✨ Climatological Statistics
164
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 7
CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for December 1960—continued
| Station | Height of Station Above M.S.L. | Air Temperatures in Degrees (Fahrenheit) | Rainfall in Inches | Bright Sunshine | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Means of | Mean of A and B | Difference From Normal | Absolute Maximum and Minimum | Total Fall | No. of Rain Days | Difference From Normal | Maximum Fall | |||||||
| A Max. | B Min. | Maximum | Date | Minimum | Date | Amount | Date | |||||||
| Ft. | °F. | °F. | °F. | °F. | °F. | In. | In. | Hrs. | ||||||
| Woodbourne .. | 89 | 70·4 | 49·6 | 60·0 | −0·4* | 85·0 | 26 | 36·0 | 3 | 0·74 | 8 | −1·45* | 0·23 | 1 |
| Blenheim .. | 14 | 70·1 | 50·0 | 60·0 | −0·8 | 86·8 | 26 | 36·9 | 2, 3 | 0·82 | 8 | −1·18* | 0·24 | 11 |
| Lake Grassmere .. | 15 | 64·9 | 52·2 | 58·6 | .. | 83·5 | 22 | 44·5 | 2 | 2·83 | 12 | .. | 0·70 | 10 |
| Golden Downs .. | 900 | 68·7 | 44·6 | 56·6 | −0·5 | 83·2 | 28 | 30·5 | 3 | 2·95 | 8 | −1·19 | 1·13 | 29 |
| Waihopai .. | 860 | 69·8 | 45·6 | 57·7 | −3·1 | 83·0 | 26 | 31·6 | 3 | 0·61 | 5 | −2·30 | 0·23 | 29 |
| Westport .. | 7 | 67·1 | 48·5 | 57·8 | +0·1 | 79·0 | 26 | 40·6 | 3 | 2·24 | 9 | −5·41* | 0·87 | 1 |
| Molesworth .. | 2,930 | 62·7 | 40·7 | 51·7 | −3·1* | 79·0 | 26 | 34·0 | 13, 18 | 1·11 | 8 | −1·03* | 0·31 | 4 |
| Reefton .. | 630 | 69·5 | 46·1 | 57·8 | .. | 77·2 | 27 | 33·0 | 3 | 1·85 | 5 | .. | 0·72 | 1 |
| Totara Flat .. | 254 | 70·4 | 44·7 | 57·6 | .. | 78·0 | 31 | 34·0 | 4 | 1·87 | 7 | .. | 1·05 | 16 |
| Greymouth .. | 13 | 66·9 | 52·2 | 59·6 | +1·4* | 71·9 | 11 | 44·2 | 4 | 2·73 | 8 | −5·73* | 1·44 | 16 |
| Hanmer Forest .. | 1,270 | 65·0 | 43·9 | 54·4 | −3·4 | 81·9 | 28 | 32·5 | 18 | 6·27 | 16 | +2·56 | 1·05 | 7 |
| Hokitika South .. | 15 | 65·8 | 47·0 | 56·4 | +0·3* | 72·3 | 11 | 36·6 | 4 | 1·96 | 7 | −8·00* | 1·31 | 16 |
| Balmoral .. | 650 | 66·9 | 47·1 | 57·0 | −0·3* | 83·0 | 28 | 36·0 | 3 | 3·21 | 12 | +0·91 | 0·64 | 4 |
| Lake Coleridge .. | 1,195 | 65·3 | 45·8 | 55·6 | −1·4 | 82·0 | 28 | 34·0 | 4 | 1·88 | 9 | −0·70 | 0·54 | 1 |
| Eyrewell .. | 520 | 65·9 | 47·0 | 56·4 | .. | 84·5 | 22 | 38·3 | 21 | 3·57 | 15 | −0·03* | 0·82 | 4 |
| Franz Josef .. | 392 | 67·5 | 46·9 | 57·2 | .. | 74·5 | 11 | 38·5 | 3 | 6·78 | 9 | .. | 3·84 | 16 |
| Ashley Forest .. | 350 | 65·1 | 48·1 | 56·6 | −2·5* | 86·5 | 28 | 41·0 | 2, 21 | 3·74 | 15 | +0·46* | 0·54 | 2 |
