New Zealand Gazette – 1931 – No. 19

Page 571

✨ Meteorological Observations



Mar. 12.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 571

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of December, 1930. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Date. Pressure, in Inches, at Sea-level and Standard Gravity. Temperature (° F.) from Observations at 9 a.m. Wind. Rainfall, in Points (100 Points = 1 Inch). Bright Sunshine: Hours and Tenths. Weather (Symbols) at 9 a.m.
In Screen.
At 9 a.m. Maxi- mum. Mini- mum. Minimum on Grass. Solar Radiation: Maximum.
Dry. Wet. Humid- ity. Dry. Dry.
1 .. .. 30·019 58·0 52·1 65
2 .. .. 30·000 46·3 46·1 98
3 .. .. 29·980 55·8 51·0 70
4 .. .. 30·084 52·0 48·4 75
5 .. .. 30·058 59·9 55·2 73
6 .. .. 30·109 52·6 51·3 91
7 .. .. 30·019 57·1 55·1 87
8 .. .. 30·034 50·5 47·8 81
9 .. .. 29·998 57·9 53·3 72
10 .. .. 29·985 55·5 53·0 84
11 .. .. 30·089 58·3 54·4 77
12 .. .. 30·018 58·0 54·2 77
13 .. .. 29·877 60·3 56·1 75
14 .. .. 30·085 49·7 46·6 77
15 .. .. 29·784 55·0 49·9 67
16 .. .. 29·557 50·2 45·0 64
17 .. .. 29·788 46·9 45·4 89
18 .. .. 29·968 53·4 47·4 60
19 .. .. 29·969 55·0 50·0 68
20 .. .. 29·943 60·3 53·0 58
21 .. .. 29·922 62·5 57·9 74
22 .. .. 29·984 60·2 56·3 77
23 .. .. 30·001 58·2 54·4 77
24 .. .. 29·853 58·9 58·4 97
25 .. .. 29·967 60·0 56·5 79
26 .. .. 29·998 59·1 56·0 81
27 .. .. 30·045 62·0 59·4 85
28 .. .. 30·109 64·4 60·5 79
29 .. .. 30·031 60·3 58·9 92
30 .. .. 30·043 57·3 53·8 78
31 .. .. 30·088 63·5 57·8 69
Means, &c. .. 29·981 56·7 53·1 77 62·1

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 60°; and at 3 ft., 57·9°. Number of rain days, 9.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). Forces 4 to 7. Calm. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W.
.. | 12 | .. | 5 | 3 | .. | 7½ | 2½ | .. | .. | 13

NOTE.—The coldest December ever experienced in Wellington. Total bright sunshine 186·3 hours, 40 per cent. of the possible, and no sunless days. Rainfall at Karori Reservoir, near Kelburn, was 5 per cent. below the average. Hail fell on the 13th. Mean dew-point, 49·7°; and mean vapour pressure, 0·356 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 1930.

General.—Once again the Dominion as a whole experienced a cold month, the December mean temperature at many of the climatological stations being the lowest since meteorological observations were commenced. Except for the brief stormy period from the 15th to the 17th, however, the month was not a particularly unsettled one, but from its commencement until the 18th cloudy skies were much in evidence. After the 19th, warmer weather set in, and Christmas week was the warmest period experienced so far this summer, almost perfect summer weather continuing from then to the close of the month.

Owing to the coldness and low rainfall growth of vegetation was again backward, and small fruit was slow in ripening. In the hill country of the east coast district, especially, grass on which stock was grazing made little headway. On the other hand, the warm dry spell towards the close of the month enabled farmers to harvest their hay crops under favourable conditions. Generally, stock have kept in good condition.

Rainfall.—Rainfall was below the average over the whole of the Dominion, except at a few places in the extreme south of the South Island. The deficit was considerable in nearly all districts, but greatest in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Hawke’s Bay districts of the North Island and the Nelson and Westland provinces of the South. At Tauranga, the total month’s fall was only 15 points against the December average of 375 points.

Weather and Pressure Systems.—During the month no depressions of marked intensity crossed the Dominion, and nowhere did the barometer fall below 29·50 inches. Pressure was, therefore, nearly everywhere above the December average.

From the 1st to the 13th an anticyclone remained practically stationary over the Tasman Sea, while there was a persistent tendency for low pressure to the east of New Zealand. As a consequence, the general trend of wind was from the south, although occasionally northerlies prevailed, more especially through Cook Strait. The weather during this period was mainly fair though cloudy, and temperatures remained unseasonably cool.



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🏗️ Meteorological Observations for December 1930

🏗️ Infrastructure & Public Works
Weather, Temperature, Rainfall, Wind, Wellington