1168
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 28

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations taken at Kelburn, Wellington, for the month of February, 1934. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 64·6°; and at 3 ft., 63·2°. Number of rain days, 11.

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.
.. | 8 | 2 | 6 | .. | ½ | 4½ | 5 | .. | .. | 10

NOTE.—An unsettled summer month. Temperatures about normal. Total bright sunshine 210·2 hours, 55 per cent. of the possible; two sunless days. Precipitation was 31 per cent. above normal. A gale was experienced on the 9th, and fogs on the 10th and 14th. Mean dew point at 9 a.m., 53·6°; mean vapour pressure, 0·410 in.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR FEBRUARY, 1934.

General.—Very dry conditions continued during February in Nelson and Marlborough. The spring and summer in those provinces have been the driest on record, and come as the culminating point of four dry years. There is a very serious lack of moisture in the subsoil, and the question of winter feed for stock is causing great anxiety. The west coast of the South Island also experienced a very dry month. In Canterbury, though the rainfall was below average, the humid conditions delayed harvesting. Towards the end of the month, however, the situation improved and good progress was being made. Heavy rains were experienced in the North Island, and were of enormous benefit to pastures. Over much the greater part of the Dominion herbage is in the tender and succulent conditions usually associated with spring, and an abundance of winter feed is assured. Stock are generally in good condition and dairy yields have recovered to beyond the average for the time of year. Tobacco crops have been adversely affected in Nelson by drought and in other parts by excessive moisture. There has also been some damage to small crops and fruits.

Rainfall.—The only parts of the North Island which had less than the average rainfall were in central and northern Taranaki, the southern Waikato, and portions of the Auckland Peninsula. Much of the remainder had twice the average and many places considerably more than twice. The week from the 7th to the 13th was a particularly wet one, especially in the South Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, and central districts. In Hawke’s Bay the Tutaekuri River burst its banks and severe flooding occurred in the vicinity of Meeanee, Taradale, and Pakowhai. There was some flooding, also, in north Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, where Whakatane had a record rainfall for February.

In the South Island some parts of southern Marlborough, most of Otago, and the interior of south Canterbury recorded more than the average fall, the excesses being large in places in Central Otago. The rest of the Island had considerably less than normal. On the west coast it was a particularly dry month. Westport had 1·05 in. and Karamea 1·47 in. only.

Temperatures.—Except in Otago and Southland temperatures were below normal, the departures being largest in eastern districts of the North Island. A number of fairly severe frosts were recorded at some of the higher stations in Canterbury, but elsewhere there were practically none.

Sunshine.—The amount of bright sunshine recorded did not differ greatly from normal. In the North Island it was rather less, but in most of the South Island rather more. Blenheim had 240·4 hours and Lake Tekapo 236·9 hours.

Pressure Systems.—There were two principal storm systems which affected New Zealand during the month, each of which commenced as a vigorous cyclone in the coastal area of Queensland and caused extensive flood-rains in the eastern Australian States. In each the eastward movement was very slow. The first appeared near Mackay on the 1st February, and, travelling slowly in a south-south-easterly direction, became a very deep and violent storm by the 4th, when it was situated west of the centre of the Tasman Sea. During this period there were easterly winds in northern New Zealand, and the unsettled