Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of February, 1931. 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. | In Screen. | At 9 a.m. | Maximum. | Minimum. | Humidity. | Minimum on Grass. | Solar Radiation : Maximum. | Wind. | Beaufort Scale. | Anemometer. | Direction. | Force. | Run in 24 Hours. | Rainfall, in Points (100 Points = 1 Inch). | Bright Sunshine : Hours and Tenths. | Weather (Symbols) at 9 a.m. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dry. | Wet. | Dry. | Dry. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1... | ... ... | 29⋅882 | 59⋅3 | 54⋅6 | 72 | 62⋅9 | 50⋅8 | 31⋅5 | 125⋅0 | NW | 4 | 167 | ... | 8⋅4 | c |
| 2... | ... ... | 29⋅873 | 61⋅3 | 59⋅0 | 86 | 64⋅6 | 56⋅4 | 55⋅4 | 140⋅8 | NW | 7 | 421 | 1 | 7⋅5 | o |
| 3... | ... ... | 29⋅852 | 60⋅0 | 57⋅0 | 82 | 67⋅4 | 53⋅5 | 50⋅9 | 131⋅7 | NE | 1 | 510 | ... | 10⋅3 | c |
| 4... | ... ... | 29⋅622 | 61⋅9 | 56⋅5 | 70 | 67⋅0 | 54⋅1 | 52⋅0 | 132⋅8 | NW | 5 | 432 | ... | 8⋅2 | b |
| 5... | ... ... | 30⋅018 | 56⋅4 | 48⋅9 | 54 | 58⋅4 | 46⋅2 | 38⋅4 | 128⋅1 | SE | 5 | 251 | ... | 12⋅6 | b |
| 6... | ... ... | 29⋅938 | 58⋅4 | 55⋅0 | 79 | 64⋅6 | 46⋅0 | 38⋅2 | 135⋅8 | NW | 3 | 163 | ... | 10⋅8 | c |
| 7... | ... ... | 30⋅113 | 57⋅7 | 52⋅5 | 69 | 59⋅5 | 50⋅2 | 47⋅1 | 125⋅3 | SE | 4 | 196 | ... | 11⋅6 | b |
| 8... | ... ... | 30⋅160 | 55⋅4 | 51⋅0 | 72 | 60⋅0 | 50⋅4 | 47⋅5 | 125⋅0 | SE | 3 | 220 | ... | 7⋅3 | o |
| 9... | ... ... | 30⋅178 | 53⋅2 | 50⋅9 | 84 | 59⋅4 | 50⋅2 | 49⋅0 | 137⋅9 | SE | 2 | 200 | ... | 4⋅2 | o |
| 10. . | . . . . | 30⋅171 | 53⋅2 | 48⋅0 | 66 | 58⋅1 | 50⋅2 | 49⋅0 | 131⋅0 | SE | 4 | 167 | ... | 7⋅7 | o |
| 11.. | . . . . | 29⋅998 | 55⋅9 | 51⋅0 | 70 | 63⋅5 | 43⋅9 | 35⋅7 | 131⋅9 | ENE | 1 | 145 | ... | 10⋅5 | bz |
| 12.. | . . . . | 29⋅598 | 63⋅3 | 57⋅2 | 67 | 65⋅5 | 53⋅2 | 48⋅0 | 134⋅0 | NW | 3 | 205 | 47 | 5⋅6 | b |
| 13.. | . . . . | 29⋅654 | 49⋅3 | 46⋅9 | 82 | 54⋅6 | 47⋅0 | 45⋅0 | 111⋅7 | SE | 4 | 234 | 3 | 0⋅5 | or |
| 14.. | . . . . | 29⋅947 | 52⋅4 | 47⋅0 | 64 | 54⋅5 | 48⋅1 | 46⋅9 | 98⋅9 | SE | 5 | 379 | Trace | 0⋅1 | oip |
| 15.. | . . . . | 30⋅208 | 52⋅2 | 48⋅6 | 75 | 57⋅7 | 48⋅1 | 45⋅7 | 126⋅7 | S | 1 | 277 | Trace | 7⋅9 | o |
| 16.. | . . . . | 30⋅268 | 57⋅4 | 51⋅8 | 65 | 66⋅6 | 42⋅0 | 34⋅0 | 126⋅5 | ENE | 1 | 97 | ... | 12⋅9 | bw |
| 17.. | . . . . | 30⋅081 | 63⋅9 | 57⋅6 | 66 | 71⋅0 | 53⋅5 | 50⋅7 | 129⋅9 | NNW | 3 | 164 | ... | 12⋅1 | b |
| 18.. | . . . . | 30⋅167 | 62⋅3 | 57⋅2 | 71 | 67⋅4 | 51⋅6 | 45⋅6 | 132⋅6 | NNW | 3 | 117 | ... | 11⋅2 | bc |
| 19.. | . . . . | 30⋅237 | 59⋅0 | 54⋅6 | 74 | 62⋅8 | 55⋅0 | 52⋅3 | 129⋅4 | N | 4 | 241 | ... | 5⋅7 | o |
| 20.. | . . . . | 30⋅137 | 61⋅5 | 56⋅7 | 73 | 65⋅9 | 55⋅6 | 53⋅6 | 134⋅3 | NW | 6 | 368 | ... | 7⋅2 | bc |
| 21.. | . . . . | 29⋅952 | 61⋅1 | 58⋅4 | 84 | 66⋅2 | 56⋅1 | 54⋅7 | 128⋅5 | NNW | 6 | 582 | ... | 9⋅8 | c |
| 22.. | . . . . | 29⋅703 | 63⋅6 | 61⋅0 | 85 | 68⋅0 | 59⋅3 | 58⋅8 | 141⋅2 | NNW | 6 | 613 | 100 | 4⋅5 | o |
| 23.. | . . . . | 28⋅999 | 56⋅2 | 55⋅6 | 96 | 64⋅3 | 55⋅9 | 56⋅0 | 126⋅2 | S | 1 | 537 | ... | 7⋅0 | or |
| 24.. | . . . . | 29⋅443 | 58⋅6 | 49⋅6 | 48 | 59⋅7 | 50⋅4 | 45⋅6 | 122⋅3 | NW | 2 | 416 | 5 | 4⋅2 | c |
| 25.. | . . . . | 29⋅921 | 52⋅6 | 50⋅2 | 84 | 61⋅9 | 43⋅9 | 34⋅0 | 125⋅7 | NNW | 3 | 152 | 1 | 5⋅8 | o |
| 26.. | . . . . | 30⋅005 | 58⋅6 | 56⋅0 | 84 | 61⋅5 | 48⋅5 | 42⋅5 | 128⋅5 | SE | 1 | 154 | ... | 8⋅7 | ou |
| 27.. | . . . . | 30⋅190 | 59⋅8 | 54⋅7 | 70 | 46⋅6 | 36⋅6 | 129⋅5 | Calm | ... | 110 | ... | 12⋅6 | bc |
| 28.. | . . . . | 30⋅123 | 61⋅0 | 56⋅5 | 74 | 64⋅0 | 55⋅1 | 51⋅4 | 127⋅1 | NNW | 4 | 167 | 6 | 6⋅5 | o |
| Means, &c. | ... ... | 29⋅944 | 58⋅1 | 53⋅7 | 74 | 63⋅2 | 50⋅8 | 46⋅3 | 128⋅5 | ... | 3⋅3 | 274 | 163 | 221⋅4 | ... |

