1945-47

[Bishopdale Weather]

Station. Altitude of Station. Average Annual Rainfall. Average Number of Rain-days. Average Bright Sunshine. Temperatures in Shade, Degrees Fahrenheit. 
Mean Daily Maximum. Mean Daily Minimum. 
Jan. July. Year. Jan. July. Year. 
*Normals relate to present site.

† Temperature records for less than ten years.
 
  Ft. In.   Hrs.             
Te Paki, Te Hapua 200 54.74 164 2,163 72.3 58.6 65.6 57.2 45.4 51.9 
Auckland 160 49.14 183 2,058 72.9 56.4 64.8 60.0 45.9 53.1 
Tauranga 10 52.90 151 2,371 74.5 57.1 66.1 54.8 39.7 47.4 
Hamilton East 131 46.68 159 2,038 75.3 56.3 66.1 52.3 37.3 45.1 
Rotorua 931 55.42 145 2,054 74.9 54.5 64.8 53.5 37.0 45.3 
Gisborne† 12 38.31 147 2,271 77.3 54.1 66.0 54.3 41.1 47.6 
Onepoto, Lake Waikaremoana† 2,110 76.25 184   67.5 46.7 57.6 52.4 37.2 45.0 
New Plymouth 160 60.60 186 2,235 69.5 54.9 62.5 55.5 42.7 49.4 
Napier 5 31.48 114 2,417 73.9 54.6 64.7 57.2 39.0 48.5 
Taihape 2,157 36.91 181   68.2 47.0 57.8 50.2 35.9 43.1 
Wanganui† 72 35.97 156 2,194 71.4 53.4 62.9 56.3 40.2 48.9 
Plant Research Bureau, Palmerston North 110 38.00 154 1,818 70.5 52.5 62.0 54.6 38.6 47.0 
Masterton 350 37.69 142 2,092 73.9* 52.6* 63.6* 50.9* 35.9* 43.2* 
Wellington 415 44.86 166 2,040 67.7 51.1 59.7 54.6 41.5 48.2 
Nelson 24 38.22 119 2,487 71.2 54.0 63.0 54.5 36.7 46.0 
Blenheim 60 24.93 111 2,320 75.6 53.1 64.9 53.4 32.9 43.9 
Hanmer Springs 1,225 45.84 134 1,960 71.8 47.7 60.9 48.0 28.7 39.1 
Hokitika 12 114.64 188 1,895 66.3 52.9 59.6 53.1 36.5 45.4 
Lake Coleridge 1,195 32.49 113   70.8 48.0 61.1 49.2 29.9 40.8 
Christchurch 22 26.10 126 1,968 70.2 49.8 60.8 52.7 34.7 44.0 
Timaru 56 23.16 115 1,911 69.9 49.2 60.6 51.6 33.3 42.8 
Milford Sound 20 252.76 195   64.2 48.5 56.8 50.0 34.3 42.4 
Queenstown 1,100 30.78 101 1,990 69.6 45.1 58.7 49.0 30.5 40.9 
Alexandra 520 13.51 100 2,145 72.4 44.0 60.6 50.8 27.8 40.3 
Dunedin 5 31.32 161 1,702 67.6* 48.3* 59.1* 50.9* 36.4* 44.2* 
Invercargill 32 44.74 199 1,632 66.3 48.7 58.3 48.5 33.8 41.8 

1945.—Dull unsettled weather persisted throughout the early part of 1945. A cool autumn was followed by a cold though relatively dry winter. Early spring growth was good, but was not maintained due to the very cold weather of October. The coldest December on record further hindered agricultural work.

From Hawkes Bay to East Cape the annual rainfall was only about 70 per cent. of the normal. Deficiencies were smaller over most of the Auckland and Coromandel Peninsulas, in Bay of Plenty, near Nelson, Masterton, Wellington, and Queen Charlotte Sound. Elsewhere the rainfall was above normal, the excess being greater than 50 per cent. over much of Canterbury and in parts of North and Central Otago. Mean temperatures for the year were below normal, the departure exceeding 1°F. in the interior of both Islands. The duration of bright sunshine was a little above normal over the Auckland and Hawkes Bay provincial districts, in Blenheim, and on the Canterbury Plains. Totals elsewhere were below normal, deficiencies of over 200 hours being recorded in parts of Otago and Westland.

