Dunedin 134, Te Anau 183, Queenstown 206, Cromwell 247, Alexandra 228, Gore 168, Invercargill 148, Chatham Is 237 {3rd= highest}].

Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations).

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