12 AUGUST
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
2641

THE NEW ZEALAND WEATHER IN JUNE 1983

General—June was a rather cloudy and windy month, with very cold periods in most places.

Strong winds were more frequent than usual, as were winds from the north-east. North-westerlies were less frequent than usual over the North Island.

A north-easterly storm which affected Northland between the 5th and the 8th, unfortunately coincided with the return of several yachts from the Auckland to Suva race. Mishaps during the storm resulted in the loss of 8 lives and the destruction of 2 yachts. North-westerly gales in South Canterbury during the night of the 26–27th demolished buildings and uprooted trees in the Methven to Hinds area.

A moist north-easterly airstream brought fog, low cloud and drizzle to eastern areas of both islands between the 11th and the 13th, closing airports at Wellington and Christchurch for prolonged periods.

Farmers throughout the country reported rather slow growth, but sufficient to give some recovery in areas affected by summer droughts. Frosts on the 3rd and 4th were severe in parts of the Bay of Plenty, causing some damage to Kiwifruit crops.

Rain and Snow—Rainfalls were less than normal over the North Island, apart from Northland, Auckland, Gisborne and parts of the central high country. Gisborne and Whangarei received 141 percent and 133 percent respectively of their usual June rainfalls, while parts of Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, the Wairarapa and Wellington received less than 60 percent.

Much of the South Island received rainfalls close to, or above normal, with some high country areas being extremely wet: Mount John for example received 255 percent of its normal June rainfall. High country areas received much of their rain during the 26th and 27th. Blocked drains led to localised flooding and road damage in Queenstown during the afternoon of the 26th and night of the 27th. Nelson and Marlborough were very dry, with Cape Campbell receiving on 17 percent of its normal June total.

Widespread snowfalls occurred during the 17th, 18th and 19th, with the snow in Dunedin being described as the heaviest in many years. On the 18th snow lay at very low levels in many central and southern North Island areas. Roads throughout Southland and Otago, and in central North Island areas were closed during this period. Dunedin Airport had a 5 cm covering of snow for a time.

Temperature—Temperatures over much of New Zealand were close to normal during June, although some central and southern North Island areas were 0.5°C to 1°C warmer than usual. A few areas about the Alps and Westland were between 0.5°C and 1°C cooler than usual.

Between the 2nd and the 5th temperatures were low over much of the country. The following 10 days however were mild. Another cold period from the 16th to the 25th, saw minimum temperatures around 6°C colder than normal being recorded in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa regions.

Sunshine—Wellington, Christchurch and some western areas of the country experienced a little more sunshine than normal during June, but over most of the country sunshine hours were fewer than usual. Northland and Auckland were the cloudiest areas, with Kaitaia receiving 17 hours, and Auckland 22 hours fewer than normal.

THE WEATHER SEQUENCE, JUNE 1983

1–7 June
A cool disturbed westerly flow covered New Zealand during the 1st and 2nd, with showers in western areas and isolated falls elsewhere. During the latter part of the 2nd, a ridge spread over the South Island from an intense high in the Western Tasman Sea, and the showers began to gradually clear. The ridge continued to dominate the weather over New Zealand during the 3rd, 4th and 5th, producing fine cold conditions in most places. A low which had developed near New Caledonia moved towards Northland, bringing easterly gales and rain to the northern half of the North Island from the 5th onwards. Meanwhile the intense high continued to give fine cool weather to the remainder of the country, apart from a few showers on the east coast of the South Island.

8–14 June
The deep low lay off Northland on the 8th, with continuing easterly gales over the northern half of the North Island. Rain continued to fall over northern North Island areas, and over eastern areas of both islands. Temperatures over the country, were very mild. During the 9th the low moved south-west and filled, while a cold front moved towards New Zealand across the Tasman Sea. The front crossed most of the country during the 10th bringing widespread rain although temperatures remained mild. The front became slow-moving over the eastern half of the North Island during the 11th, giving further rain there, while a small anticyclone moved onto the country, giving fine weather elsewhere. A low moved across the North Tasman Sea, and across Northland during the 13th bringing rain to north-eastern parts of the North Island. The remainder of the country remained under the influence of a weak ridge with dry and generally mild weather, apart from some showers in the south-west of the South Island. A strong westerly flow spread onto the South Island during the 13th and 14th, bringing further rain to Westland and Fiordland. At the same time the low east of the North Island continued to give some rain to the East Cape area.

15–21 June
On the 15th the strong westerly flow which by now covered the whole country, gradually turned south-westerly and fronts moving north-east in this flow gave showers to western areas of both islands. By the 16th a complex trough lay east of the country and a cold south-west flow continued to bring showers, mostly to eastern areas and about Northland. A cold front moved north-east across the country during the 17th and 18th, bringing snow to very low levels over the South Island, and to central and southern North Island areas.

On the 21st the south-westerlies were moderating and apart from a few isolated showers, the weather over New Zealand became cool and dry.

22–30 June
The flow over New Zealand turned westerly during the 22nd and cold fronts crossing the country brought showers to western areas during the 23rd and 24th, although the weather remained fine and cool, in the east. A high spread across the North Island on the 25th, and the flow over the South Island turned north-westerly, bringing further showers to the West Coast. A trough which lay over the Tasman Sea on the 25th, moved across the country during the 26th and 27th, bringing rain to most areas, with some heavy falls in Westland. The weather remained unsettled during the 28th, 29th and 30th, as further troughs crossed the area, bringing cool showery weather to most districts.

(N.Z. Met S. Pub. 107)
J. S. HICKMAN, Director.

Price 45c
BY AUTHORITY: P. D. HASSELBERG, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND—1983
2484G—83PT