BRIEF REVIEW of the WEATHER Percent of Normal in Much of Canterbury and As Low As 50 Percent of Normal in Coastal WINTER 1988 (Fig
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Weather and Climate (1989) 9: 29-36 29 NEW ZEALAND WEATHER BRIEF REVIEW OF THE WEATHER percent of normal in much of Canterbury and as low as 50 percent of normal in coastal WINTER 1988 (Fig. 1) areas of North Otago. Rainfall for winter was above normal in The mean temperature for New Zealand, calculated from 7 indicator stations (one of central highcountry regions of the North Is- which goes back to 1853) was 9.1°C. This was land, Wanganui, Manawatu, along the west 1.0°C above normal and was the third highest coast of the South Island, in Southland, Otago recorded. The warmest winter was that of and inland highcountry areas of Canterbury. The wettest regions were Manawatu, South 1984 when 9.4°C was recorded. In some places Westland and inland areas of Southland and in central Otago and inland Canterbury mean temperatures were as high as 1.5-2°C above Otago, where rainfall totals ranged between normal. 150 and 190 percent of normal. It was drier than usual in all regions of New One of the major factors which contributed Zealand which were sheltered from the west to the warmer weather was that there were and south-west. Rainfall was less than 60 fewer periods of very cold southerly condi- .1.0 +0.6 —0,6 —1.0 SUNSHINE Pereentege of Normal (1061-00) Seimrture from Mks, 0051 -00) WINTER WINTER ((IV))TEMPERAXURE Nme Zei•land Meteorological Service Neer Unload Mettorotogmal Service 1 Fig. 1: Winter 1988. Rainfall (a) maps based on observations from 46 stations; temperature (b) departure maps based on observations from 43 stations; sunshine (c) based on observations from 33 stations. 30 New Zealand Weather Conditions were generally windier than usu- al in the south of the North Island, and over much of the South Island, especially in South- land and Otago where windy days (gusts of at ISO least 34 knots) occurred with almost twice the 120 normal frequency. Strong winds (recorded by radar balloon flights) at midday, over South- 80 land occurred on 44 percent of the days. This 50 was the most since 45 percent in 1949. MONTHLY SUMMARIES JUNE-AUGUST 1988 June was warmer than usual. Mean daily temperatures were at least 0.5°C above normal throughout much of New Zealand. They were 1.5-2°C higher in places north of Auckland, in western Bay of Plenty, western regions of the North Island from Waikato to Manawatu and in inland Canter- RAINFALL of Nom, (1051-00, WINTER 1988 bury. A very low air temperature of -8.4'c was Mow notiond ifetoorolcoficol Service recorded at Dunedin Airport on the morning of the 16th, together with a -10.3°C ground frost. This was the lowest air temperature recorded there in any month since records began in 1963. Temperatures as high as 22.5°C tions than is usual, and these lasted for only were recorded at Christchurch Airport in brief periods of time. For example, the aver- age number of days in winter (1931-74) with warm dry northwesterly conditions on the 8th. This was the highest in 33 years of records. A maximum temperatures of less than 8.0°C recorded at Kelburn is 9. This winter there maximum temperature of 24.2°C was record- were only 2. ed at Napier Airport in similar conditions on the 19th, which was the highest measured Only one ground frost was recorded at Kel- since records began in 1954. burn (the normal is 2), which was the least since 1971 when there were none. This made Rainfall was only 30-40 percent of normal the winter the second least frosty at Kelburn in Hawkes Bay and northern parts of the since records began in 1928. Auckland region. It was also drier than norm- al in Northland, other parts of Auckland and Cloudier than normal conditions were re- in eastern regions of New Zealand sheltered corded in all western regions of the North from the south-west, where totals ranged Island north of Horowhenua and along the from 40-70 percent of normal. Rainfall was west coast of the South Island. The winter was 120-180 percent of normal in Manawatu, along rather cloudy in Auckland and Waikato. Hours the West Coast of the South Island and in of bright sunshine were only 76 percent of Central Otago. Totals were almost twice normal at Auckland City, which was the low- normal in South Westland. Only 378 mm (59% est since records began in 1963, and 77 per- of normal) was recorded at Kelburn in the 6 cent of normal at Ruakura