MAR. 6.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of December, 1929. Observations taken at 9 a.m.
Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 61·8°; and at 3 ft., 59·8°. Number of rain days, 16.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force
8 or more). 4 to 7. Calm. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W.
.. | 20 | 2 | 5 | .. | .. | 7 | 2½ | 1½ | .. | 13

NOTE.—December for a summer month was very unsettled, especially during the latter half. Strong and squally north-west winds predominated, and precipitation at Karori Reservoir, near Kelburn, was 2 per cent. above the mean of previous years. Total bright sunshine, 197·5 hours, 42 per cent. of the possible, and three sunless days. Lightning was seen on the 2nd, 20th, 22nd, and 23rd; and thunder was heard on the 20th, 22nd, and 23rd. Mean dew-point, 50·7°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·369 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 1929.

December was a wet and stormy month. Although eastern districts experienced some hot and sultry days, there was less than the average amount of sunshine, and temperatures were considerable below normal. The only considerable areas where rainfall was below the December average were in the northern half of the Auckland Peninsula and in eastern portions of the North Island from Hawke's Bay to East Cape. Over all western districts and in the high country of the interior precipitation was heavily in excess of the normal. Most of the stormy weather was associated with the passage of cyclone centres across the South Island. Gales from between north and west were experienced to the north of the centres, while to the south of them easterly or south-easterly winds prevailed. It was these latter which accounted, to a large extent, for the high rainfalls in Canterbury and Otago. Thunderstorms have been rather frequent and, in many cases, severe. A large proportion were accompanied by showers of hail. A considerable amount of fog was reported from both northern and southern extremities of the Dominion. The Union Steamship Company's s.s. “Manuka” was lost during a dense fog prevailing between the Bluff and Dunedin on the night of the 16th.

Although rather late for some crops, especially oats, the rains were of very great benefit to farmers in Canterbury and Otago. The prospects, especially for wheat and root crops, have improved very much, and feed is plentiful. The abnormal number of wet days and the heavy rain have proved adverse to haymaking over a large part of the country, and shearing has been retarded. The weather has been too humid, too, for fodder to be in its most nourishing condition. But on the whole, stock and crops are in a satisfactory state, and the season is a good one. A spell of fine and dry weather would now be advantageous.

As indicated above, the unusual frequency of cyclonic depressions, which has characterized the past two years, was fully maintained in December. Their movement was very rapid, and this was on the whole fortunate, since although there were numbers of rivers reaching flood stage, they usually receded just when serious floods appeared to be imminent, and the actual damage was slight.

The first of the cyclones referred to crossed the south-western extremity of the Dominion on the evening of the 4th to 5th, and caused boisterous weather. Rain was widespread, with many heavy falls, especially from Taranaki and Wellington southwards. On the 5th there were many thunderstorms, and at Edendale, in Southland, damage was done by a severe hailstorm.

From the 6th to the 9th weather of the westerly type prevailed. Squally winds blew from some westerly quarter, frequently reaching gale force, and western districts, especially, experienced showery weather. On the 6th a tornado, moving from the sea, visited Greymouth, houses were unroofed and much other damage done in Cowper Street and Blaketown. The whirling column of vapour and debris was very clearly seen.