1966
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 70

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 50·7°; and at 3 ft., 50·3°. Number of rain days, 16. Total rainfall, 24 per cent. below normal. Sunshine, 54 per cent. of possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 41·6°; mean vapour pressure, 0·262 in.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—There were a few light flakes of snow on 4th. Fresh snow fell on the ranges on 1st, 3rd, 13th, and 28th; that of the 3rd was as heavy as the August fall. Hail was recorded three times, gales four times, thunder and lightning once, and one frost was registered.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR SEPTEMBER, 1936.

General.—Spring characteristics were very strongly developed in the weather for September. Pressure was almost continually low in the South and there was consequently a persistence of westerly winds, which were frequently strong and squally. The weather changed rapidly, and there were few days on which western and southern districts failed to experience a certain amount of rain. East of the ranges conditions were finer and more sunny. Until the 19th temperatures were generally low, and although the last ten days were milder they did not quite make up for the earlier cold. The wet and cold weather retarded growth of vegetation in western and southern districts of the South Island and over most of the North Island, where frosts were rather numerous. In Hawke’s Bay, about Wellington, in Nelson and the Marlborough Sounds, there was rapid growth, and the season is well advanced. There is no shortage of feed for stock anywhere, although in some places it is rather soft. Stock are reported to be in good condition, and the lambing-season, in spite of some losses due to cold and strong wind, appears to be progressing satisfactorily. In eastern districts of the North Island a good, warm rain would be beneficial, while in western districts and the high country generally a spell of dry, sunny weather is desired.

Rainfall.—Though there were no very heavy general falls rain was frequent throughout the month in all districts with a westerly aspect and most of Otago and Southland. In eastern districts from Canterbury northwards, and also in the Bay of Plenty area and Nelson, the totals were generally below average. Elsewhere they were above, the month being very wet in western Otago and Southland.

Temperatures were everywhere below normal, though the departures were not large. In western districts they were generally about 1·5° F., but elsewhere seldom as much as 1° F.

Sunshine.—The persistent westerly weather caused a lack of sunshine on the west coast of the South Island and in Southland, while, according to the New Plymouth record, Taranaki recorded about the average amount. Elsewhere totals were above average, and eastern districts experienced a very sunny month. Blenheim had 225·5 hours and Napier 210·6.

Pressure Systems.—The sequences of pressure change experienced throughout the month were remarkably constant in character and typical of spring. The anticyclones all passed well to the north of New Zealand, and a series of westerly depressions, each followed by several secondaries, moved rapidly from the west across the South Island. Winds blew almost continuously from some westerly quarter, and gales were frequent in some part or other of the Dominion. During the first few days cold south-westerlies prevailed. Conditions were especially boisterous on the 3rd to the 4th, when there were widespread falls of snow in both islands.