Last month ‘wettest’

Press, 18 January 1986, Page 2

Last month ‘wettest’

PA Wellington Last month was the wettest December on record in several parts of New Zealand, said the Meteorological Service yesterday. Rainfall for the month was above average over most of New Zealand. Auckland City, Whenuapai and Taupo Airport experienced their wettest December on record.

However, . Southland, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne received belowaverage rainfall. Nelson, Paraparaumu, Whenuapai and Auckland recorded well over 200 per cent of their normal December rainfall. Auckland’s heaviest fall was on December 2, when 52mm fell between midday and midnight — nearly a third of the city’s monthly total of 172 mm. Paraparaumu recorded 133 mm within 24 hours on December 22 and 23, the service said.

Mean daily temperatures were about I.sdeg. above average throughout New Zealand. The West Coast had mean daily temperatures 2deg. above normal and average minimum temperatures up to 2.sdeg. above normal.

Sunshine hours were generally lower than normal, particularly over the South Island. Canterbury, Otago and Westland sunshine hours were about 70 per cent of normal, and Kaikoura’s December sunshine was the lowest on record.