Oct. 1.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1821

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 49·7°; and at 3 ft., 48·3°. Number of rain days, 20. Total rainfall, 19 per cent. above normal. Sunshine, 41 per cent. of possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 43·9°; mean vapour pressure, 0·286 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.
.. | 19 | 5 | 2½ | .. | 1½ | 1½ | 1 | 1 | 18½ | ..

NOTE.—There were frequent snow showers on 1st. This was the heaviest snowfall in Wellington since 1926. There was 4 in. of snow on the Karori hills and 6 in. on the hills at the back of Taita. Hail was recorded twice, gales twice, lightning once, and frost three times.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR AUGUST, 1936.

General.—The month began with unusually widespread snowstorms raging over much of the country, and several days of cold, frosty weather followed. Again, at the end of the month, there was a cold snap. The first spell did little damage since, after the 1st, the days were bright and sunny and the snow soon disappeared. In the second there were some losses of lambs, but the ground was too warm for pastures to suffer greatly. Between these two periods the weather was almost continuously mild and spring-like. Grass has grown very quickly for the time of year, and trees, flowers, and shrubs are in an unusually advanced state. White butterflies made their appearance in many districts, and other insects were active. Birds are already showing signs of mating. Stock are doing well and the lambing season has, so far, been a good one. Feed is plentiful. In western districts and Marlborough a spell of dry, sunny weather would be now welcomed.

Rainfall.—Most of the east coast of the North Island and a strip extending across from Hawke’s Bay to Wanganui had less than the average rainfall. The same was the case with areas about the borders of Canterbury and Marlborough and Canterbury and Otago; the rest of the country had more than the average. Over the western half of the South Island the falls averaged at least double the normal for August.

Temperatures.—The month was one of the warmest Augusts on record. Temperatures were everywhere above normal, the average departure being over 2° F. Following the snow at the beginning of the month some severe frosts occurred.

Sunshine.—The total amount of bright sunshine was slightly above normal over most of the eastern districts of the South Island, but elsewhere was below. Unusually cloudy conditions were experienced in all western districts.

Pressure Systems.—Cold, strong southerly winds were blowing on the 1st and snow was falling in many places, especially in eastern districts, following the passage eastward of a deep depression. The snow lay to unusually low levels about Wellington particularly. Anticyclonic weather with sunny days and sharp frosts at night then prevailed until the 4th.

From the 5th to the 17th a series of westerly depressions continued to cross the southern portion of the Dominion. Winds from between north and west persisted and were often strong. There was frequent heavy rain in western and northern districts, but comparatively little east of the ranges. Temperatures were remarkably mild. On the 7th, after the passage of the first depression of the series, snow was widespread on the high levels.