[RWood]

December 1973: Pressures were unusually high to the south-east of the South Island in December, and easterly winds were somewhat more frequent than usual. It was a dry month, and also warm and sunny though less so in the east.

Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal over almost all the country, mainly by about 40%. It was less than half of normal over almost the whole of Northland; in the greater part of Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu; and also in the greater part of Otago and Southland. The only 2 periods of considerable and fairly general rain were the 17th-18th and the 24th-25th. Many stations received very little or no rain in the first half of the month. In a thunderstorm at Taupo on the afternoon of Christmas Day 30mm were recorded in half an hour.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly above normal by about 1C. However in some coastal areas, mainly in the east, they were only normal. This is the 4th successive month of generally warm temperatures, and 1973 has been a warm year.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly above normal by 30-80 hours. However, on the east coast from Wairarapa to Bay of Plenty it was only normal or a little above. New Plymouth’s total of 296 hours was one of the highest ever recorded there for December; and Paraparaumu’s total of 300 hours was also unusually high.

[Some totals: Kerikeri 241, Leigh 251, Auckland 284, Tauranga 243, Whakatane 255, Taupo 246, Hamilton 258, Taumarunui 239, New Plymouth 296, Masterton 225, Gisborne 251, Napier 254, Paraparaumu 300, Palmerston North 254, Levin 279, Wellington 263, Stratford 244, Wanganui 270, Takaka 275, Westport 223, Hokitika 224, Haast 226, Nelson 266, Blenheim 268, Kaikoura 205, Mt Cook 207, Mt John 306, Christchurch 233, Timaru 219, Waimate 210, Dunedin 240, Oamaru 214, Queenstown 275, Alexandra 274, Invercargill 250, Raoul Is 134].

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

[RWood]

Rainday counts were low in many areas. At Kelburn, apart from 0.4mm on the 4th, the only recorded falls were 43.1mm on the 18th, 22.1mm on the 24th and 48.6mm on the 25th (!). Cape Reinga showed typical consistency in its maximum temperatures, with an average of 21.5C and a monthly maximum of 23.1C.

This post has been edited by RWood: 10 March 2010 - 07:59 AM

[ATO2]

RWood, on 10 March 2010 - 07:59 AM, said:

Rainday counts were low in many areas. At Kelburn, apart from 0.4mm on the 4th, the only recorded falls were 43.1mm on the 18th, 22.1mm on the 24th and 48.6mm on the 25th (!). Cape Reinga showed typical consistency in its maximum temperatures, with an average of 21.5C and a monthly maximum of 23.1C.

That sounds so much like Cape Reinga. I used to go up around that area quite frequently: very small diurnal range as well, it seemed to me.

[RWood]

33.6C maximum at Orari Estate on the 4th.