✨ Meteorological Observations
1226
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 27
After another long fine spell, a deep depression was located over the Central Tasman Sea on the 24th. It was of the type which had been causing drought-breaking rains in successively more eastward parts of Australia and the prospects for rain in the Dominion seemed very favourable. For four days storms raged in the Tasman Sea, with strong southerly gales in the western portion. From the 26th, however, pressure began to fall in southern New Zealand under the influence of some distant disturbance to the southward. By the 28th pressure became quite low in southern districts. But so far as rain was concerned the Dominion fell between two stools. From the night of the 28th to the morning of the 29th pressure rose rapidly, the storm in the Tasman Sea, which by this time was moving northward, was swept away, and though a strong, cold, southerly wind traversed the country it produced extremely little rain. This was a great disappointment.
Thereafter, a very dry type of weather again set in.
EDWARD KIDSON, Director.
CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE.
SUMMARY OF THE RECORDS OF TEMPERATURE, RAINFALL, AND SUNSHINE FOR MARCH, 1939.
| Station. | Height of Station above M.S.L. | Air Temperatures in Degrees (Fahrenheit). | Rainfall in Inches. | Bright Sunshine (Hours) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Means of | Mean of A and B. | Difference from Normal. | Absolute Maximum and Minimum. | Total Fall. | No. of Wet Days. | Difference from Normal. | Most in a Day. | |||||||
| A Max. | B Min. | Maximum. | Date. | Minimum. | Amount. | Date. | ||||||||
| Ft. | °F. | °F. | °F. | °F. | °F. | °F. | In. | In. | In. | |||||
| Te Paki, Te Hapua | 200 | 72·2 | 56·6 | 64·4 | (+1·3) | 76·0 | 4 | 46·0 | 19, 21 | 0·59 | 5 | .. | 0·27 | 11 |
| “Ramote,” Kerikeri | 400 | 72·4 | 56·1 | 64·2 | .. | 77·6 | 8 | 50·8 | 30 | 0·98 | 9 | .. | 0·32 | 12 |
| Waipoua State Forest | 225 | 72·4 | 51·3 | 61·8 | (+0·0) | 77·0 | 10 | 45·0 | 24 | 0·28 | 5 | .. | 0·17 | 12 |
| Riverhead | 105 | 71·8 | 49·0 | 60·4 | (—0·4) | 75·5 | 9, 11 | 41·7 | 18 | 0·20 | 3 | .. | 0·12 | 5 |
| Auckland | 160 | 72·3 | 60·0 | 66·2 | +1·6 | 76·8 | 7 | 56·7 | 24, 31 | 0·25 | 4 | —3·02 | 0·08 | 21 |
| Waihi | 404 | 69·8 | 52·9 | 61·4 | —0·4 | 75·0 | 7 | 47·0 | 15, 28 | 1·83 | 6 | —5·67 | 0·97 | 11 |
