JULY 23.]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of June, 1936. Observations taken at

9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 47·6°; and at 3 ft., 51·0°. Number of rain days, 13. Total rainfall, 23 per cent. below normal. Sunshine, 41 per cent. of the possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 42·2°; mean vapour pressure, 0·268 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.

.. 7 4 ½ .. 2½ 4½ 1 .. 5½ 12

NOTE.—Fogs occurred on the 5th and 30th; lightning on the 18th; and there were two frosts.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE, 1936.

General.—Owing especially to the absence of wind or severe southerly weather, June was a very mild month for winter. Frosts and the lack of rain caused the growth of pasture to be checked over much of the North Island, but elsewhere there was an unusual amount and the quality is better than usual at this time of year. Stock are generally in excellent condition, but hoggets still rather backward in many places. In some places spring flowers are already showing. Farm work is well advanced.

Rainfall.—Heavy rains in Hawke’s Bay on the 16th, in Nelson on the 27th and 28th, and in parts of South Canterbury on the 15th and 29th, were responsible for those districts having more than the average rainfall. The remainder of the country, however, had a very dry month. Less than half the average was recorded at many places, and in some it was the driest June on record.

Temperatures.—In Taranaki temperatures were slightly above normal, but in the remainder of the North Island, owing to the prevalence of south-westerly winds, they were considerably below. In the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty the departures were generally in the neighbourhood of 3° F. The west coast of the South Island and South Canterbury, also, had rather low temperatures. In the interior, however, means were as much as 3° F. and more above normal. In the fine, still weather of the first week there were many hard frosts, especially in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato districts. The 12th to the 14th was another frosty spell. There is less snow than usual on the mountains.

Sunshine.—The duration of bright sunshine was above the average for June in most places, but Nelson, Hanmer Springs, and South Canterbury had less than the usual. Tauranga recorded 170·6 hours and Napier 167·8.

Storm Systems.—The month began with very high pressures ruling over the Dominion. Although storms developed over south-eastern Australia they gradually dissipated as they moved eastward, and were able to make little impression on the New Zealand anticyclone. Fine weather prevailed with little wind. These conditions continued for a week, but on the 8th pressure began to fall, and on the 9th two depressions followed each other closely over the Dominion. General, though for the most part light to moderate, rain was experienced. Another anticyclone and several more fine days followed.

On the 15th a series of depressions commenced to traverse the country, the most important being one of cyclonic form which passed on the 16th. General rains were experienced on the 15th and 16th, some large totals being recorded over much of the North Island. Rivers rose high, and some flooding was caused in the Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, and Manawatu districts. On the 18th strong south-westerly winds and cold temperatures set in, some snow falling on the ranges. Rather unsettled conditions still persisted for some days, but there was a gradual improvement and fine weather ruled from the 24th to the 26th.