Seasonal Notes.—As in December, 1944, conditions were persistently unsettled during the first two months of 1945, and culminated in severe flooding over South Canterbury on 21st February. Growth was very abundant, but crops suffered from lack of sunshine. The autumn was a cool one. Westerly conditions in both March and April gave low rainfalls to the east coast, but much wet weather elsewhere. In May this rainfall distribution was reversed, and its coldness proved hard on stock. June and July were cold and frosty, with light rainfalls. Canterbury experienced a severe snowstorm in the latter month. A mild August eased the position for stock, although it was cloudy and rather wet. September was also dull, but not very abnormal otherwise. Growth which promised well in August, did not continue strongly. The season was further hindered by an exceptionally cold October, and, although this was followed by a mild November, very dry conditions prevented much improvement. The dryness continued in Auckland and Hawkes Bay throughout December, which was the coldest known in New Zealand.

Summary of Meteorological Observations.—The observations from which the following summary was compiled for the year 1945 were taken at 09.30 hrs. New Zealand civil time—i.e., 180th Meridian Time.

— Temperatures in Shade, Degrees Fahrenheit. Hours of Bright Sunshine. Rainfall. 
Mean Daily Maximum. Mean Daily Minimum. Approx, Mean Temperature. Extremes for 1945. Extremes. Total Fall (Inches) Number of Rain-days. 
Maximum and Month. Minimum and Month. Absolute Max. Absolute Min. 
Te Paki, Te Hapua 64.5 51.4 57.9 77.5 Feb. 33.0 July 80.0 27.0 2,136.4 54.67 147 
Auckland 63.7 52.6 58.1 78.5 Feb. 36.2 June 90.4 33.2 2,167.1 45.64 190 
Tauranga 65.2 47.2 56.2 85.4 Dec. 27.7 June 90.7 22.5 2,470.9 47.96 149 
Hamilton East 63.9 45.1 54.5 81.2 Jan. 14.2 June 94.4 14.2 2,126.4 47.75 164 
Rotorua 63.6 45.4 54.5 86.0 Jan. 26.7 June 98.0 21.3 2,212.4 57.27 147 
Gisborne 66.1 46.9 56.5 88.3 Jan. 28.8 June 95.8 26.0 2,385.7 28.22 138 
Onepoto, Lake Waikaremoana   44.5   82.7 Dec. 27.6 Sept. 88.0 27.1   54.90 172 
New Plymouth 61.0 48.9 55.0 79.8 Jan. 30.0 July 89.0 27.0 2,092.9 69.16 156 
Napier 65.2 47.8 56.5 86.9 Feb. 28.3 July 96.5 27.5 2,418.8 22.47 114 
Taihape 57.4 42.8 50.1 78.8 Jan. 25.2 July 87.8 20.4   39.92 184 
Wanganui 62.1 48.5 55.3 81.6 Feb. 29.0 July 88.0 28.8 2,078.4 35.69 161 
Plant Research Bureau, Palmerston North 61.3 46.1 53.7 83.1 Jan. 27.0 June 87.0 21.2 1,790.2 41.77 181 
Masterton 63.3 42.2 52.8 87.2 Jan. 24.0 June 95.4 20.0 2,034.3 35.19 116 
Wellington 59.2 47.6 53.4 82.0 Jan. 32.2 July 88.0 28.6 1,975.8 48.22 161 
Nelson 62.4 45.6 54.0 81.1 Jan. 27.9 May 92.0 25.0 2,334.1 43.95 122 
Blenheim 63.8 42.2 53.0 89.0 Jan. 18.9 June 94.6 16.1 2,386.4 26.66 120 
Hanmer Springs 59.2 39.8 49.0 86.3 Jan. 10.0 July 97.0 8.2 1,881.7 60.45 146 
Hokitika 59.1 45.2 52.2 77.0 Jan. 28.5 July 84.5 25.0 1,654.1 125.08 211 
Lake Coleridge 58.8 39.8 49.3 85.0 Jan. 10.0 July 92.0 10.0   41.72 144 
Christchurch 60.3 43.4 51.8 87.2 Nov. 19.3 July 95.7 19.3 2,012.5 37.75 133 
Timaru 60.2 41.4 50.8 90.2 Feb. 22.6 July 99.0 19.8 1,949.2 34.25 118 
Milford Sound 56.7 42.0 49.3 79.3 Jan. 27.0 June 79.3 23.1   265.78 219 
Queenstown 57.7 40.2 48.9 83.4 Jan. 23.6 July 90.2 19.2 1,940.8 38.80 142 
Alexandra 59.7 39.7 49.7 87.8 Jan. 17.0 July 91.5 11.0 1,980.5 19.53 129 
Dunedin 55.6 42.6 49.1 85.0 Feb. 28.9 July 94.0 23.0 1,603.6 46.77 191 
Invercargill 57.1 42.0 49.0 83.0 Jan. 23.0 July 90.0 19.0 1,608.5 45.80 215 

For 1945 the mean sea-level pressure values in millibars at 09.30 hrs., New Zealand civil time, were: Auckland, 1016.1; Wellington, 1013.4; Nelson, 1013.2; Hokitika, 1013.9; Christchurch, 1011.3; and Dunedin, 1010.5.

