May 17.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1673

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the month of February, 1928. Observations taken at 9 a.m.
Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 68°; and at 3 ft., 66·5°. Number of rain days, 7.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). 4 to 7. Calm. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W.
.. | 13 | 2 | 5 | 3 | .. | 5 | 6 | .. | .. | 8

NOTE.—No rainfall normals are available at Kelburn, but at Karori Reservoir, half a mile distant, the fall was 31 per cent. above the average. A cloudy month, with total bright sunshine, 189·4 hours (48 per cent. of the possible), and three sunless days. Lightning was seen on the 20th, and hail fell on the 27th. Mean dew-point, 57·4°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·471 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 1928.

The month began with the Dominion in the throes of one of the driest spells experienced for many years, but after the first week the prospects of rain began to improve gradually, each successive pressure disturbance causing more widespread rain than its predecessors. On the 21st, conditions became definitely favourable, and rains, though still far from general and in most cases only light, fell over large parts of both Islands. The type of weather changed completely thenceforward. General rains fell on the 23rd–24th and the 26th–27th. From the 24th there was a considerable drop in temperature. Snow fell on many of the mountain areas, especially in the South Island, during the 26th–27th. As far as monthly totals are concerned, the rain of the latter end caused February to lose much of its droughty character. Though the first three weeks were almost everywhere dry, moderate to heavy falls were experienced generally during the last week, and scattered places, especially in the North Island, received more than the average. The deficiencies were most serious in the Taranaki and Nelson Provinces and in parts of the Manawatu. On the West Coast of the South Island from Greymouth southwards most places appear to have had more than the normal February fall.

As regards pressure, the most prominent feature of the first ten days was one which it had inherited from January—namely, the persistence of high pressure over the northern portions of the North Island. Two tropical cyclones were experienced in the Pacific Islands to the north-east towards the end of January. Subsequent to their passage the pressure rose in that region, and one of the conditions adverse to rain in New Zealand appeared to have been removed. Low barometers were, however, still the rule over Australia, where very heavy rains occurred. It was not until after anticyclonic conditions had been fully established on the 23rd in Australia that the wet period commenced in New Zealand, the low-pressure area now shifting to the Dominion.

The rapid movement of pressure systems which has been commented on in the notes for months past was no less pronounced during February. A depression would cross the South Island within about thirty-six hours of passing Hobart. Such depressions as affected the Dominion were mainly shallow waves. Those recorded reached us on the 2nd, 5th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, and 28th, the number being unusually large for a single month. That of the 21st was the only one which was deep on its arrival over New Zealand, but pressure was low over and to the east of the North Island from the 25th to the 28th.

Anticyclones were, as a rule, rather poorly developed during the month. Centres passed on the 4th, 8th, 12th, 15th, 22nd, and 24th. Of these, that of the 15th was the most intense, the pressure reaching 30·5 in. in some places. It has been noticed that the break of a drought, as happened on this occasion, is frequently preceded by the development of an intense anticyclone.

Winds have been light on the whole, but strong southerlies prevailed, more especially from Cook Strait northwards, on the 27th and 28th. Gales were reported from many parts of the North Island. The absence of wind mitigated considerably the effects of the drought in the early part of the month.

Temperatures were generally above normal, and fruit, grain, and other crops ripened well. The heat, however, increased the deleterious effect of the dry conditions on pastures. Tender crops were cut in parts of the North Island in a frost which occurred on the morning of the 29th in the clear weather following the cold southerly winds.

There has been a considerable falling-off in milk yields, but with good rains and further warm weather in March, a partial recovery is expected. Fat lambs have not come on as expected in some parts, but sheep, on the whole, appear to have stood the drought remarkably well. The season continues, in the main, therefore, to be a good one.

EDWARD KIDSON, Director.