CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued
Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for October 1953—continued
| Station | Height of Station M.S.L. | Air Temperatures in Degrees (Fahrenheit) | Rainfall in Inches | Bright Sun-shine |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | Means of | Absolute Maximum and Minimum | Total Fall In. | No. of Rain Days | Difference From Normal | Maximum Fall Amount In. Date | Hrs |
| | | Mean of A and B °F. | Difference From Normal | Maximum °F. Date | Minimum °F. Date | | | | |
| Rudstone, Methven | 1,217 | 61·5 41·7 51·6 | +0·4 | 80·2 24 | 29·2 1 | 3·92 12 | +0·29 | 1·15 1 | 159·3 |
| Akaroa | 150 | 60·6 44·2 52·4 | −1·9 | 77·0 21 | 33·0 6 | 3·98 13 | (+1·54) | 1·35 8 | 154·1 |
| Lincoln | 36 | 60·0 41·6 50·8 | −1·1 | 83·0 21 | 31·6 3 | 2·54 10 | +0·82 | 0·85 1 | 163·0 |
| The Hermitage | 2,510 | 57·0 37·4 47·2 | −0·1 | 71·0 22 | 19·0 6 | 3·49 8 | −13·74 | 1·40 19 | 187·3 |
| Winchmore | 525 | 58·8 40·0 49·4 | (−1·6) | 78·3 21 | 29·0 1,3 | 3·86 10 | (+1·64) | 1·42 8 | .. |
| Haast | 15 | 59·7 43·3 51·5 | (−0·1) | 66·0 9 | 33·0 1 | 3·87 9 | (−11·17) | 1·73 18 | 194·5 |
| Ashburton | 323 | 61·9 40·6 51·2 | −1·2 | 83·6 21 | 28·0 3 | 3·71 9 | +1·29 | 1·25 8 | 140·9 |
| Fairlie | 1,004 | 60·7 36·3 48·5 | −1·6 | 80·0 21 | 21·0 3 | 2·15 8 | −0·77 | 0·82 1 | .. |
| Timaru | 56 | 61·5 42·9 52·2 | −0·5 | 72·9 23 | 29·9 3 | 1·89 8 | −0·04 | 0·96 8 | 164·4 |
| Adair | 200 | .. .. .. | .. | .. .. | .. .. | .. .. | .. | .. |
| Tara Hills, Omarama | 1,600 | 63·4 33·1 48·2 | (−0·8) | 79·6 22 | 22·8 3 | 0·09 4 | (−1·69) | 0·04 8 | 224·7 |
| Milford Sound | 20 | 59·3 42·1 50·7 | +1·0 | 66·1 15 | 32·9 1 | 8·27 10 | −17·57 | 1·85 18 | .. |
| Waimate | 200 | 60·6 41·6 51·1 | −1·1 | 77·8 23 | 29·6 3 | 1·17 6 | −0·94 | 0·82 8 | 140·1 |
| Frankton Airfield | 1,144 | 62·7 36·9 49·8 | .. | 77·0 22 | 27·6 6 | 0·15 3 | .. | 0·08 13 | .. |
| Queenstown | 1,100 | 61·7 39·5 50·6 | +0·2 | 74·1 22 | 30·8 6 | 0·09 4 | −3·27 | 0·06 22 | 246·5 |
| Cromwell | 720 | 65·9 38·3 52·1 | (+1·0) | 80·5 22 | 20·7 6 | 0·22 3 | (−1·14) | 0·14 9 | .. |
| Ophir | 1,000 | 64·2 34·5 49·4 | −1·1 | 79·9 22 | 22·2 6 | 0·61 4 | −1·08 | 0·25 9 | .. |
| Earnscleugh | 500 | 64·8 36·4 50·6 | (−1·1) | 82·5 22 | 23·8 6 | 0·07 2 | (−1·14) | 0·04 9 | .. |
| Waipiata | 1,550 | 58·4 36·9 47·6 | −1·3 | 74·6 22 | 24·1 1 | 1·60 7 | −0·03 | 0·60 8 | 208·2 |
| Alexandra | 520 | 65·1 38·8 52·0 | −0·4 | 82·1 22 | 27·1 6 | 0·11 3 | −1·11 | 0·07 8 | 237·8 |
| Roxburgh Hydro | 350 | .. .. .. | (Incom plete) | .. .. | .. .. | .. .. | .. |
| Mid Dome | 1,252 | 60·0 37·0 48·5 | .. | 75·6 22 | 23·8 1 | 0·89 7 | .. | 0·27 9 | .. |
| Moa Flat, West Otago | 1,345 | 56·9 37·5 47·2 | .. | 73·1 22 | 25·7 1 | 0·84 7 | (−1·45) | 0·36 18 | .. |
| Manorburn Dam | 2,448 | 52·7 33·4 43·0 | −1·3 | 70·5 22 | 23·2 1 | 0·31 6 | −1·37 | 0·12 4 | .. |
| Taieri | 80 | 59·3 39·0 49·2 | (−1·9) | 75·3 21 | 28·1 3 | 1·04 7 | (−1·02) | 0·64 9 | 183·2 |
| Musselburgh, Dunedin | 5 | 58·7 43·1 50·9 | −1·7 | 75·9 21 | 30·2 1 | 1·64 9 | −0·73 | 0·77 9 | 187·1 |
| East Gore | 245 | 61·4 38·9 50·2 | −0·5 | 79·0 22 | 27·0 2 | 1·09 7 | −1·76 | 0·51 18 | .. |
| Gore | 240 | 61·4 38·7 50·0 | (−1·0) | 79·0 22 | 27·0 2 | 0·91 6 | −1·94 | 0·49 18 | 190·4 |
| Otautau | 180 | 58·9 38·7 48·8 | (−1·3) | 72·0 22 | 27·9 1 | 0·90 6 | (−2·51) | 0·29 13 | .. |
| Pebbly Hills | 150 | 60·3 37·7 49·0 | .. | 70·0 31 | 27·0 2 | 1·03 9 | (−1·90) | 0·43 18 | .. |
| Invercargill South | 8 | 58·0 41·3 49·6 | −1·1 | 73·0 22 | 31·0 6 | 1·34 6 | (−2·21) | 0·79 18 | .. |
| Invercargill Airfield | 0 | 57·2 39·3 48·2 | (−0·8) | 71·1 22 | 27·2 2 | 1·28 6 | (−2·20) | 0·78 18 | 188·6 |
LATE RETURNS
| Lake Waikaremoana | 2,100 | 55·3 41·4 48·4 | +1·9 | 61·6 15 | 33·2 16 | 3·18 11 | −2·97 | 0·68 25 | .. |
| Adair, Sept., 1953 | 200 | 58·5 39·8 49·2 | (+2·9) | 72·5 2 | 31·8 26 | 1·43 11 | (−0·69) | 0·49 25 | .. |
| Tara Hills, Omarama | 1,600 | 56·9 32·3 44·6 | (+0·5) | 68·1 21 | 20·2 26 | 1·31 9 | (−0·20) | 0·35 9 | 195·0 |
Sept., 1953
NOTE.—At stations where departures from normal are in parentheses, the temperature record has been maintained for less than ten years, the rainfall record for less than twenty years. Rainfall normals have been revised and now refer to the standard period 1921–50. Where observations are not available for the whole period, or where the site of the rain-gauge has been changed, the normals are partly interpolated.
Notes on the Weather for October 1953
General.—In the first half of the month the weather was unsettled and cold. Several late frosts again affected Central Otago fruit-growers and there was a heavy fall of snow over the Alps and inland Canterbury. In the latter half of the month temperatures were generally milder and there were many fine sunny days. Winds were generally lighter than usual for October, with an absence of strong gales.
