Aug. 1.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of June, 1935. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 49·3°; and at 3 ft., 52·3°. Number of rain days, 16.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more).

Forces 4 to 7.

NOTE.—A dull winter month, with temperatures slightly below normal. Total bright sunshine was only 96·2 hours, which is 34 per cent. of the possible. There were seven days on which no sunshine was recorded. Precipitation amounted to 2·80 in., which is 35 per cent. below normal. On the morning of the 12th there was a heavy hailstorm, stones of ⅞-in. diameter falling. A severe frost occurred on the morning of the 13th, and there was a heavy fall of snow on the Orongorongos on the night of the 28th. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 42·7°; mean vapour pressure, 0·273 in.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE, 1935.

General.—June was remarkable for several severe storms which were responsible for prolonged and strong winds between westerly and south-westerly and for frequent wet days. Owing, however, to lack of extreme temperatures, in most districts there was some growth in pasture and stock generally continued in good condition. This was especially the case in much of the North Island, where an absence of hard frosts and periods of mild temperature induced an abnormal growth of grass for the time of the year.

Rainfall.—The aggregate rainfall was below the average in a small area about Cook Strait and parts of the western districts of the South Island, while the remainder of the Dominion recorded above normal. The largest excesses occurred in Otago and the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne districts, where some stations had more than double their usual amount. In the latter areas the large totals were accounted for by individual heavy falls, particularly on the 18th in Otago and on the 5th and 6th in the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne districts.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were above the average over most of the North Island, the difference being greatest in the Taranaki and Auckland districts. In the South Island they were below except in the extreme north and parts of Central Otago.

Sunshine.—As might be expected from the large number of wet days experienced, sunshine was nearly everywhere below the mean, the only districts where it was above being Marlborough and Otago. From the returns received Waimate with 139 hours shows the greatest amount, followed by Blenheim with 134·8 and Napier with 131 hours.

Storm Systems.—The month began with fine weather which lasted until the 4th while an anticyclone was moving across New Zealand.

On the 5th and 6th a cyclone moved from the north, passing off East Cape during the night of the latter date. Heavy rain was associated with this disturbance between Hawke’s Bay and East Cape, and some flooding occurred. Dull, misty conditions prevailed generally, but rainfall was only light and scattered in the South Island. There was a fairly general improvement in the weather on the 7th, but from the 8th to the 12th a series of deep westerly depressions crossed the Tasman Sea and New Zealand. Consequently, strong north-west to south-west winds and boisterous conditions were experienced in most districts. During the night of the 9th, while a secondary low centre was crossing the South Island, much of the South Island and some of the high country in the North Island experienced a fall of snow. Widespread thunderstorms also occurred in the North Island. In Canterbury the snowstorm was particularly severe, and it is many years since such a heavy fall of snow has occurred. Considerable damage was caused to telegraph and power lines, many poles being snapped or bent under the weight of the accumulated snow on the wires. There were other but lighter falls of snow on the 11th and 12th, and on the latter date a bitterly cold south-westerly wind swept over the Dominion accompanied by hail in places. During the evening of the 12th, however, the weather rapidly cleared and some severe frosts were recorded in the night, Christchurch having one of 13·8 degrees. The last portion of this series of depressions had, by then, passed eastwards, and several days’ fair to fine weather followed.