1946.—The early part of the year was sunny and dry, with drought conditions in the Auckland and Hawkes Bay districts. The country recovered well following good autumn rains and a mild winter. July was particularly mild, and spring growth got away to a good start. Persistently cold and unsettled weather soon caused the season to become very backward, and by the end of the year farming activities were well behind schedule.

For the greater part of the country the annual rainfall was fairly close to the normal. Over the Auckland Peninsula it was a wet year, especially in the eastern portion, where some places had an excess of 50 per cent. Moderate excesses occurred in northern Wairarapa and the Canterbury Plains. In parts of Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, and Central Otago there was a moderate deficiency. Over the year mean temperatures were slightly above average in the North Island, except in the Wairarapa. In the latter district, and in the South Island there were small negative departures. Sunshine over the North Island was better than average except in portions of the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, and Wairarapa districts. Invercargill, Blenheim, and Westport also enjoyed a little more sunshine than usual, but over the remainder of the South Island totals were deficient.

Seasonal Notes.—During January and February the weather was sunny and dry, except in the South. Rainfall in Hawkes Bay and Auckland was negligible in amount, and dairy-production suffered severely. In these areas the five-monthly period from October, 1945, was the driest for over thirty years. Scrub and forest fires were widespread over the North Island. Beneficial rains fell over the drier areas in the middle of March and were followed by substantial rainfall in April. Pastures and supplementary crops recovered well after the summer drought.

Over the North Island the next month was the mildest of any May since 1928. Winds from an easterly quarter predominated during May and June and rain was frequent in eastern districts, especially in Auckland and Hawkes Bay. Following very heavy rains in the north during the first week of July, the easterly type of situation which had dominated the weather for several weeks gave way to the westerly type. It was the mildest July since 1917. Windy westerly weather continued in August, when many places in the west and north had rain every day. Changeable weather during September further delayed agricultural activities. A wintry spell late in the month caused serious losses among young lambs in Otago and Canterbury. Orchards also suffered some damage. Growth war, slow during the cool changeable weather of October. Temperatures were even colder in November, which was the coldest on record. Fruit and vegetable crops suffered because of frosts and hail. December weather was dull and cool, and the season remained very backward.

Summary of Meteorological Observations.—The observations from which the following summary was compiled for the year 1946 were taken at 09.30 hrs., New Zealand standard time.