which was the months ending 30 June. This was the lowest lowest since records began in 1937. since 287 mm in 1939 and the 9th lowest since Sunnier than normal conditions prevailed in recording began in 1862. Heavy rain, totalling eastern regions of New Zealand from Hawkes 153 mm, was recorded at Glenorchy (near Bay to South Canterbury. Just over 120 per- Awakino) in the 24 hours to 9am on the 8th. cent of normal sunshine was recorded at Five houses were evacuated and hundreds of hectares of farmland were flooded due to Christchurch Airport, making it the sunniest since 1959. heavy rain in the same area on the 19th. On New Zealand Weather 31 the same day heavy rain caused slips and ter many homes were flooded. About 10 closed the Manawatu Gorge road for a time. houses were seriously damaged by the water Hours of bright sunshine were 110-120 per- and more than 100 were evacuated. The flood cent of normal over much of the South Island. was reported as being the worst affecting the In Canterbury and Southland they were as region since 1976 and damage was estimated high as 125 percent of normal. Over the North at $2-3 million. Island it was cloudier than usual (especially in Drier than normal conditions were recorded Horowhenua and Manawatu with 65-75 per- in eastern regions of the South Island from cent of normal hours). The region from East Kaikoura to North Otago. In these regions Cape to Poverty Bay had near normal totals ranged from 40-60 percent of normal. sunshine. Only 8 mm was recorded at Oamaru. On the whole, July was wndier than average For the 7 months from 1 January to 31 July, over much of New Zealand, especially in the only 200 mm had been recorded at Christ- far south. church Airport. This was the least ever Strong winds occurred for 37 percent of the recroded for that period since records began time, for the period 1 January to 31 July over in 1944, being only 50 percent of normal. the south of the South Island. This was equal Temperatures were much warmer than to 37 percent in the same period in 1987, and usual over most of New Zealand in July. Mean was the highest since records began in 1956. daily temperatures were 1-1.5°C above norm- Rainfall was above normal in eastern re- al in many regions. They were about 2°C gions of the North Island north of Wairarapa, above in Waikato, Manawatu and eastern re- high country regions, Southland, much of gions of the South Island (north of Southland Otago and in most regions exposed to the west and coastal Otago). In some inland areas of or south-west. It was very wet in Auckland Canterbury and Otago they were as much as City, western Manawatu, Fiordland and 3°C above normal. The mean temperature for Southland, with totals being approximately New Zealand, calculated from 7 indicator sta- twice normal (and up to three times normal in tions, was 8.9°C. This was 1.3°C above normal Central Otago). A total of 154 mm (214% of and was the highest on record (equal with normal) recorded at Invercargill Airport was 8.9°C in 1985). The mean temperature record- the highest recorded there in July, since ed at Kelburn was 9.7°C (1.3°C above normal), records began in 1939. which was the second equal highest since records began in 1928. Other Wellington Heavy rain was recorded in Auckland on the records indicate that, for Kelburn, it was 17th, where in most places totals for the 24 likely to have been the second highest since hours to 9am on the 18th ranged from 60-95 1862. The highest was 9.8°C in July 1985. The mm, with some surface flooding. Flooding also occurred in Gisborne when over 100 mm mean temperature at Christchurch of 7.1°C was recorded in the 48 hours to 9am on the (2.0°C above normal) was the highest since 18th. A total of 304 mm was recorded at records began in 1954. Coromandel in the 72 hours to 9am on the Hours of bright sunshine were below normal 18th; 186 mm having been recorded in the 24 in most western regions of New Zealand. They hours to 9am on the 17th. were very low in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, and central regions of the North A total of 31 mm was recorded at Kelburn, Island, where they ranged from 65-80 percent Wellington, in moist north-west conditions, in of normal. Only 98 hours (74 % of normal) the hour from just before midnight on the 23rd were recorded at New Plymouth Airport, until just before 1 lam on the 24th. This which was the lowest since records began in equalled the all time record for one hour's rain at Kelburn.