June 30.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1567

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of May, 1938. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 55·4°; and at 3 ft., 58·3°. Number of rain days, 11. Total rainfall, 79 per cent. below normal, being the driest May since 1866. Sunshine, 56 per cent. of the possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 48·9°; mean vapour pressure, 0·346 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.

1 | 6 | 3½ | 5 | 1 | 1½ | 2½ | .. | 2 | 9½ | 6

NOTE.—There was a strong southerly gale on the morning of the 20th and a strong northerly gale on the night of the 28th–29th. Lightning was observed on the night of the 6th, and there was a fog on the early morning of the 17th. The first snow of the season fell on the Tararuas, and was seen from Kelburn on the 11th.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MAY, 1938.

General.—May was an extremely dry and very warm month for the time of year. There was very little wind, and, although frosts were fairly frequent, especially in the South Island, there were no very cold days. The soil being moist and the temperature high there has been a good growth of pasture, and feed for stock is plentiful. In the North Island it is rather rank in places, and this has been responsible for some footrot in sheep. Generally, however, pastures have hardened up nicely, and, except for some slight recurrence of facial eczema in parts of the North Island, stock are doing well. Reports from the South Island are particularly favourable. Farm work has been carried on under good conditions, and arrears have generally been made up. Autumn tints have been unusually pronounced this season. The mild temperatures have also caused many fruit trees to blossom twice.

Rainfall.—The month was one of the driest May’s experienced—possibly the driest. The only parts where the average was exceeded were in Southland, North Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty. Generally, totals were very much below average, and especially in eastern districts and the interior. Numbers of places had no more than 20 per cent. of the normal. In Southland the excess was not sufficient altogether to counteract the shortage of the previous months, and heavy rains are still wanted to restore the electric-power supply. In the part of the north where the average was exceeded it was due to heavy rains during the first few days. May is normally a month of very reliable rainfall.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were again considerably above normal everywhere, the average departure in both Islands being over 2·5° F. In few if any years has May been warmer, but 1898 and 1928 appear to have been about equally as warm. There were a considerable number of frosts but no really severe days. There is unusually little snow on the mountains. It was not until the end of the month, for example, that there was any considerable fall on Mount Egmont.

Sunshine.—Except at Rotorua, Napier, and Invercargill, all reports so far received show more than the average duration of bright sunshine, and in many places the excess was large. Blenheim and Nelson had practically equal amounts with 197·8 and 197·7 hours respectively. Alexandra had 188·4 hours.

Pressure Systems.—During the first three days a rather intense anticyclone moved eastwards across the Dominion. As it passed the New Zealand meridian a cyclonic depression developed on its northern edge. This cyclone was centred north of Cape Maria van Diemen on the 3rd, travelled down the east coast of the Auckland Peninsula on the 4th, and, after traversing the North Island, died away on the east coast of the South Island on the 5th. This storm, like several in the preceding month, was responsible for heavy rains over much of the North Island and also on the east coast of Marlborough. There was considerable flooding in the Auckland and Hawke’s Bay Provinces, especially in the northern Waikato, Thames, Poverty Bay, and Hawke’s Bay districts. Southerly gales blew on the east coast and in many parts of the North Island. In the Bay of Plenty area they were severe, and some damage to launches, &c., was done on Lake Rotorua. At this stage, as a result of the continual heavy rains, the lake was 21 inches above its normal level.

On the 6th a westerly depression crossed the country. There were northerly gales in Cook Strait and parts of the northern portion of the South Island, some damage being reported from the Culverden district. Rain was fairly widespread, with some heavy falls on the west coast of the South Island. On the 7th there were south-westerly gales in the south.

From the 8th to the 9th a second cyclonic depression moved on a south-easterly course from near Norfolk Island. Though it became rather deep, it passed New Zealand rather far to the east, and had surprisingly little effect on the weather beyond causing south-easterly or southerly winds and cooler temperatures.

From this time until the 18th pressure was generally high over the Tasman Sea and New Zealand, and fine, dry, anti-cyclonic weather prevailed. On the 18th the third of the cyclonic depressions appeared north-west of Norfolk Island. It became deep, and by the 20th, though at a considerable distance, had passed down the east coast of the South Island. Southerly gales were again caused in parts of the North Island and on the east coast of the South. There were heavy rains in the Auckland Province, but, generally, the country got off lightly.

E