| Darfield .. | 640 | 66·8 | 46·3 | 56·6 | −2·3 | 87·4 | 28 | 38·0 | 12 | 3·60 | 15 | +0·75 | 0·98 | 1 |
| Christchurch Airport .. | 94 | 65·2 | 48·9 | 57·0 | .. | 87·2 | 22 | 41·8 | 21 | 3·02 | 11 | .. | 0·92 | 1 |
| Christchurch .. | 22 | 65·8 | 49·0 | 57·4 | −2·4 | 88·0 | 22 | 41·5 | 3 | 3·70 | 12 | +1·16 | 1·44 | 1 |
| Hororata .. | 631 | 66·3 | 45·8 | 56·0 | .. | 87·2 | 28 | 36·7 | 12 | 4·04 | 15 | .. | 1·25 | 1 |
| Onawe, Akaroa .. | 150 | 66·1 | 49·6 | 57·8 | −2·5 | 85·5 | 22 | 41·0 | 6 | 4·59 | 16 | +1·89 | 1·42 | 1 |
| Lincoln .. | 36 | 65·6 | 47·1 | 56·4 | −2·3 | 85·8 | 22 | 37·4 | 12 | 4·46 | 14 | +2·24 | 2·45 | 1 |
| Highbank .. | 1,102 | 63·7 | 47·0 | 55·4 | .. | 82·5 | 28 | 39·0 | 2, 4 | 4·29 | 15 | .. | 1·36 | 1 |
| The Hermitage .. | 2,510 | 63·3 | 44·0 | 53·6 | −1·0 | 76·0 | 31 | 33·0 | 2 | 5·07 | 12 | −7·85 | 3·35 | 16 |
| Winchmore .. | 526 | 64·6 | 46·1 | 55·4 | −2·3* | 87·8 | 28 | 37·5 | 12 | 3·01 | 12 | +0·21 | 1·10 | 1 |
| Haast .. | 15 | 65·1 | 48·2 | 56·6 | −0·1* | 73·3 | 11 | 39·6 | 2 | 4·22 | 10 | −8·36* | 1·69 | 16 |
| Ashburton .. | 323 | 68·4 | 47·4 | 57·9 | −1·2 | 92·0 | 28 | 39·8 | 3, 21 | 2·59 | 12 | −0·42 | 1·00 | 1 |
| Temuka .. | 80 | 65·8 | 46·9 | 56·4 | .. | 91·2 | 28 | 37·5 | 2 | 2·92 | 10 | .. | 0·81 | 4 |
| Fairlie .. | 1,004 | 65·9 | 43·8 | 54·8 | −2·3 | 90·0 | 28 | 32·0 | 3, 30 | 2·46 | 12 | −0·43 | 0·58 | 1 |
| Timaru .. | 56 | 68·7 | 48·7 | 58·7 | +0·0 | 89·1 | 22 | 40·2 | 2, 12 | 3·49 | 11 | +0·83 | 1·10 | 8 |
| Adair .. | 200 | 63·7 | 47·7 | 55·7 | −1·5* | 84·1 | 22 | 38·3 | 2 | 2·73 | 11 | −0·10* | 0·74 | 1 |
| Tara Hills, Omarama .. | 1,600 | 70·6 | 44·0 | 57·3 | −0·6* | 88·7 | 31 | 32·8 | 11, 12 | 0·27 | 5 | −1·73* | 0·12 | 2 |
| Benmore, Otematata .. | 920 | 70·2 | 47·8 | 59·0 | .. | 88·8 | 28 | 38·2 | 3 | 0·44 | 5 | .. | 0·14 | 4 |
| Lake Hawea .. | 1,147 | 69·7 | 49·3 | 59·5 | .. | 85·2 | 28 | 39·4 | 2 | 0·42 | 5 | .. | 0·25 | 1 |
| Milford Sound .. | 20 | 64·7 | 49·1 | 56·9 | +1·5 | 70·3 | 29 | 41·1 | 2 | 16·54 | 10 | −6·82 | 6·07 | 15 |
| Waimate .. | 200 | 66·4 | 48·3 | 57·4 | +0·4 | 86·0 | 22 | 40·5 | 2 | 2·86 | 15 | −0·07 | 0·62 | 1 |
| Naseby Forest .. | 2,300 | 65·6 | 40·3 | 53·0 | .. | 80·8 | 28 | 31·2 | 18 | 1·23 | 7 | .. | 0·54 | 1 |
| Queenstown .. | 1,100 | 68·3 | 46·9 | 57·6 | −0·3 | 82·9 | 31 | 39·0 | 2 | 0·84 | 6 | −1·66 | 0·52 | 16 |
| Cromwell .. | 720 | 72·2 | 48·3 | 60·2 | +0·0* | 89·1 | 31 | 37·0 | 4 | 0·41 | 5 | −0·87* | 0·20 | 1 |
| Ophir .. | 1,000 | 69·7 | 42·7 | 56·2 | −2·1 | 88·4 | 31 | 30·9 | 20 | 0·43 | 3 | −1·39 | 0·19 | 16 |
