2702
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 80

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of October, 1937. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 55·4°; and at 3 ft., 53·7°. Number of rain days, 7. Total rainfall, 73 per cent. below normal. Sunshine, 62 per cent. of the possible, and the sunniest October ever experienced. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 43·8°; mean vapour pressure, 0·285 in.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—A north-west gale was experienced on the 8th. On the 16th and 17th rather severe frosts were recorded, and some damage was done to tender plants.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR OCTOBER, 1937.

General.—In the Dominion as a whole October was a very dry month with a good deal of wind, which came mainly from a southerly quarter. The atmosphere was generally dry and cool, and frosts were unusually numerous, especially in the South Island. Though there is, in most districts, as yet no acute shortage of feed the growth of pastures and vegetation generally has been poor. The rains from the 23rd onward relieved conditions considerably in the North Island, but the subsequent fine weather with drying winds has, to a considerable extent, nullified their effect. Grass is tending to flower early and while still short. Stock are, on the whole, in very good condition, especially lambs. Conditions are very favourable, also, for shearing. In portions of Marlborough, however, there is serious shortage of feed and both stock and crops are doing poorly. General steady, soaking, and mild rains are needed soon, or the effects of the dry weather are likely to become serious.

Rainfall.—Except for some good rains on the west coast of the South Island in the early part, the first three weeks of the month were extremely dry, many areas in the North Island having no rain at all. Between the 23rd and the 26th there were general rains, with heavy falls over most of the North Island. During this period the Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay districts received more than the average total for the month. In the South Island, however, the rains were still mainly only light or moderate. Dry conditions again set in during the last few days. Except between Hawke’s Bay and East Cape, the totals for the North Island averaged less than half the normal. In the South Island few places recorded half the average for October, and large parts of Canterbury and Marlborough had deficits of over 80 per cent.

Temperatures.—Though there were no severe cold snaps, the average temperatures were almost everywhere considerably below normal. The days were usually mild, but the nights cold. At the beginning of the month there was a good deal of snow on the ranges, and though much of it gradually disappeared it was replenished, to some extent, towards the end of the month. Consequently, with a clear and dry atmosphere prevailing, there was a tendency for frosts whenever the wind dropped. The frosts, though unusually frequent, were not of great depth or severity, and though tomatoes, potatoes, and other garden crops were damaged, fruit-trees suffered comparatively little.

Sunshine.—The month was remarkable for the amount of sunshine recorded, few places having less than 200 hours. Lake Tekapo reports 278·9, Nelson 269·0, and Blenheim 257·8 hours.

Storms and Pressure Systems.—During the first nine days conditions were fairly typical of spring. Two westerly depressions crossed the South Island causing some rather boisterous north-westerly winds as they approached and south-westerlies as they passed away. There were some heavy rains on the west coast of the South Island, but little elsewhere. From this period onward high pressure was the rule, and the anticyclones were centred unusually far south. Southerly or south-easterly winds predominated, and the situation was of a type which, though not very uncommon in summer, was the reverse of what is expected in spring.