— Temperatures in Shade, Degrees Fahrenheit. Hours of Bright Sunshine. Rainfall. 
Mean Daily Maximum. Mean Daily Minimum. Approx, Mean Temperature. Extremes for 1946. Extremes. Total Fall (Inches) Number of Rain-days. 
Maximum and Month. Minimum and Month. Absolute Max. Absolute Min. 
Te Paki, Te Hapua 64.7 52.7 58.7 76.0 Jan. 32.0 June 80.0 27.0 2,176.4 73.89 174 
Auckland 65.3 53.8 59.5 82.6 Feb. 39.5 June 90.4 33.2 2,118.5 56.48 217 
Tauranga 66.1 49.1 57.6 91.9 Jan. 31.2 June 91.9 22.5 2,362.1 59.68 173 
Hamilton East 65.0 47.2 56.1 85.6 Feb. 25.3 June 94.4 14.2 2,053.8 50.75 206 
Rotorua 64.7 46.4 55.6 92.9 Jan. 28.0 June 98.0 21.3 2,103.2 57.45 169 
Gisborne 66.9 47.6 57.3 95.8 Feb. 30.4 June 95.8 26.0 2,302.5 34.84 152 
Onepoto, Lake Waikaremoana 58.7 44.9 51.8 87.4 Feb. 30.0 Oct. 88.0 27.1   68.47 178 
New Plymouth 61.3 49.8 55.5 74.2 Feb. 35.2 Sept. 89.0 27.0 2,127.2 72.99 208 
Napier 65.7 49.2 57.5 95.0 Feb. 29.4 June 96.5 27.5 2.4185 30.04 129 
Taihape 58.4 43.3 50.8 87.8 Feb. 27.8 June 87.8 20.4   38.28 197 
Wanganui 62.6 48.6 55.6 84.5 Mar. 29.7 June 88.0 28.8 2,247.6 34.44 172 
Plant Research Bureau, Palmerston North 61.8 47.2 54.5 80.6 Mar. 27.5 June 87.0 21.2 1,911.2 47.17 195 
Masterton 64.1 42.4 53.2 95.1 Feb. 19.5 June 95.4 19.5 1,972.4 44.36 144 
Wellington 60.0 48.0 54.0 78.9 Feb. 34.8 June 88.0 28.6 2,112.6 48.58 169 
Nelson 63.0 45.9 54.4 82.6 Feb. 29.5 June 92.0 25.0 2,464.6 33.58 123 
Blenheim 64.1 42.8 53.4 91.0 Feb. 21.7 June 94.6 16.1 2,356.1 21.62 120 
Hanmer Springs 59.9 39.1 49.5 93.0 Feb. 11.3 June 97.0 8.2 1,904.4 41.57 137 
Hokitika 58.4 43.6 51.0 69.7 Feb. 27.5 June 84.5 25.0 1,870.8 120.29 214 
Lake Coleridge 59.4 40.0 49.7 91.3 Feb. 18.6 July 92.0 10.0   35.16 137 
Christchurch 60.7 43.1 51.9 92.3 Feb. 22.9 June 95.7 19.3 1,932.0 38.06 146 
Timaru 60.7 41.8 51.2 91.6 Feb. 21.6 July 99.0 19.8 1,909.1 31.29 133 
Milford Sound 56.6 42.2 49.4 72.6 Mar. 26.8 July 79.3 23.1   285.56 207 
Queenstown 57.9 40.2 49.0 81.8 Jan. 22.6 July 90.2 19.2 1,911.9 36.37 145 
Alexandra 60.0 39.1 49.6 90.9 Feb. 16.2 July 91.5 11.0 2,091.3 11.91 113 
Dunedin 55.9 42.7 49.3 88.9 Feb. 30.3 Oct. 94.0 23.0 1,671.7 38.82 195 
Invercargill 57.1 40.2 48.7 84.5 Jan. 19.0 July 90.0 19.0 1,724.7 49.98 216 

For 1946 the mean sea-level pressure values in millibars at 09.30 hrs., New Zealand standard time, were: Auckland, 1014.3; Wellington, 1011.5; Nelson, 1011.5; Hokitika, 1011.8; Christchurch, 1009.7; and Dunedin, 1008.9.

1947.—For a start the season was very backward, but favourable weather throughout the summer and autumn allowed this leeway to be made good. Two violent southerly storms affected southern districts of the North Island, the first in February and the second in June. After a very wet June, the spell of mild dry weather which followed provided ideal conditions for farming. Lambing percentages and milk-yields were very good. A long spell of warm settled weather followed a dull, wet October, and pastures were rapidly drying up towards the end of the year.

Over the greater part of the South Island the annual rainfall was about 20 per cent. below normal. Eastern Marlborough, South Canterbury, and the Waimea Valley (Nelson) had a slight excess. The distribution in the North Island was rather irregular, although the departures from normal were not great. In general, the districts with deficient rainfall were in South Auckland and from Taranaki across to Hawkes Bay. Over the year mean temperatures were near or slightly above normal, the departure amounting to 1° F. on the West Coast. Most places had more sunshine than usual, particularly in Westland and Manawatu. Napier's total was the equivalent of half an hour a day below normal, while small negative departures occurred in New Plymouth, Nelson, Gore, and from Auckland to Tauranga.

Seasonal Notes.—January's weather was cool and unsettled for a start, while crops and glasshouses in South Canterbury suffered considerable damage from hail on the 4th. It became more settled later in the month, enabling farmers to make some progress with their delayed shearing and harvesting. A violent southerly storm in mid-February caused considerable damage in the southern part of the North Island. Hawkes Bay orchards suffered badly, and there were stock losses due to floods and exposure in the Wairarapa. With the above exception, the weather in February and March was predominantly fine, and a number of new sunshine records were established. Favourable weather continued during the remainder of the autumn.

Conditions were very disturbed in June. In parts of the Wellington district it was the wettest month in the last fifty years. Towards the end of the month the southern part of the North Island experienced another severe southerly storm, and stock losses were heavy in South Wairarapa. During July it was wet in the far north, but very dry in the South Island. Mild sunny weather during the next two months was very beneficial for stock and for early spring growth. Substantial rainfall in October provided a good reserve of moisture to offset the effect of the warm, dry weather in November and December. Nevertheless, towards the end of the year pastures were rapidly drying up, and milk-production was on the decline.

