Strong winds flattened trees all over Taupō but at least the district was spared the devastating rainfall of Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Merv Richdale
The February 2023 weather in Taupō proved to be wetter, cooler and windier than normal.
While the total rainfall for the month of 115mm on 12 wet days exceeded the average by 37.5mm, it was certainly not the excessive rainfall of areas to the north and the east.
Places such
as Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay received unprecedented rainfall figures and devastating floods brought about by cyclone Gabrielle.
In many ways, Taupō dodged a bullet! The heaviest 24-hour fall during the month in Taupō of 27mm was recorded on Monday, February 13.
Taupō did feel Gabrielle’s wrath in the form of gale-force winds. While the official peak wind gusts at the Taupō Airport were 61km/h on February 13 and 78 km/h the following day, many other parts of Taupō received winds well in excess of 100km/h, which wreaked devastation to trees and forests.