Lack of rain in central and western parts of Otago and Southland created a serious water shortage in a few districts, and some crops were reported to be dying. Growth was generally considered to be a little slow for October.
Rainfall.—Rainfall was very low in Otago and Southland, particularly in Central Otago and the Lakes District, where the amount was negligible. There was also an appreciable deficit in Westland and from Gisborne to Cape Runaway. Totals were close to average over the remainder of the country, except for a moderate surplus in the Manawatu-Wanganui district, in mid-Canterbury (including Banks Peninsula), and near the Bay of Islands.
Exceptionally large hail was reported near Wanganui on the 8th and at Hastings and Urenui (North Taranaki) on the 14th.
Temperatures.—Temperatures were near normal except in eastern districts of the South Island from Invercargill to Kaikoura, where they were more than a degree colder than usual. On the 21st and 22nd afternoon temperatures exceeded 70° F. over considerable areas of Canterbury and Otago.
Sunshine.—Sunshine was appreciably above normal in western Northland, and in Westland, Otago, and Southland. Central Otago and the Lakes District were especially favoured, and Queenstown had a surplus of two hours a day. In eastern Northland and in the Gisborne district sunshine totals were near normal; elsewhere the month was cloudier than usual. The greatest deficiency, equivalent to an hour a day, was recorded in mid-Canterbury.
Weather Sequence.—A complex depression which crossed the country on the 1st and 2nd caused general rain except in Otago and Southland. There were some considerable falls in Westland, Marlborough, and Wellington, while heavy snow over the Alps and inland Canterbury interrupted the power supply in places and affected roads and rail services. The weather continued unsettled over the North Island and coastal districts of the South Island with showery south-westerly conditions. On the 5th a weak ridge of high pressure extended over the greater part of the country from the south, and there was a temporary clearance, except in the far north. Temperatures remained cold during the whole of the first week, and some unusually severe frosts were reported from inland districts of Otago and Southland.
The weather deteriorated again as a shallow depression crossed the North Island on the 6th and 7th, but south of Westport there were only a few coastal showers. On the 8th and 9th rain spread to most of the remaining districts of the South Island, becoming heavier during the passage of a deeper depression which had developed over the North Tasman Sea. Some heavy falls were reported from the Wanganui and Rangitikei back country. Conditions improved temporarily on the 10th under the influence of a weak ridge of high pressure, but there were still showers in most districts from Cook Strait northward. A depression over the Central Tasman Sea next moved to the south of the South Island. For two days westerly conditions prevailed, with frequent rain except east of the main ranges. As the depression moved away a south-westly change swept over the country on the 13th and 14th, bringing general showers and some thunder and hail in parts of the North Island. From Rangitikei and Central Taranaki came reports of many slips as a result of several days of moderate rain.
Following a clearance over the greater part of the South Island on the 14th, the weather on the three following days was mainly fair over the whole country as an anticyclone moved on to the North Island from the Tasman Sea.
On the 18th and 19th a cold front moved north-eastwards over New Zealand accompanied by a belt of rain. The weather soon cleared with the advance of another anticyclone on to the country. Most districts experienced a spell of at least six fine days, but there was rain on the West Coast on the 23rd, when a deep depression far to the south-west caused a temporary freshening of north-westerly winds over the South Island.
Pressure remained comparatively high over the whole country for the last five days of the month, but most North Island districts experienced showery conditions for the greater part of this period, mainly as a result of the passage of a shallow depression to the north. The weather was better in the south, but the West Coast received some rain on the 27th and 31st.
M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.
(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)