CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for February 1961—continued

| Station | Height of Station Above M.S.L. | Means of A Max. | B Min. | Mean of A and B | Difference From Normal | Absolute Maximum and Minimum | Maximum | Date | Minimum | Date | Total Fall | No. of Rain Days | Difference From Normal | Maximum Fall | Bright Sunshine |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | Ft. | °F. | °F. | °F. | °F. | Date | °F. | Date | In. | | | | Amount | Date | Hrs. |
| Moutere Hills | ... | 450 | 70·5 | 56·7 | 63·6 | ... | 76·7 | 27 | 49·4 | 13 | 2·42 | 7 | ... | 0·99 | 3 | ... |
| Wakefield | ... | 200 | 73·0 | 52·7 | 62·8 | ... | 79·1 | 23 | 43·2 | 21 | 2·75 | 6 | ... | 1·14 | 3 | ... |
| Appleby, Nelson | ... | 57 | 71·8 | 55·0 | 63·4 | +0·7 | 79·9 | 10 | 46·4 | 13 | 2·70 | 5 | +0·3 | 1·25 | 3 | ... |
| Woodbourne | ... | 89 | 74·8 | 54·8 | 64·8 | +2·4 | 85·5 | 25 | 41·4 | 7 | 1·16 | 4 | -0·9 | 0·61 | 3 | ... |
| Blenheim | ... | 14 | 75·0 | 55·0 | 65·0 | +2·2 | 85·0 | 25 | 44·0 | 20 | 1·25 | 5 | -0·7 | 0·57 | 15 | 279 |
| Lake Grassmere | ... | 15 | 70·5 | 57·0 | 63·8 | +1·6 | 81·0 | 26 | 49·5 | 14 | 1·45 | 6 | -0·3 | 0·61 | 15 | 248 |
| Golden Downs | ... | 900 | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Waihopai | ... | 860 | 72·3 | 50·9 | 61·6 | -0·4 | 81·8 | 25 | 42·2 | 20 | 1·62 | 5 | -0·9 | 0·81 | 3 | ... |
| Westport | ... | 7 | 68·8 | 54·6 | 61·7 | +1·9 | 73·0 | 4, 25 | 47·0 | 20 | 7·24 | 14 | +1·1 | 2·84 | 2 | 160 |
| Molesworth | ... | 2,930 | 69·8 | 43·2 | 56·5 | +0·3 | 81·5 | 25 | 32·0 | 14 | 1·64 | 5 | -0·3 | 0·78 | 3 | ... |
| Reefton | ... | 630 | 70·4 | 52·8 | 61·6 | ... | 84·1 | 25 | 43·8 | 19 | 6·13 | 14 | ... | 1·87 | 2 | ... |
| Totara Flat | ... | 254 | 70·9 | 52·1 | 61·0 | ... | 84·0 | 25 | 41·0 | 20 | 6·12 | 16 | ... | 1·83 | 2 | ... |
| Greymouth | ... | 13 | 67·6 | 56·5 | 62·0 | +2·0 | 72·9 | 27 | 48·8 | 20 | 8·89 | 16 | +1·4 | 2·13 | 11 | 135 |
| Hanmer Forest | ... | 1,270 | 72·6 | 47·9 | 60·2 | +0·8 | 85·5 | 25 | 40·0 | 6 | 3·98 | 9 | +0·3 | 1·23 | 3 | 233 |
| Hokitika South | ... | 15 | 66·8 | 53·4 | 60·1 | +2·0 | 72·0 | 27 | 42·8 | 19 | 8·10 | 15 | -0·5 | 1·59 | 11 | 143 |
| Balmoral | ... | 650 | 75·0 | 48·9 | 62·0 | +0·5 | 89·7 | 25 | 38·5 | 20 | 1·80 | 7 | -0·3 | 0·48 | 28 | ... |
| Lake Coleridge | ... | 1,195 | 71·6 | 49·4 | 60·5 | +1·1 | 87·0 | 25 | 41·2 | 17 | 3·45 | 10 | +1·0 | 0·93 | 11 | ... |
| Eyrewell | ... | 520 | 72·9 | 50·0 | 61·4 | +1·6 | 86·1 | 26 | 40·0 | 14 | 2·63 | 10 | +0·1 | 0·73 | 28 | ... |