| Wharekawa Nursery, Whangamata | 50 | 71·6 | 54·5 | 63·0 | .. | 78·8 | 8 | 45·0 | 20 | 2·59 | 9 | .. | 0·88 | 12 |
| Te Aroha | 46 | 75·3 | 54·1 | 64·7 | +1·3 | 80·5 | 7 | 46·0 | 20 | 0·45 | 6 | —3·69 | 0·33 | 11 |
| Tauranga | 100 | 72·1 | 54·3 | 63·2 | +1·1 | 77·0 | 8 | 47·0 | 2 | 1·35 | 7 | —2·57 | 0·46 | 30 |
| Ruakura Farm, Hamilton | 131 | 73·9 | 51·0 | 62·4 | +0·4 | 79·0 | 1 | 43·6 | 20, 27 | 0·54 | 3 | —2·71 | 0·48 | 11 |
| Rotoehu Plantation | 235 | 72·9 | 50·8 | 61·8 | .. | 79·6 | 29 | 35·6 | 4 | 1·07 | 5 | .. | 0·56 | 30 |
| Rotorua | 925 | 75·3 | 53·4 | 64·4 | +3·8 | 83·5 | 1 | 42·8 | 13 | 0·63 | 7 | —2·85 | 0·22 | 21 |
| Whakarewarewa | 1,000 | 72·9 | 51·9 | 62·4 | (+2·3) | 79·5 | 8 | 41·3 | 31 | 0·59 | 4 | —3·28 | 0·26 | 21 |
| Gisborne | 25 | 71·3 | 50·1 | 60·7 | .. | 84·0 | 19 | 38·3 | 24 | 0·70 | 5 | .. | 0·30 | 11 |
| Onepoto, Lake Waikaremoana | 2,110 | 64·1 | 51·1 | 57·6 | .. | 74·0 | 8 | 42·5 | 30 | 5·16 | 6 | .. | 2·03 | 11 |
| New Plymouth | 190 | 68·5 | 53·4 | 61·0 | —0·1 | 74·0 | 1 | 43·1 | 27 | 1·49 | 4 | —2·19 | 1·30 | 11 |
| Chateau Tongariro | 3,670 | 62·4 | 43·4 | 52·9 | +3·3 | 68·2 | 2 | 36·6 | 21 | 1·82 | 7 | .. | 0·89 | 12 |
| Dawson Falls | 3,100 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Karioi | 2,125 | 67·7 | 44·2 | 56·0 | (+1·9) | 73·5 | 4 | 32·3 | 30 | 0·73 | 3 | .. | 0·45 | 11 |
| Napier | 5 | 69·7 | 53·9 | 61·8 | — 0·3 | 79·5 | 28 | 43·0 | 30 | 0·96 | 5 | —1·70 | 0·61 | 11 |
| Hastings | 45 | 74·2 | 50·4 | 62·3 | (+1·8) | 81·4 | 8 | 38·6 | 30 | 0·65 | 3 | .. | 0·40 | 11 |
| Taihape | 2,157 | 67·8 | 49·4 | 58·6 | +2·2 | 75·0 | 2 | 38·4 | 30 | 0·79 | 4 | —1·81 | 0·54 | 11 |
| Wanganui | 72 | 69·8 | 53·7 | 61·8 | .. | 76·5 | 1 | 44·3 | 23 | 0·80 | 4 | .. | 0·36 | 11 |
| Tangimoana | 8 | 69·7 | 51·7 | 60·7 | +0·5 | 77·0 | 1 | 40·0 | 23 | 0·75 | 5 | —1·54 | 0·45 | 9 |
| Palmerston North | 100 | 72·0 | 52·8 | 62·4 | +1·9 | 80·0 | 5 | 44·0 | 30 | 0·91 | 4 | —1·61 | 0·49 | 10 |
| Massey College, P.N. | 110 | 70·8 | 52·5 | 61·6 | (+1·6) | 78·3 | 5 | 42·9 | 30 | 1·17 | 6 | (—1·70) | 0·59 | 10 |
| Pahiatua | 384 | 70·6 | 49·7 | 60·2 | (+0·5) | 79·2 | 4 | 32·0 | 30 | 0·73 | 5 | (—2·68) | 0·23 | 10 |
| Kapiti Island | 44 | 67·5 | 55·7 | 61·6 | +1·2 | 75·0 | 1 | 47·0 | 30 | 1·83 | 5 | —0·25 | 1·60 | 10 |
