Post by Bishopdale Weather on Aug 4, 2019 17:49:38 GMT 12
Brief Review of 1948.—The annual rainfall was below the average in the Wellington and Hawke's Bay districts and in parts of Northland; also over the South Island with the exception of some districts in Nelson and Marlborough and near the eastern slopes of the Southern Alps. The deficiency was greatest in North Otago and North Canterbury. A few local areas in the North Island had a surplus of 40 percent. These were located in the Gisborne and Bay of Plenty districts and north of New Plymouth. Annual temperatures were above normal. The departure did not amount to 1° F. in the South Island but was greater than 1° F. over most of the North Inland. A positive departure of almost 2° F. in the Rangitikei district was exceptional. For the most part, the duration of bright sunshine was above normal, in particular by more than 200 hours in South Canterbury. Less favored were western districts between Auckland and Wanganui and Nelson. Napier and Gore had a deficit of some 60 hours.
Seasonal Notes.—Warm, sunny weather prevailed during the first three months of 1948. Following two months of dry weather at the end of 1947, the cumulative effect of low rainfall for five successive months brought about a drought in several parts of the country. The areas chiefly affected were Rangitikei, Manawatu, and North Wairarapa. In the last-named area the rainfall for the period November, 1947, to March, 1918, was the lowest of any five consecutive months for over fifty years. Useful rains in the early part of April provided some relief, and in May rain came in abundance, totals being generally two or three times the average. Towards the middle of the month, a storm caused severe flooding and loss of stock in the Gisborne district. Temperatures were generally above average throughout the winter season, and pastures in the drought-affected areas recovered well. July was the mildest of any since 1917, though it was also dull and wet. In August there were many fine, sunny days while in parts of Central Otago there was no rain at all. By the end of the season, the stock was in excellent condition, the absence of snow or stormy winds being particularly welcome at lambing time. September, October, and November were fairly typical of a normal spring season. There was little settled weather, changeable westerly conditions predominating throughout. A few very wet days occurred in and west of the Southern Alps, and, Subsequently, rivers in Otago and Southland rose temporarily to flood levels. Growth of crops and pastures was good, with dairy production well above average. Very changeable conditions persisted during the first half of December, but a spell of hot, dry weather arrived over the Christmas period. The month as a whole was warmer and drier than usual, especially in eastern districts.
Summary of Meteorological Observations.—The observations from which the following summary was compiled for the year 1948 were taken at 09.30 hrs. New Zealand standard time—i.e., 21.30 hrs. Greenwich Mean Time.
Station. Temperatures in Shade, Degrees Fahrenheit. Hours of Bright Sunshine. Rainfall.
Mean Daily Maximum. Mean Daily Minimum. Approx. Mean Temperature. Extremes for 1948. Extremes. Total Fall (Inches) Number of Rain-days.
Maximum and Month. Minimum and Month. Absolute Max. Absolute Min.
Te Paki, Te Hapua 67.4 52.8 60.1 78.5 Feb. 31.3 Jun. 80.0 27.0 2,256.2 51.57 190
Auckland 65.6 54.1 59.9 81.0 Dec. 38.0 Aug. 90.4 33.2 2,016.0 53.41 187
Tauranga 66.4 48.6 57.5 83.7 Feb. 31.4 Jun. 90.7 22.5 2,478.2 60.00 169
Hamilton East 65.4 45.1 55.3 86.1 Dec. 23.7 Jun. 94.4 14.2 2,082.5 48.89 184
Rotorua 45.4 88.0 Dec. 27.0 Aug. 98.0 21.3 2,099.4 62.71 152
Gisborne 66.9 48.3 57.6 90.4 Jan. 31.0 Aug. 95.8 26.0 2,350.5 48.25 157
