Historic: September 1962

[RWood]

{A rather quiet month overall, quite an appealing notion at present}.

September 1962: Fairly typical, but in many districts it was a little warmer, drier and sunnier than usual. The first half of the month was rather cloudy and unsettled, with some cold rains early on. Thunderstorms were widespread on the 5th in the Taranaki-Wanganui, with a small tornado at the New Plymouth showgrounds. Other small tornadoes were reported at Temuka on the 9th and Ohiwa (east of Whakatane) on the 14th.

Rainfall: Rainfall was about 2/3 of the average in eastern and inland districts of the South Island, also in the south of Wellington province, Taranaki and northern Northland. Elsewhere it was mainly close to normal, but at least 50% above average in parts of Bay of Plenty and Gisborne, and about Nelson city.

Temperatures: It was the 12th month in succession with temperatures above average, mainly by 0.5C or less. Snow was reported in the high country of both islands and to low levels in Southland on the 1st and 2nd.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly about normal or 10-25 hours above. Eastern districts of the North Island from Wairarapa to Gisborne received up to 30 hours less than usual.

[Best totals were 226 at Nelson, 219 at Blenheim and 218 at Tekapo. Dunedin’s 167 was about 20% above normal and lowish rainfall and light winds made for a very pleasant month. The October there was much warmer than usual and also sunnier, and the combination was the best weather for that time of year (or for most others, for that matter) I experienced in my time in Dunedin].


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

[ATO2]

I recall there being a tornado- it was close to my school, but I think we were on holiday at the time.

[TokWW]

Have sunshine hours been kept at Masterton or Carterton over the long term?

[RWood]

Masterton had records from Waingawa from 1930 to 1991. My notes on the site history [for eventually deciding which records to keep in my database]:

"Slightly erratic. Some evidence of decline in 70s. Values improved again from 1986. New manual site at Te Ore Ore (east of town) doesn’t seem to be all that good either. Defer any action, wait for an EWS."


In fact comparisons with Napier and Gisborne showed some decline in the 60s, and a greater amount in the 70s. Te Ore Ore has now stopped its readings.


There has been a site at Martinborough since the mid-80s, now an EWS. I don't think its exposure is satisfactory, as for the short period 1968-1971 the values were considerably higher than now.

[TokWW]

Waingawa freezing Works probably managed that one at Masterton until its demise about the time you indicated. Or it may have been at the saleyards or even at a river gauge close by. Hmmm, not sure.

Te Ore Ore Rd has a public reserve out that way but there is also a river gauge there beside a river metal quarry so probably a combination setup again.

I thought there was also a Claireville on by Carterton ... Anyway, the Martinborough one, I have a brother with a farm there so i'll find out who is monitoring it and ask about location and equipment and procedures...

Thanks for the background. I'll see if I can follow up. They do get some desert type conditions there in summer, and snow once every 20~30years at 200ft asl!!

[RWood]

I suspect that for Martinborough the instrument is not sited with enough horizon visibility. Would be nice to know more, thanks.

[TokWW]

If the instruments are close to the township then yes there is a low foothill to the east that would definitely impact on the morning rays. I can follow up.