✨ Climatological Report
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
11 DECEMBER
THE WEATHER IN NEW ZEALAND IN OCTOBER 1987
General—October was generally warmer, with drier than usual conditions in eastern regions of the North Island. North-easterlies predominated over the north of the North Island, with strong winds more frequent than usual. North-westerlies prevailed over the South Island, with strong winds being less frequent than usual. Some high wind gusts recorded in October were 82 knots (152 kmph) from the south, at Kaikoura and 73 knots (135 kmph) from the west, at Invercargill Airport respectively, on the 2nd.
Heavy snow occurred in inland Canterbury on the 13th and 14th. On the afternoon of the 13th maximum temperatures in Canterbury were 10°C or more below average in the cold southerly conditions. Fresh snow was seen on the Rimutaka Range and on the tops of the Orongorongas in the North Island on the 16th.
Rainfall—Rainfall was about twice normal for October at Blenheim, Lake Coleridge and Haast. Rainfall totals of 120 to 160 percent of normal were recorded in Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury, Westland, Otago, and Southland.
Large amounts of rain, totalling 265 and 235 mm were recorded in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. on the 7th at Milford Sound and Franz Josef respectively. A total of just over 900 mm was recorded for the month at Milford Sound.
Rainfall was below normal along the east coast of the North Island. In Gisborne rainfall was only half normal. Very little rain was recorded in Hawke Bay. Only 10 mm (16 percent of normal) was recorded at Napier Airport, and was the lowest recorded in October (equal with 10 mm in 1984) since records began there in 1950. The 3 months from August to October 1987 was also the driest August to October period there since records began, with only 68 mm (31 percent of normal rainfall).
Temperature—Mean daily temperatures were 0.5 to 1°C above normal over much of the North Island, and near, to 0.5°C above normal in the South Island.
Sunshine—Hours of bright sunshine were 110 to 115 percent of normal for October in Wellington, Horowhenua and Wairarapa. It was cloudier in Taranaki, Waikato, over the Auckland Peninsula and in Otago, where sunshine hours were 80 to 90 percent of normal.
J. S. HICKMAN, Director.
©Crown Copyright 1987, All rights reserved N.Z. Meteorological Service.
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VUW Te Waharoa —
NZ Gazette 1987, No 222
NZLII —
NZ Gazette 1987, No 222
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Climatological Table for October 1987
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🎓 Education, Culture & ScienceClimatology, Weather, October 1987, Temperature, Rainfall, Sunshine
- J. S. Hickman, Director