| Franz Josef | ... | 392 | 68·2 | 50·9 | 59·6 | +2·4 | 77·9 | 25 | 42·2 | 13 | 21·71 | 16 | +6·3 | 7·17 | 10 | ... |
| Ashley Forest | ... | 350 | 71·2 | 51·6 | 61·4 | +1·4 | 85·0 | 9 | 44·0 | 20 | 3·33 | 8 | +0·8 | 0·80 | 3 | ... |
| Darfield | ... | 640 | 73·8 | 50·6 | 62·2 | +2·2 | 86·9 | 26 | 41·9 | 14 | 3·17 | 10 | +0·7 | 0·66 | 28 | ... |
| Christchurch Airport | ... | 94 | 71·8 | 53·2 | 62·5 | +1·1 | 87·3 | 1 | 43·6 | 14 | 1·88 | 9 | +0·1 | 0·57 | 11 | 208 |
| Christchurch | ... | 22 | 72·2 | 53·5 | 62·8 | +2·0 | 87·0 | 1 | 43·2 | 14 | 1·92 | 9 | +0·1 | 0·56 | 11 | ... |
| Hororata | ... | 631 | 73·0 | 49·1 | 61·0 | ... | 86·2 | 26 | 41·1 | 14 | 3·74 | 9 | ... | 1·08 | 11 | ... |
| Onawe, Akaroa | ... | 150 | 73·9 | 53·6 | 63·8 | +1·9 | 86·5 | 26 | 46·0 | 14, 19 | 3·08 | 13 | +0·4 | 0·83 | 12 | 222 |
| Lincoln | ... | 36 | 72·3 | 51·3 | 61·8 | +2·1 | 88·1 | 1 | 38·2 | 14 | 2·12 | 9 | +0·2 | 0·58 | 15 | 212 |
| Highbank | ... | 1,102 | 69·4 | 50·9 | 60·2 | +0·1 | 83·5 | 25 | 43·0 | 13 | 4·54 | 11 | +1·4 | 1·16 | 11 | 206 |
| The Hermitage | ... | 2,510 | 66·5 | 49·1 | 57·8 | +1·7 | 80·0 | 25 | 33·0 | 19 | 13·15 | 12 | +1·0 | 4·22 | 2 | 144 |
| Winchmore | ... | 526 | 70·7 | 50·1 | 60·4 | +0·8 | 85·2 | 9 | 42·2 | 19 | 3·79 | 9 | +1·2 | 1·11 | 11 | ... |
| Haast | ... | 15 | 65·1 | 50·8 | 58·0 | -0·4 | 71·3 | 8 | 41·2 | 19 | 10·37 | 16 | -1·0 | 3·22 | 10 | 143 |
| Ashburton | ... | 323 | 74·4 | 51·1 | 62·8 | +1·8 | 91·2 | 9 | 41·0 | 19 | 3·94 | 9 | +1·3 | 1·20 | 11 | 184 |
| Temuka | ... | 80 | 69·5 | 50·8 | 60·2 | ... | 89·1 | 9 | 40·0 | 19 | 3·76 | 9 | ... | 1·24 | 11 | ... |
| Lake Tekapo | ... | 2,240 | 72·0 | 49·7 | 60·8 | +2·3 | 86·0 | 25 | 36·5 | 19 | 2·55 | 8 | +0·8 | 1·07 | 2 | 217 |
| Fairlie | ... | 1,004 | 69·3 | 45·9 | 57·6 | -1·2 | 86·0 | 1 | 35·0 | 19 | 2·73 | 10 | +0·3 | 0·91 | 2 | ... |
| Timaru | ... | 56 | 70·3 | 51·2 | 60·8 | +0·6 | 89·2 | 9 | 38·8 | 19 | 3·16 | 13 | +0·7 | 1·02 | 11 | 175 |
| Adair | ... | 200 | 66·8 | 50·6 | 58·7 | +0·7 | 90·1 | 9 | 37·9 | 19 | 3·26 | 9 | +1·1 | 1·10 | 11 | ... |
| Tara Hills, Omarama | ... | 1,600 | 72·2 | 47·6 | 59·9 | +0·2 | 86·9 | 25 | 32·6 | 19 | 2·12 | 11 | +0·3 | 0·52 | 2 | 190 |
| Benmore, Otematata | ... | 920 | 72·9 | 50·3 | 61·6 | ... | 91·0 | 25 | 41·0 | 1 | 2·96 | 10 | ... | 0·95 | 2 | ... |
| Lake Hawea | ... | 1,147 | 71·5 | 52·7 | 62·1 | ... | 83·7 | 25 | 44·5 | 16 | 2·49 | 9 | -0·2 | 0·74 | 10 | ... |
| Milford Sound | ... | 20 | 64·9 | 52·2 | 58·6 | +1·6 | 71·9 | 28 | 41·9 | 19 | 16·21 | 15 | -6·9 | 3·64 | 9 | ... |
| Waimate | ... | 200 | 69·9 | 50·8 | 60·4 | +0·3 | 88·6 | 20 | 39·8 | 19 | 2·57 | 15 | +0·1 | 0·63 | 2 | 165 |
