Feb. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 467

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations, Wellington, for the month of December, 1927. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 10 ft.

• Means, &c. † Means previous years.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm.
11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | .. | .. | 6 | ..

NOTE.—An unsettled, cloudy, and showery month, with precipitation about 15 per cent. above the normal at Thorndon. Total bright sunshine, 201 hours 53 minutes (43 per cent. of the possible), and two sunless days. Hail fell on the 16th. Mean earth temperature at 1 ft. was 60·6°, and at 3 ft. 59·6°. Mean dew-point, 50°; mean vapour pressure, 0·361 in.; and mean relative humidity, 76 per cent.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 1927.

As has been remarked in the notes for previous months, a prominent characteristic of the present season has been the frequency with which cyclones have controlled the weather in New Zealand, and, during December, these conditions were to a large extent maintained. With the exception of a rather intense depression which crossed the Dominion on the 6th, the westerly type of pressure distribution was conspicuous by its absence. The depression mentioned caused strong northerly winds and was accompanied by heavy rain in Westland.

Between the 12th and 19th a remarkable succession of cyclones moved down from a northerly direction off the east coast of the Dominion, their centres passing just eastward of the Chatham Islands. The precise origin of these storms is unknown, but they maintained low pressures, cold, strong southerly winds, and dull, wet weather in New Zealand, especially over districts with an easterly aspect. Whereas our pressure variations are generally controlled mainly by systems moving from the west, during this very unusual spell conditions over Australia and the Tasman Sea made little impression on the situation which had developed to the east of the Dominion. Some snow fell in the high country in the centre of the North Island, and some heavy rains were recorded on the east coast of the North Island. In Westland, though the weather was cold, no rain fell. Following this period there was a complete reversal of weather type, and, the barometer rising persistently, anticyclonic conditions were maintained until the 28th. Fine and warm weather was, in consequence, experienced over the Christmas holidays. During the night of the 28th and on the 29th fairly general rains were experienced. These were associated with a cyclone which had moved slowly across the Tasman Sea, the centre crossing the South Island on the 29th.

The total rainfall for the month exceeded the normal in the east coast districts of the North Island from East Cape southwards, and at scattered places on the east coast of the South Island only. Elsewhere it was below normal, the deficiency being considerable in all the western districts. The weather during the month was unusually changeable, with wide variations of temperature. It was not until the latter end that summer conditions became established. Temperatures were, on the average, considerably below normal, and garden growth was again checked. Shearing operations in the North Island were delayed somewhat by the cold, wet weather. There was, however, ample feed for stock, and the season continues to be, on the whole, a good one.

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE.
MEANS AND TOTALS FROM CHIEF STATIONS.
December, 1927.

LATE RETURN.

| INVERCARGILL— October, 1927 | .. | 49·2 | 57·0 | 41·5 | 437 | 25 |

EDWARD KIDSON, Director,