[RWood]

October 1973: October was a dry and warm month for most of the country. The dry weather was already beginning to have a serious effect in Marlborough, with stock selloffs due to lack of feed. Other areas affected, but less seriously, were Nelson, Canterbury and Wairarapa. Gales were widespread on the 1st, especially in eastern districts.

Rainfall: Rainfall was below normal, mainly by 50%, except in South Westland, Fiordland, Southland, and Otago, where it was somewhat above normal. Greatest deficiencies were recorded in Bay of Plenty, most of which received less than 1/4 of the normal rainfall.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly above normal and the departure amounted to more than 1C in north-eastern areas of both islands. The coldest days were the 4th, 17th, 25th and 26th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was close to normal over the greater part of the country. However, it was above normal in Marlborough, and 30 to 50 hours below normal in Southland, over a considerable part of the West Coast, and in coastal areas of Otago and South Canterbury.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 174, Auckland 188, Tauranga 209, Whakatane 224, Taupo 191, Hamilton 192, Taumarunui 170, New Plymouth Aero 192, Masterton 221, Dannevirke 175, Gisborne 222, Napier 192, Palmerston North 177, Wellington 211, Stratford 201, Wanganui 208, Westport 139, Hokitika 126, Haast 137, Riwaka 244, Nelson 223, Blenheim 271, Kaikoura 227, Mt John 222, Christchurch 209, Timaru 158, Waimate 147, Dunedin 130, Oamaru 172, Queenstown 182, Alexandra 180, Invercargill 113{record low}, Raoul Is 227].

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

[RWood]

17mm rainfall at Tauranga Aero, 15mm at Christchurch Aero. No noteworthy high totals - Milford Sound 30% above average with 715mm. Small range of maxima at Haast, with mean daily max. of 13.6C and monthly high of 15.8C.