| Naseby Forest | ... | 2,300 | 68·4 | 43·8 | 56·1 | +0·3 | 85·2 | 25 | 27·9 | 19 | 3·84 | 9 | +1·3 | 1·68 | 2 | ... |
| Queenstown | ... | 1,100 | 70·1 | 51·1 | 60·6 | +1·0 | 84·2 | 1 | 37·3 | 19 | 2·67 | 9 | -0·2 | 1·41 | 27 | 164 |
| Cromwell | ... | 720 | 74·2 | 52·6 | 63·4 | +1·8 | 88·1 | 26 | 36·2 | 19 | 1·80 | 7 | +0·2 | 1·02 | 27 | ... |
| Ophir | ... | 1,000 | 71·0 | 48·0 | 59·5 | -0·3 | 85·4 | 8 | 29·9 | 19 | 3·07 | 8 | +1·4 | 1·20 | 27 | ... |
| Moa Creek | ... | 1,400 | 69·3 | 44·1 | 56·7 | +0·3 | 84·1 | 25 | 26·3 | 19 | 2·73 | 7 | -0·2 | 1·17 | 27 | ... |
| Earnscleugh | ... | 500 | 73·0 | 47·9 | 60·4 | -0·3 | 89·9 | 25 | 31·0 | 19 | 2·21 | 8 | +0·7 | 1·36 | 27 | ... |
| Alexandra | ... | 520 | 72·3 | 51·6 | 62·0 | +0·6 | 89·0 | 25 | 36·0 | 19 | 2·53 | 7 | +1·1 | 1·43 | 27 | 166 |
| Garston | ... | 1,009 | 70·1 | 46·3 | 58·2 | ... | 84·0 | 8, 25 | 32·0 | 19 | 2·84 | 13 | ... | 1·22 | 27 | ... |
| Roxburgh Hydro | ... | 350 | 71·6 | 49·2 | 60·4 | -0·9 | 87·1 | 8 | 40·5 | 16 | 1·97 | 9 | +0·0 | 1·23 | 27 | ... |
| West Arm, Lake Manapouri | ... | 593 | 63·2 | 50·2 | 56·7 | ... | 77·7 | 25 | 37·3 | 19 | 8·05 | 18 | ... | 1·70 | 9 | ... |
| Mid Dome | ... | 1,252 | 72·2 | 46·1 | 59·2 | +1·5 | 83·9 | 1 | 33·1 | 20 | 3·60 | 14 | +0·1 | 0·72 | 19 | ... |
| Cherry Farm, Waikouaiti | ... | 21 | 65·0 | 48·0 | 56·5 | ... | 87·0 | 1 | 38·8 | 19 | 2·78 | 10 | ... | 0·73 | 2 | ... |
| Moa Flat, West Otago | ... | 1,345 | 64·7 | 45·9 | 55·3 | -0·2 | 81·1 | 25 | 36·9 | 4 | 2·86 | 15 | +0·0 | 1·02 | 27 | ... |
| Taieri | ... | 80 | 67·2 | 46·7 | 57·0 | -0·7 | 88·6 | 1 | 35·4 | 20 | 2·84 | 15 | +0·3 | 1·19 | 2 | 147 |
| Musselburgh, Dunedin | ... | 5 | 65·7 | 51·2 | 58·4 | -0·1 | 88·1 | 9 | 43·0 | 4 | 3·14 | 14 | +0·6 | 1·08 | 2 | 139 |
| Riversdale | ... | 419 | 68·1 | 46·9 | 57·5 | ... | 82·8 | 1 | 37·2 | 4 | 2·90 | 15 | ... | 0·64 | 9 | ... |
| Tapanui | ... | 550 | 66·8 | 47·6 | 57·2 | -0·3 | 86·0 | 25 | 39·0 | 4 | 2·42 | 15 | -0·8 | 0·67 | 27 | ... |
| East Gore | ... | 245 | 67·7 | 48·0 | 57·8 | -0·1 | 85·8 | 1 | 38·7 | 4 | 3·28 | 16 | +0·2 | 0·56 | 1 | ... |
| Gore | ... | 240 | 68·5 | 47·4 | 58·0 | -0·3 | 86·0 | 1 | 38·0 | 4 | 3·25 | 16 | +0·2 | 0·53 | 27 | 136 |
| Otautau | ... | 180 | 65·6 | 47·2 | 56·4 | +0·0 | 80·0 | 8 | 37·0 | 12 | 3·66 | 16 | +0·2 | 0·77 | 9 | 122 |
| Pebbly Hills | ... | 150 | 68·1 | 47·3 | 57·7 | +0·4 | 85·0 | 1 | 36·0 | 4, 5 | 3·65 | 16 | +0·0 | 0·60 | 1 | ... |
| Invercargill Airfield | ... | 0 | 64·7 | 47·1 | 55·9 | -0·3 | 79·6 | 8 | 35·0 | 4 | 4·39 | 19 | +0·6 | 0·76 | 12 | 130 |

