3438
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 135

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations, Wellington, for the month of August, 1918. 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.
12 | .. | 1 | 1 | 6 | .. | 1 | 6 | 4

NOTE.—Precipitation for the month was greatest between the 4th and the 9th, the weather during the rest of the month being bright and sunny, with moderate to strong north and north-west winds prevailing. Total bright sunshine, 149 hours 25 minutes, and four sunless days. Frost was recorded on the grass on ten mornings. Earth-temperatures during the month rose at 1 ft. from 43·7° to 50·9°, and at 3 ft. from 46·3° to 50·8°, while the mean at the former was 47·5°, and 48·5° at the latter depth. Mean dew-point, 41·7°; mean elastic force of vapour, 0·264 in.; and mean relative humidity, 75 per cent. of saturation.

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE.

MEANS AND TOTALS FROM THE CHIEF STATIONS.

August, 1918.

AUCKLAND ..
F. A. F. Burnett | 51·7 | 57·6 | 45·9 | 352 | 24 |
| 46 | TE AROHA ..
G. F. McGirr | 49·2 | 60·3 | 38·2 | 192 | 9 |
| 925 | ROTORUA ..
W. Penno | 47·2 | 56·1 | 38·4 | 249 | 13 |
| 840 | WAIHI ..
P. A. Clifford | 49·0 | 59·0 | 39·0 | 611 | 18 |
| .. | TAURANGA ..
C. J. Butcher | 48·7 | 58·6 | 38·8 | 192 | 8 |
| 160 | NEW PLYMOUTH
W. W. Smith | 50·6 | 57·7 | 43·6 | 446 | 23 |
| 250 | MOUMAHIKI
T. W. Lonsdale | 47·8 | 55·7 | 40·0 | 301 | 13 |
| 2080 | TAIHAPE ..
A. R. Fannin | 42·4 | 48·1 | 36·7 | 275 | 15 |
| 100 | PALMERSTON NORTH ..
J. E. Vernon | 47·8 | 55·5 | 40·1 | 276 | 13 |
| 186 | GREYTOWN ..
W. C. Davies | 47·8 | 57·9 | 37·8 | 422 | 14 |
| 377 | MASTER TON
Wm. Hood | 47·7 | 57·7 | 37·8 | 370 | 12 |
| 70 | GREENMEADOWS, NA- PIER
T. B. McBreen | 50·2 | 59·0 | 41·3 | 236 | 9 |
| .. | TRENTHAM MILITARY CAMP
Lieut.-Col. Leahy | 47·2 | 55·5 | 39·0 | 267 | 12 |
| 10 | WELLINGTON | 49·1 | 54·9 | 43·3 | 351 | 13 |
| .. | SOUTH ISLAND.
BRIGHTWATER
Ven. Archdeacon Kemphorne | 47·1 | 57·2 | 37·0 | 412 | 7 |
| 34 | NELSON ..
J. R. Dart | 47·8 | 56·0 | 39·7 | 405 | 8 |
| 1220 | HANMER SPA
Miss M. Stewart | 42·8 | 51·2 | 34·5 | 411 | 10 |
| 25 | CHRISTCHURCH
H. F. Skey | 44·6 | 53·5 | 35·8 | 143 | 11 |
| 42 | LINCOLN ..
L. J. Wild | 45·2 | 54·8 | 35·6 | 163 | 10 |
| 1220 | KISSELTON ..
A. R. Blackwood | 42·5 | 50·5 | 34·6 | 369 | 9 |
| .. | RAKAIA ..
Miss A. Hardy | 42·9 | 53·6 | 34·3 | 207 | 7 |
| 130 | TIMARU ..
Caretaker of Domain | 45·3 | 54·9 | 35·7 | 285 | 8 |
| 200 | WAIMATE ..
F. Akhurst | 44·2 | 53·3 | 35·2 | 294 | 10 |
| 300 | DUNEDIN ..
D. Tannock | 44·6 | 50·8 | 38·4 | 312 | 13 |
| 245 | GORE ..
H. Dolamore | 42·0 | 49·5 | 34·5 | 295 | 19 |
| 12 | HOKITIKA ..
W. H. Fleming | 45·1 | 52·6 | 37·6 | 1352 | 16 |
| 12 | INVERCARGILL
L. Lennie | 44·1 | 51·4 | 36·9 | 433 | 19 |

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1918.

During the first half of August cold, unsettled, and at times stormy weather prevailed, but afterwards conditions improved, and fair, mild, and springlike weather was generally experienced.

From the 1st until the 7th an extensive westerly area of low pressure held sway, and strong and squally westerly winds predominated.

This was followed by a cyclone the centre of which passed in the neighbourhood of Cook Strait on the night of the 8th. Heavy rain fell about this time, especially in and southward of Cook Strait, and many of the high-level stations reported considerable snowfall.

On the 13th an intense westerly disturbance enveloped the Dominion, accounting for stormy weather on the 13th and 14th. By the 15th it had passed eastward of the Chatham Islands, and was followed by an anticyclone which brought a change to more settled conditions.

From the latter date until the close of the month high atmospheric pressure ruled except on the 19th and 27th, when minor depressions passed in the south and north respectively.

D. C. BATES, Director.