| Moa Creek .. | 1,400 | 67·0 | 41·3 | 54·2 | .. | 82·7 | 28 | 29·8 | 21 | 0·49 | 3 | .. | 0·23 | 16 |
| Earnscleugh .. | 500 | 70·7 | 43·8 | 57·2 | −2·4* | 86·3 | 28 | 33·0 | 20 | 0·46 | 4 | −0·80* | 0·34 | 10 |
| Waipiata .. | 1,550 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Alexandra .. | 520 | 70·0 | 48·0 | 59·0 | −1·2 | 83·5 | 21 | 38·0 | 3 | 0·32 | 3 | −0·98 | 0·18 | 16 |
| Garston .. | 1,009 | 68·0 | 42·7 | 55·4 | .. | 85·0 | 31 | 31·9 | 3 | 1·60 | 8 | .. | 0·44 | 16 |
| Roxburgh Hydro .. | 350 | 69·3 | 45·3 | 57·3 | .. | 86·0 | 28 | 33·0 | 17 | 1·10 | 7 | −0·71 | 0·63 | 16 |
| West Arm, Lake Manapouri .. | 593 | 62·6 | 46·9 | 54·8 | .. | 75·9 | 12 | 36·9 | 2 | 9·32 | 15 | .. | 4·52 | 16 |
| Mid Dome .. | 1,252 | 66·7 | 43·8 | 55·2 | .. | 81·1 | 31 | 34·9 | 21 | 2·48 | 9 | .. | 0·79 | 15 |
| Cherry Farm, Waikouaiti .. | 21 | 63·0 | 45·6 | 54·3 | .. | 76·1 | 16 | 37·9 | 21 | 1·61 | 13 | .. | 0·30 | 23 |
| Moa Flat, West Otago .. | 1,345 | 61·9 | 41·9 | 51·9 | .. | 73·6 | 31 | 32·0 | 18 | 1·76 | 11 | −1·20* | 0·66 | 16 |
| Taieri .. | 80 | 64·2 | 45·8 | 55·0 | −1·0* | 79·4 | 16 | 37·9 | 6 | 2·41 | 15 | −0·15* | 0·63 | 3 |
| Musselburgh, Dunedin .. | 5 | 62·2 | 49·3 | 55·8 | −1·0* | 76·9 | 22 | 42·3 | 5 | 1·96 | 13 | −0·92 | 0·55 | 16 |
| Riversdale .. | 419 | 64·5 | 44·3 | 54·4 | .. | 76·0 | 21 | 35·5 | 21 | 1·51 | 8 | .. | 0·60 | 16 |
| Tapanui .. | 550 | 64·6 | 43·9 | 54·2 | .. | 77·0 | 31 | 34·4 | 3 | 2·92 | 10 | .. | 1·08 | 3 |
| East Gore .. | 245 | 65·5 | 44·4 | 55·0 | −1·3 | 77·3 | 31 | 32·8 | 3 | 2·47 | 12 | −0·61 | 0·87 | 16 |
| Gore .. | 240 | 65·8 | 43·6 | 54·7 | −2·0* | 78·0 | 31 | 31·7 | 2 | 2·39 | 12 | −0·69* | 0·88 | 16 |
| Otatau .. | 180 | 64·3 | 45·3 | 54·8 | −0·3* | 77·3 | 31 | 33·8 | 3 | 2·22 | 10 | −0·80* | 0·86 | 16 |
| Pebby Hills .. | 150 | 65·7 | 43·6 | 54·6 | .. | 75·0 | 31 | 32·0 | 3 | 1·91 | 11 | −1·61* | 1·10 | 16 |
| Invercargill Airfield .. | 0 | 62·3 | 45·2 | 53·8 | −1·2* | 72·0 | 22 | 33·0 | 3 | 2·00 | 15 | −1·60* | 0·97 | 16 |
LATE RETURNS
Wallaceville, Nov 1960 .. | 195 | 63·4 | 47·8 | 55·6 | +1·0 | 69·0 | 29 | 37·0 | 5 | 2·17 | 14 | −1·34 | 0·86 | 14 | 186
Temuka, Oct 1960 .. | 80 | 61·3 | 43·8 | 52·6 | .. | 75·0 | 18 | 34·0 | 15 | 1·13 | 8 | .. | 0·28 | 13 | ..
Temuka, Nov 1960 .. | 80 | 63·3 | 43·0 | 53·2 | .. | 76·3 | 14 | 33·0 | 18 | 1·03 | 4 | .. | 0·64 | 30 | ..
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 DECEMBER 1960
