20 AUGUST
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1337

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for July 1964—continued

NOTE—An asterisk beside the difference from normal indicates that the figures are based on provisional normals. Rainfall normals 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 JULY 1964

General: Barometers were very low over New Zealand in July, and there was a high frequency of north-westerly winds. It was an exceptionally cloudy and mild month, and also wetter than usual in most districts. The absence of cold spells was appreciated by farmers; and in many areas, especially in the South Island, it was considered to be a particularly good winter month. However, in western districts of the North Island and in Nelson it was too wet and there was too little sunshine.

Strong gales caused some damage in Central and West Otago on the 4th.

Rainfall: Rainfall was above average by about 50 per cent over the greater part of the country. In Waitomo, Taumarunui, and Taupo and also in Manawatu it was more than double the average value.

In Southland and in most eastern districts rainfall was somewhat below average. In Gisborne and northern Hawke’s Bay it was less than half.

During the passage of a small depression across the North Island on the 7th daily falls of up to 5 in. were recorded in Bay of Plenty, with some flooding.

Thunderstorms were unusually frequent in the Auckland Province, especially from the 9th to the 26th. At Umawera (Hokianga Harbour, Northland) thunder was heard every day from the 14th to the 23rd. Thunderstorms were particularly severe and widespread over Northland and Auckland on the 17th, disrupting power supplies and causing some flooding.

Temperatures: Temperatures were above normal over the whole country, mainly by 2–3 degrees. In the North Island this was the mildest July since 1949. In the South Island it was not quite as mild as July 1962.

The main snowfalls on the ranges occurred from the 8th to the 10th and between the 16th and the 26th; and on the 27th snow was reported to low levels in parts of Southland and Otago.

Sunshine: Over the greater part of the country sunshine was below average by 30 to 70 hours, greatest deficiencies being recorded in Westland and Nelson and around Rotorua. The totals at Rotorua, Palmerston North, Nelson, and Hokitika were the lowest on record for any month of the year.

In Northland, Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury, Southland, and most of Otago sunshine was only 15–25 hours below normal; and Gisborne was favoured with the normal value.

Weather Sequence: During the first three days an anticyclone was centred to the east, and northerly to north-westerly winds prevailed. A weak trough crossed the country, and on the 1st and 2nd some rain was recorded on the West Coast, about Cook Strait, and in Auckland and Waikato. The weather improved on the 3rd, apart from extensive areas of fog over the Auckland Province. During the next three days a depression over the south Tasman Sea moved southward and the associated trough of low pressure crossed New Zealand. Heavy rain soon set in on the West Coast and in the Alps; and some rain later spread to all areas except eastern districts of the South Island, from Invercargill to Kaikoura, and Gisborne. Considerable falls were also recorded in Waitomo, Auckland, and Northland. Strong gales caused some damage in Central and West Otago.

On the 7th a small depression formed near Auckland and during the next two days it crossed the North Island and moved away south-eastward, while pressures rose in the south. Heavy rain affected the Bay of Plenty, with flooding; and considerable falls were also reported from Wellington and the Kaikoura coast. Some rain also fell in other areas, apart from the West Coast and most of Otago and Southland. On the 10th south-westerly winds prevailed, with showers in Northland, Auckland, and North Taranaki. A weak ridge of high pressure brought fair weather on the 11th.

The period from the 12th to the 22nd was one of persistent north-westerly winds, with dull unsettled conditions in western and northern districts of the South Island and over most of the North Island, but somewhat better weather in eastern districts from eastern Southland to Gisborne. At first a very deep depression to the south of Tasmania moved slowly eastward. A secondary depression developed just west of Cook Strait and crossed the country during the 15th, with rain extending into Canterbury on this occasion. Another depression crossed Southland on the 17th. From the 20th to the 22nd a complex depression covered the eastern Tasman Sea and the South Island; on the first two of these days rain extended to nearly all districts, though still light in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay and in parts of Otago and Southland.

The depression over the eastern Tasman Sea moved on to the North Island on the 23rd, with rain there and in western and northern districts of the South Island. As this depression moved away during the next two days, scattered showers affected a few districts. Another trough which crossed the North Island during the 26th and 27th was associated with a small depression moving through Cook Strait. Rain again affected nearly all the North Island together with northern and western districts of the South Island. As the depression moved away to the east during the 28th and 29th, south-westerly winds prevailed, with showers in Otago, Canterbury, and Manawatu. However, on the last two days of the month an anticyclone centred over the North Island brought fine weather, apart from a deterioration in Fiordland on the last day.

R. G. SIMMERS, Director,
(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)

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