Onepoto, Lake Waikaremoana 59.2 44.8 52.0 82.2 Dec. 31.6 Sept. 88.0 27.1 86.42 188
New Plymouth 62.6 50.6 56.6 79.5 Jan. 39.0 Jun. 89.0 27.0 2,069.8 73.14 182
Napier 66.1 49.6 57.8 92.2 Jan. 31.0 Aug. 96.5 27.5 2,361.4 25.72 118
Taihape 59.8 44.0 51.9 82.0 Dec. 27.9 Aug. 87.8 20.4 35.56 174
Wanganui 63.7 49.6 5.66 85.0 Jan. 32.0 Jun. 88.0 28.8 2,162.1 36.13 169
Plant Research Bureau, Palmerston North 63.6 47.7 55.7 85.0 Jan. 30.0 Aug. 87.0 21.2 1,962.7 37.51 188
Masterton 64.2 44.5 54.3 91.9 Dec. 26.0 Aug. 95.4 20.0 2,134.6 35.86 158
Wellington 61.0 48.8 54.9 84.3 Dec. 34.2 Aug. 88.0 28.6 2,072.5 41.56 162
Nelson 63.3 46.7 55.0 80.8 Feb. 31.8 Aug. 92.0 25.0 2,446.9 38.06 122
Blenheim 64.3 44.9 54.6 92.1 Dec. 28.6 Jun. 94.6 16.1 2,577.0 29.65 114
Hanmer Springs 61.8 39.2 50.5 91.6 Dec. 19.0 Aug. 97.0 8.2 2,026.5 38.63 132
Hokitika 59.4 44.1 51.7 75.0 Jan. 29.2 Jul. 84.5 25.0 1,955.0 105.24 192
Lake Coleridge 61.0 40.6 50.8 89.1 Dec. 20.8 Jun. 92.0 10.0 33.45 126
Christchurch 61.8 44.7 53.2 91.0 Jan. 26.8 Jun. 95.7 19.3 2,054.6 19.34 129
Timaru 62.3 43.2 52.7 91.2 Jan. 25.0 Jul. 99.0 19.8 2,108.6 18.67 96
Milford Sound 57.5 42.9 50.2 76.6 Feb. 28.3 Aug. 79.3 23.1 247.36 190
Queenstown 60.0 41.2 50.6 93.4 Jan. 26.0 Aug. 93.4 19.2 2,113.5 38.43 131
Alexandra 62.3 39.9 51.1 94.4 Jan. 20.0 Aug. 94.4 11.0 2,185.2 10.96 95
Dunedin 59.0 44.8 51.9 85.0 Jan. 28.0 Jun. 94.0 23.0 1,798.0 31.63 177
Invercargill 58.8 41.5 50.1 90.0 Jan. 23.0 Aug. 90.0 19.0 1,741.6 41.44 210
For 1948 the mean sea-level pressure values in millibars at 09.30 hrs., New Zealand standard time, were: Auckland, 1016.1; Wellington, 1013.5; Nelson, 1013.5; Hokitika, 1013.8; Christchurch, 1011.6; and Dunedin, 1011.0.
Seasonal Notes.—Warm, sunny weather prevailed during the first three months of 1948. Following two months of dry weather at the end of 1947, the cumulative effect of low rainfall for five successive months brought about a drought in several parts of the country. The areas chiefly affected were Rangitikei, Manawatu, and North Wairarapa. In the last-named area the rainfall for the period November, 1947, to March, 1918, was the lowest of any five consecutive months for over fifty years. Useful rains in the early part of April provided some relief, and in May rain came in abundance, totals being generally two or three times the average. Towards the middle of the month, a storm caused severe flooding and loss of stock in the Gisborne district. Temperatures were generally above average throughout the winter season, and pastures in the drought-affected areas recovered well. July was the mildest of any since 1917, though it was also dull and wet. In August there were many fine, sunny days while in parts of Central Otago there was no rain at all. By the end of the season, the stock was in excellent condition, the absence of snow or stormy winds being particularly welcome at lambing time. September, October, and November were fairly typical of a normal spring season. There was little settled weather, changeable westerly conditions predominating throughout. A few very wet days occurred in and west of the Southern Alps, and, Subsequently, rivers in Otago and Southland rose temporarily to flood levels. Growth of crops and pastures was good, with dairy production well above average. Very changeable conditions persisted during the first half of December, but a spell of hot, dry weather arrived over the Christmas period. The month as a whole was warmer and drier than usual, especially in eastern districts.
Summary of Meteorological Observations.—The observations from which the following summary was compiled for the year 1948 were taken at 09.30 hrs. New Zealand standard time—i.e., 21.30 hrs. Greenwich Mean Time.
Station. Temperatures in Shade, Degrees Fahrenheit. Hours of Bright Sunshine. Rainfall.