Summary of Meteorological Observations.—The observations from winch the following summary was made for the year 1947 were taken at 09.30 hrs. New Zealand standard time.

— Temperatures in Shade, Degrees Fahrenheit. Hours of Bright Sunshine. Rainfall. 
Mean Daily Maximum. Mean Daily Minimum. Approx, Mean Temperature. Extremes for 1947. Extremes. Total Fall (Inches) Number of Rain-days. 
Maximum and Month. Minimum and Month. Absolute Max. Absolute Min. 
Te Paki, Te Hapua 45.8 51.6 58.7 76.7 Dec. 32.1 Aug. 80.0 27.0 2,165.4 54.44 195 
Auckland 65.0 53.2 59.1 80.4 Dec. 39.0 Aug. 90.4 33.2 2,055.1 52.74 163 
Tauranga   48.5   83.7 Jan. 27.3 Aug. 91.9 22.5 2,362.9 49.92 168 
Hamilton East 65.1 44.8 54.9 83.2 Feb. 22.3 Aug. 94.4 14.2 2,089.8 41.22 162 
Rotorua 63.8 45.1 54.5 86.0 Feb. 25.0 Aug. 98.0 21.3 2,143.9 47.47 129 
Gisborne 65.8 47.3 56.6 88.5 Jan. 28.7 July 95.8 26.0 2,277.5 36.91 150 
Onepoto, Lake Waikaremoana 58.8 44.6 51.7 84.6 Feb. 29.8 Aug. 88.0 27.1   83.43 190 
New Plymouth 62.0 49.3 55.7 81.6 Feb. 33.2 Aug. 89.0 27.0 2,217.5 59.04 142 
Napier 64.3 48.8 56.5 89.9 Jan. 28.0 Aug. 96.5 27.5 2,235.0 28.98 124 
Taihape 58.8 43.3 51.0 79.0 Jan. 26.2 Aug. 87.8 20.4   37.81 151 
Wanganui   48.2   83.0 Feb. 30.2 July 88.0 28.8 2,288.8 35.27 137 
Plant Research Bureau, Palmerston North 62.8 46.4 54.6 81.2 Feb. 27.1 Aug. 87.0 21.2 2,001.7 39.29 156 
Masterton 63.6 43.3 53.5 87.0 Jan. 22.4 Aug. 95.4 19.5 2,128.0 41.64 135 
Wellington 60.4 48.2 54.3 82.2 Feb. 32.3 July 88.0 28.6 2,077.2 51.70 150 
Nelson 63.2 46.6 54.9 83.9 Jan. 29.6 Aug. 92.0 25.0 2,470.6 41.15 104 
Hanmer Springs 61.4 38.6 50.0 88.2 Jan. 15.0 July 97.0 8.2 2,009.7 42.83 124 
Hokitika 59.6 44.6 52.1 73.2 Mar. 25.4 June 84.5 25.0 1,898.4 85.78 189 
Lake Coleridge 61.0 40.7 50.8 85.8 Jan. 18.0 July 92.0 10.0   30.35 125 
Christchurch 60.9 44.3 52.6 87.7 Dec. 23.8 July 95.7 19.3 2,048.4 25.12 111 
Timaru 61.2 42.5 51.8 83.4 Dec. 24.0 July 99.0 19.8 1,910.0 24.44 111 
Milford Sound 58.3 43.7 51.0 75.2 Jan. 26.3 July 79.3 23.1   206.56 187 
Queenstown 60.5 41.3 50.9 86.6 Jan. 21.4 July 90.2 19.2 2,011.5 24.88 117 
Alexandra 62.5 40.0 51.2 89.5 Jan. 19.5 July 91.5 11.0 2,132.4 10.21 91 
Dunedin 58.8 43.6 51.2 87.5 Dec. 27.0 July 94.0 23.0 1,733.6 26.02 144 
Invercargill 59.1 41.3 50.2 83.5 Jan. 20.0 July 90.0 19.0 1,715.5 32.70 207 

For 1947 the mean sea-level pressure values in millibars at 09.30 hrs. New Zealand standard time were: Auckland, 1017.0; Wellington, 1015.1; Nelson, 1014.9; Hokitika, 1015.4; Christchurch, 1013.6; and Dunedin, 1014.1.