New Zealand Gazette – 1857 – No. 30

Page 182

✨ Meteorological Statistics Tables



182

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

NELSON.
The Meteorology of Nelson was observed during eleven years by the late Samuel Stephens,
Esq., to whom Captain Drury was indebted for the following information on that subject.
The prevailing winds are:-

January.-N.N.E. to N.N.W. S.E. to N.E. | June.-S.E. to N.E. Calms.
February.-N.N.E. to N.N.W. S.W. and July.-S.E. to N.E. Calms.
S.E. to N.E...
August.-N.N.E. to N.N.W. S.E. to N.E.
March.-N.N.E. to N.N.W. Variable and September.-S.E. to N.E., and S.W.
calms.
October. N.N.E. to N.N.W. S.E. to N.E.
April.-N.N.E. to N.N.W. S.E. to N.E.
November.-N.N.E. to N.N.W. S.W.
May.-S.W. Calms and variable.
December.-N.N.E. to N.N.W.

It appears that the N.W. of the Straits is represented by N.N.E. to N.N.W., and the S.E.
by S.E. to N.E., and that Blind Bay is only partially affected by the gales in Cook Strait.

For the years 1852-3 we have this proportion:----

N.N.E. to N.N.W. N.W. to W. S.W. S.E. to N.E. Calm or Variable, Gales.
1852 ..... 110 35 62 99 60 28
1853 ..... 107 34 45 96 83 21

The N.E. is the rainy quarter (southward of the Strait). It is the N.E. gale of these seas;
and is but of short duration, veering to N.W. and S.W.

The common S.E. wind of the Strait seldom blows home to Nelson.
The ordinary sea breeze begins from the westward, working round to N.W., and drawing
to N.E. at sunset. At Nelson the strongest gales are from S.W.

Rainy weather is generally indicated by vapoury clouds hanging on the hills. When strong
gales occur without rain, they are often preceded by a red, wild, and lurid sky.. These come
mostly from the westward.

The maximum amount of rain was in May 16, 1853, when three and a half inches fell in
eight hours, the barometer falling to 29.08; on common rainy days, about three quarters of an
inch falls in twenty-four hours.

The average fall of rain in 1852-53-54, for each month, was as follows:-
January, 2.69; February, 2.78; March, 2.53; April, 2.45; May, 3-41; June, 3.87; July,
2.53; August, 3.24; September, 3.87; October, 3.51; November, 2.56; December, 3.44.
September, October, and December being the most rainy months. Snow rarely falls on the
low lands about Nelson, but the mountain ranges are covered for months. The barometer falls
considerably previous to snow storms, which occur in the end of May and June.

Thunder clouds proceed from S.E. to N.W. Thunder occurred on forty-two days during
three years, chiefly in January, September, and December. Fogs and misty weather are rare,
Dews occur at all seasons. The temperature at Nelson was as low as 26° during three days
in August, 1854; the wind being S.S.E. The highest range was 87° in February.
The greatest amount of pressure was 30.50 in April; wind S.E. to S.W. The lowest,
28.74, on May 17, 1853, with much thunder and lightning.

The following Tables are from observations in 1852-53-54.

TEMPERATURE.

Jan. Feb. Maroh. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Minimum . 42.33 45.33 38.66 33.00 32.66 29.33 28.66 28.83 32.00 35.66 - -
Maximum. 77.33 82.66 78.66 71.50 69.00 55.66 59.33 59.17 65.66 68.66 - -
Mean . . . 63.01 62.71 60.01 54.40 49.50 44.74 43.05 44.24 46.39 49.95 - -

PRESSURE.

Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Minimum . 29.24 29.32 29.34 22.42 28.96 29.20 29.25 22.20 29.07 29.19 - -
Maximum . 30.04 30.12 30.25 30.41 30.30 30.27 30.32 30.25 30.16 30.20 - -
Mean . . . 29.75 29.80 29.89 29.99 29.75 29.83 29.87 29.73 29.69 29.77 - -


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🎓 Meteorological Observations and Statistics for Nelson (continued from previous page)

🎓 Education, Culture & Science
13 November 1857
Meteorology, Wind patterns, Rainfall, Temperature, Barometric pressure, Nelson, Observations, Statistics, Tables
  • Samuel Stephens (Esquire), Observed meteorology for eleven years
  • Captain Drury, Received meteorological information from