Aug. 31.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

2141

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of July, 1933. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 46·8° ; and at 3 ft., 49·2°. Number of rain days, 19.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). Forces Calm. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W.
... | 14 | ... | 8 | 3½ | ½ | 7 | 9 | ½ | ... | 2½

NOTE.—A cloudy dismal month, with rainfall 27 per cent. above the mean of previous years. Total bright sunshine, 77 hours, 26 per cent. of the possible, and eleven sunless days. Frost was recorded on the grass on three mornings, and fog was in evidence on the morning of the 11th. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 41·7° ; and mean vapour pressure, 0·263 in.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JULY, 1933.

General.—Though there was again a persistence of southerly winds, and eastern districts particularly experienced a lack of sunshine, July was a mild winter month, and conditions were very favourable for stock and pastures. The growth of grass has been unusually good for the time of year, all districts reporting a certain amount. This has been particularly fortunate in Canterbury and Marlborough, since the shortage of winter feed has thereby been compensated for. Stock are everywhere reported to be in good condition.

Rainfall.—The distribution of rainfall during the month was rather patchy. On the whole the average was slightly exceeded, and there were some isolated very high totals. On the other hand, large areas received less than usual. North Auckland, North Taranaki, South Wellington, and the Bay of Plenty and central districts of the North Island registered an excess, while most of the remainder experienced a shortage. In the South Island, western districts and the interior had much more than normal, but eastern and far southern districts much less. The rain on the West Coast was made up largely of a very few but very heavy falls.

Temperatures did not, generally, differ greatly from the average for July. In eastern districts, from Canterbury northwards, the persistent southerly winds and lack of sunshine were responsible for low day temperatures, and the mean, also, was consequently somewhat below normal. The remainder of the country enjoyed more genial conditions. There were no severe cold snaps, and frosts were rather less frequent than usual.

Sunshine.—Though sunshine was below normal everywhere except in western and far southern districts of the South Island, it was only in eastern districts that the deficits were large. Nelson recorded 143·4 hours, while Hokitika, on the wet West Coast, in spite of 21·73 in. of rain, came a close second with 142·9 hours. The Capital City, with 77·0 hours, occupied an unenviable position at the bottom of the list.

Pressure Systems.—The weather in July was generally similar to that in June so far as the type of storm system was concerned. Most of the storms were of cyclonic form, and there was a persistent tendency for high pressures over the southern portion of the Dominion. Several very intense anticyclones were experienced, barometers rising on the 27th to over 30·6 in. at a number of places. There were only three depressions of the westerly type, and of these the only one that affected the weather greatly was that which passed on the 9th. A low-pressure trough extended a long way northwards from this depression and general rains resulted, especially in the North Island. Snow fell on the ranges of the South Island.