General: December was a cool month, with a marked reversal of the usual patterns in rainfall and sunshine, so that Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay were cloudy and wet while the West Coast was sunny and dry. This reversal was caused by persistent south-easterly winds during the first half of the month, with unusually cool temperatures, snow on the ranges of both Islands, and cloud and rain in eastern districts, while the West Coast basked in sunshine. For the greater part of the country conditions were considered to be somewhat too dry for satisfactory growth, affecting especially the hay crops. In a few areas, such as Bay of Plenty and parts of the Nelson district, the dry weather was becoming rather serious.
Rainfall: Rainfall was below average in the South Island (except for the Kaikoura coast and most of Canterbury), and in the North Island west of the main ranges. In most of these areas it was about half; but in parts of North Taranaki, Southern Manawatu, the Marlborough Sounds, north-west Nelson, Buller, Westland, and Central Otago it was less than a quarter of average. For some stations in these areas it was the driest December on record. This was the case for Hokitika and New Plymouth.
On the other hand, in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay rainfall was two to five times the normal value, and a few stations in these districts had their wettest December on record.
Temperatures: Temperatures were 1–3 degrees below average, except in Taranaki and Nelson and on the West Coast, where they were close to normal.
Highest departures from normal were recorded in eastern districts from eastern Northland to central Canterbury.
Sunshine: Sunshine was below average in the North Island and in northern and eastern districts of the South Island from Christchurch northward. Greatest deficiencies of over 50 hours were recorded in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.
Next Page →
PDF embedding disabled (Crown copyright)
View this page online at:
VUW Te Waharoa —
NZ Gazette 1961, No 7
NZLII —
NZ Gazette 1961, No 7
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🎓
Climatological Table for December 1960
(continued from previous page)
🎓 Education, Culture & ScienceMeteorology, Climatology, Temperature, Rainfall, Sunshine, December 1960, New Zealand Stations
🎓 Notes on the Weather for December 1960
🎓 Education, Culture & ScienceWeather Patterns, Rainfall, Sunshine, Temperature, December 1960, New Zealand