JUNE 25.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1231

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of May, 1936. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 51·6°; and at 3 ft., 55·0°. Number of rain days, 13. Total rainfall, 30 per cent. below normal. Sunshine, 39 per cent. of the possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 43·6°; mean vapour pressure, 0·283 in.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). Forces 4 to 7. N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm.
.. | 12 | 5 | 1 | .. | 5 | 5½ | 1½ | .. | 5 | 8

NOTE.—A cold and rather dull month. There was a heavy south-west gale on the 2nd with occasional hail, and a strong north-west gale on the 6th. A fog occurred on the morning of the 25th, and there were three frosts.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MAY, 1936.

General.—One of the most notable south-westerly storms in the history of the country occurred on the 2nd May, and the weather remained wet and rather stormy until after the close of the first week. Thereafter there occurred a spell of settled weather unprecedented for the time of year. From the 8th until the end of the month no considerable disturbance affected the Dominion. There was very little wind, but what there was came mainly from a southerly direction. Temperatures were, consequently, much below normal. Frosts and morning fogs were numerous, but there were many fine days and conditions were never really severe. On the whole, little growth occurred in vegetation, and in certain districts pastures have been depleted. On the other hand, feed has, in some cases, been hardened and its nourishing properties consequently increased. In the principal dairying districts the milk-yield has fallen away, but stock are reported everywhere to be doing well. The yield of winter crops has been very variable without any pronounced general tendency.

Rainfall.—In parts of Central Otago and much of Southland, where there was a good deal of showery weather, the rainfall was above the average. Elsewhere the month was an extraordinarily dry one. The North Island had only about sixty per cent. of the normal fall, many places recording only about a quarter. Similar conditions prevailed in Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were, in general, between two and three degrees below normal, making the month one of the coldest Mays on record. In parts of the interior of Canterbury and in the far South, however, the normal temperature was exceeded. Some hard frosts were experienced, especially in the north-central portions of the North Island.

Sunshine.—A good deal of cloud occurred in eastern areas in what was otherwise fine weather, but the great majority of places had considerably more than the average amount of bright sunshine. Tauranga reports 208·7 hours, while Nelson and Lake Tekapo also had fine records.

Pressure Systems.—At the beginning of the month a deep cyclone was centred near Chatham Islands. Several secondary depressions moved into this from the west, each bringing lower pressures to the Dominion. The culmination came with the last of these on the 2nd. Pressure was extraordinarily low over the whole New Zealand area, and severe south-westerly gales were responsible for damage from one end to the other of the country. The weather was very cold with frequent heavy showers, and, in many places, hail. Snow fell on the high levels, and a number of violent thunderstorms were experienced. A storm of such violence over so great an area has probably not previously been recorded in the Dominion.

On the 3rd pressure rose and the weather improved. The westerly type of weather continued to prevail, however, until the 7th. Conditions remained unsettled with intermittent rain. A rather vigorous depression passed during the 6th and 7th causing practically general rain, with heavy falls in the ranges and western districts from Taranaki southwards. A certain amount of flooding occurred in the South Island. On the 6th there was a northerly gale in Cook Strait. The 7th brought a southerly change and snow, again, on the high country.