2970
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 69

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations, Wellington, for the Month of May, 1914. Observations taken 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 8 ft.

• Means, &c.
  † Means previous years.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm.
7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | .. | 1 | 2 | 5

Note.—The weather during the month has been cloudy and unsettled, with strong southerly winds prevailing, while the rainfall was 66 per cent. above the mean of previous years. Total bright sunshine, 99 h. 25 m., and ten sunless days. Six frosts were recorded on the grass. Mean earth temperature at 1 ft. was 51·3°, and 54·4° at 3 ft. Mean dew-point, 44·9°; mean elastic force of vapour, 0·298 in.; and mean relative humidity, 82 per cent. of saturation.

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE.

MEANS AND TOTALS FROM THE CHIEF STATIONS.

May, 1914.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 1914.

Anticyclones were in existence over the Dominion between the 4th, and 7th, and 23rd, and 28th, and during these two periods fair weather was experienced in most parts of the country, with clear frosty nights in the South and in the inland districts of the North Island. The weather for the rest of the month was unsettled owing to various disturbances which passed over or in the close proximity to the Dominion.

On the 1st a rapidly moving depression passed in the South and the winds changed to southerly, increasing to gale force at widely separated places. Ngaruawahia, in the Waikato, reported an exceptionally severe south-west gale which did considerable damage to property.

On the 8th the centre of a small disturbance passed in the vicinity of Cook Strait, and this was followed by a depression which prevailed in the North between the 8th and 13th. This latter disturbance and also an extensive cyclone which was centred off East Cape between the 16th and 22nd accounted for heavy rains in the East Coast districts of the North Island, and cold south-easterly weather generally. On the 17th, 18th, and 19th, owing to the continuous heavy rains, floods occurred in many of the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay rivers. At Patunamu, Wairoa, the extraordinary fall of 13·05 inches fell on the 17th, and for the four days 16th to the 19th 29·63 inches were measured, while the total for the month was 38·31 inches. Although this disturbance had not decreased in intensity on the 20th, the presence of another low-pressure area to the southward of New Zealand had a neutralizing effect, and a brief improvement in conditions was experienced, but this was followed by boisterous unsettled weather again on the night of the 20th. From the 29th to the close of the month squally weather ruled, with the development of an extensive westerly low-pressure area. About this date some heavy rains occurred in the northern districts; on the 29th Kaitaia reported 5·30 inches, Wekaweka 4·88 inches, and at Ruatoki 2 inches fell in one hour on the 30th.

The aggregate total rainfall for the month was below the average in the West Coast and in the extreme south of the South Island, and also in the central portion of the North Island, but elsewhere it was in excess of the average.

D. C. BATES, Director.