Mean Daily Maximum. Mean Daily Minimum. Approx. Mean Temperature. Extremes for 1948. Extremes. Total Fall (Inches) Number of Rain-days.
Maximum and Month. Minimum and Month. Absolute Max. Absolute Min.
Te Paki, Te Hapua 67.4 52.8 60.1 78.5 Feb. 31.3 Jun. 80.0 27.0 2,256.2 51.57 190
Auckland 65.6 54.1 59.9 81.0 Dec. 38.0 Aug. 90.4 33.2 2,016.0 53.41 187
Tauranga 66.4 48.6 57.5 83.7 Feb. 31.4 Jun. 90.7 22.5 2,478.2 60.00 169
Hamilton East 65.4 45.1 55.3 86.1 Dec. 23.7 Jun. 94.4 14.2 2,082.5 48.89 184
Rotorua 45.4 88.0 Dec. 27.0 Aug. 98.0 21.3 2,099.4 62.71 152
Gisborne 66.9 48.3 57.6 90.4 Jan. 31.0 Aug. 95.8 26.0 2,350.5 48.25 157
Onepoto, Lake Waikaremoana 59.2 44.8 52.0 82.2 Dec. 31.6 Sept. 88.0 27.1 86.42 188
New Plymouth 62.6 50.6 56.6 79.5 Jan. 39.0 Jun. 89.0 27.0 2,069.8 73.14 182
Napier 66.1 49.6 57.8 92.2 Jan. 31.0 Aug. 96.5 27.5 2,361.4 25.72 118
Taihape 59.8 44.0 51.9 82.0 Dec. 27.9 Aug. 87.8 20.4 35.56 174
Wanganui 63.7 49.6 5.66 85.0 Jan. 32.0 Jun. 88.0 28.8 2,162.1 36.13 169
Plant Research Bureau, Palmerston North 63.6 47.7 55.7 85.0 Jan. 30.0 Aug. 87.0 21.2 1,962.7 37.51 188
Masterton 64.2 44.5 54.3 91.9 Dec. 26.0 Aug. 95.4 20.0 2,134.6 35.86 158
Wellington 61.0 48.8 54.9 84.3 Dec. 34.2 Aug. 88.0 28.6 2,072.5 41.56 162
Nelson 63.3 46.7 55.0 80.8 Feb. 31.8 Aug. 92.0 25.0 2,446.9 38.06 122
Blenheim 64.3 44.9 54.6 92.1 Dec. 28.6 Jun. 94.6 16.1 2,577.0 29.65 114
Hanmer Springs 61.8 39.2 50.5 91.6 Dec. 19.0 Aug. 97.0 8.2 2,026.5 38.63 132
Hokitika 59.4 44.1 51.7 75.0 Jan. 29.2 Jul. 84.5 25.0 1,955.0 105.24 192
Lake Coleridge 61.0 40.6 50.8 89.1 Dec. 20.8 Jun. 92.0 10.0 33.45 126
Christchurch 61.8 44.7 53.2 91.0 Jan. 26.8 Jun. 95.7 19.3 2,054.6 19.34 129
Timaru 62.3 43.2 52.7 91.2 Jan. 25.0 Jul. 99.0 19.8 2,108.6 18.67 96
Milford Sound 57.5 42.9 50.2 76.6 Feb. 28.3 Aug. 79.3 23.1 247.36 190
Queenstown 60.0 41.2 50.6 93.4 Jan. 26.0 Aug. 93.4 19.2 2,113.5 38.43 131
Alexandra 62.3 39.9 51.1 94.4 Jan. 20.0 Aug. 94.4 11.0 2,185.2 10.96 95
Dunedin 59.0 44.8 51.9 85.0 Jan. 28.0 Jun. 94.0 23.0 1,798.0 31.63 177
Invercargill 58.8 41.5 50.1 90.0 Jan. 23.0 Aug. 90.0 19.0 1,741.6 41.44 210
For 1948 the mean sea-level pressure values in millibars at 09.30 hrs., New Zealand standard time, were: Auckland, 1016.1; Wellington, 1013.5; Nelson, 1013.5; Hokitika, 1013.8; Christchurch, 1011.6; and Dunedin, 1011.0.