LATE RETURNS

| Kuripapanga, Jan 1961 | ... | 1,600 | 69·3 | 48·1 | 58·7 | +0·2 | 81·0 | 2 | 33·5 | 10 | 8·06 | 16 | +2·1 | 3·09 | 16 | ... |
| Wakefield, Jan 1961 | ... | 200 | 75·7 | 53·7 | 64·7 | ... | 88·2 | 2 | 41·3 | 24 | 7·84 | 8 | ... | 3·84 | 20 | ... |

NOTE—At stations where departures from normal have an asterisk, the temperature record has been maintained for less than 10 years, the rainfall record for less than 20 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 FEBRUARY 1961

General: February was a cloudy month. In the North Island it was also a month of low rainfall. In most districts the soil was still reasonably moist on account of the good rains in the last half of January, and pastures were still green. However, in parts of the Manawatu the ground was reported to be very dry.

The comparatively wet weather experienced in Canterbury and Otago proved beneficial for pastures and was greatly appreciated by the sheep farmers. On the other hand, in these districts it was not a good month for harvesting, and some of the wheat crop was spoilt.

Rainfall: In the North Island rainfall was at least 25 per cent below average, except in Taranaki, parts of southern Hawke’s Bay, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. In Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and most of Northland it ranged from a sixth to a half of normal.

In the South Island rainfall was mainly close to average. However, most of inland Canterbury and Central Otago were wetter than usual, while Marlborough (apart from the Kaikoura coast) was drier.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly within about a degree of the normal value. However, in Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland they were two degrees warmer than average.

Sunshine: Sunshine was below average over the greater part of the country, and deficiencies of over 30 hours were recorded in some western districts of both islands and also in some central districts of the North Island and in Central Otago.