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 62⋅1°; and at 3 ft., 61⋅3°. Number of rain days, 7.

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.

...

...

47 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 2 | ... | ... | .. | 10

NOTE.—A very windy month, with temperatures much below the average. Total bright sunshine, 221⋅4 hours, 58 per cent. of the possible, and no sunless days. Precipitation at Karori Reservoir, near Kelburn, was 40 per cent. below the mean of previous years. Light hail fell on the 12th and lightning was seen on the 23rd. Mean dew-point, 49⋅6°; and mean vapour pressure, 0⋅355 in.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 1931.

General.—The principal characteristics of the weather in February were low temperatures and an unusual amount of wind. There were several periods of strong northerly winds, which were followed by spells of southerlies. The latter, though not so severe, were unusually persistent for this time of year. Nevertheless, a number of beautifully fine days were experienced, and in some respects the month was more summerlike than its predecessors. Rainfall was generally below normal in the North Island and Nelson, and above it over the remainder of the South Island. The cold weather and some very dry spells at critical periods have had an adverse effect on wheat crops and the growth of vegetation, generally, has been retarded. Except in the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne districts, however, pastures are in fair condition and stock are doing well.

Rainfall.—The total falls were much below average in the northern and eastern parts of the North Island. In Taranaki the deficits were less marked, and a few places had more than the normal. In the South Island the Nelson Province generally had less than the average, but heavy rains on the 22nd considerably relieved the situation. Hokitika and parts of North Canterbury also had rather less than the average. Elsewhere there was an excess, and the southern half of the South Island experienced a very wet month.

Temperatures.—As already stated, the month was unusually cool. Temperatures were much below normal in all parts of the Dominion. In some places it was the coldest February on record. Numbers of places experienced one or more frosts.

Pressure Systems.—From the 1st to the 3rd a series of westerly depressions passed. Northerly gales blew in places on the 2nd. In Cook Strait some high velocities were reached. Heavy rain fell on the West Coast of the South Island, Harihari experiencing a very heavy flood.

A southerly spell followed, and an anticyclone moved slowly across the Dominion. From the 6th to the 10th the weather was mostly fine, though still rather cool.

Another westerly depression passed rapidly during the night of the 11th, and was followed by strong southerlies and very cold and showery weather. Heavy rain fell in eastern districts of the South Island on the 12th, and the ranges received a fall of snow. On the 13th there were widespread thunder and hail storms, which were particularly severe in the southern half of the Auckland Province.