| Masterton | 387 | 74·8 | 47·2 | 61·0 | +1·1 | 84·1 | 7 | 33·5 | 30 | 0·74 | 7 | +2·01 | 0·34 | 10 |
| Wellington | 415 | 66·7 | 53·6 | 60·2 | +0·5 | 75·7 | 5 | 43·8 | 30 | 1·05 | 6 | (—2·15) | 0·75 | 10 |
| Nelson | 24 | 69·5 | 53·5 | 61·5 | +1·5 | 73·8 | 1 | 42·2 | 13 | 0·15 | 2 | —2·77 | 0·12 | 10 |
| Appleby, Nelson | 57 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Blenheim | 30 | 73·1 | 50·1 | 61·6 | (+0·6) | 86·5 | 28 | 36·8 | 23 | 0·25 | 4 | (—1·52) | 0·12 | 10 |
| Golden Downs | 900 | 71·8 | 45·6 | 58·7 | (+2·4) | 80·1 | 7 | 37·0 | 13 | 0·94 | 4 | .. | 0·38 | 8 |
| Waihopai | 860 | 73·9 | 48·5 | 61·2 | (+0·6) | 85·5 | 2 | 38·0 | 23 | 0·47 | 4 | .. | 0·22 | 8 |
| Westport | 23 | 64·3 | 54·8 | 59·6 | .. | 69·0 | 2 | 48·0 | 28 | 4·83 | 6 | .. | 2·98 | 10 |
| Hanmer Springs | 1,225 | 71·9 | 46·4 | 59·2 | +2·7 | 85·9 | 2 | 30·6 | 30 | 2·51 | 8 | —0·75 | 0·81 | 8 |
| Balmoral | 743 | 71·5 | 47·5 | 59·5 | (+1·3) | 87·0 | 2 | 31·0 | 30 | 1·40 | 6 | .. | 0·63 | 7 |
| Hokitika | 12 | 66·3 | 53·7 | 60·0 | +2·2 | 75·0 | 11 | 44·5 | 12 | 4·31 | 10 | —5·20 | 1·61 | 9 |
| Lake Coleridge | 1,220 | 70·9 | 48·1 | 59·5 | .. | 80·5 | 27 | 32·5 | 30 | 1·12 | 4 | .. | 0·55 | 8 |
| Darfield | 640 | 71·5 | 48·5 | 60·0 | .. | 85·4 | 6 | 32·2 | 30 | 1·50 | 8 | .. | 0·85 | 8 |
| Christchurch | 22 | 65·4 | 52·7 | 59·0 | +1·1 | 77·0 | 31 | 37·0 | 30 | 0·72 | 6 | —1·12 | 0·38 | 8 |
| Wigram Aerodrome, Sockburn | 74 | 66·7 | 51·5 | 59·1 | .. | 80·0 | 31 | 35·3 | 30 | 0·77 | 6 | .. | 0·34 | 8 |
| Rudstone, Methven | 1,217 | 68·5 | 48·3 | 58·4 | (+1·8) | 80·0 | 2 | 36·0 | 30 | 2·85 | 14 | +0·13 | 1·19 | 8 |
| Lincoln | 36 | 67·6 | 51·4 | 59·5 | +0·9 | 79·8 | 31 | 34·5 | 30 | 1·26 | 6 | —0·83 | 0·44 | 8, 10 |
| Onawe, Duvauchelle’s Bay | 150 | 68·6 | 52·1 | 60·4 | .. | 82·0 | 6 | 41·1 | 30 | 0·77 | 7 | .. | 0·31 | 9 |
| Hermitage, Mount Cook | 2,510 | 68·7 | 47·4 | 58·0 | (+4·9) | 77·1 | 5 | 33·0 | 30 | 4·11 | 4 | —10·25 | 1·97 | 9 |
| Ashburton | 323 | 67·2 | 49·8 | 58·5 | (+1·4) | 83·3 | 6 | 30·3 | 30 | 1·90 | 16 | +0·18 | 0·52 | 9, 11 |
| Lake Tekapo | 2,350 | 68·8 | 44·3 | 56·6 | (+2·4) | 79·5 | 2 | 29·9 | 30 | 1·51 | 5 | .. | 0·75 | 8 |
| Jacksons Bay | 22 | 64·2 | 53·8 | 59·0 | .. | 72·0 | 11 | 45·2 | 30 | 15·86 | 13 | .. | 5·61 | 9 |
| Fairlie | 1,000 | 68·6 | 46·7 | 57·6 | (+2·4) | 83·0 | 6 | 26·8 | 30 | 2·03 | 7 | .. | 0·81 | 8 |
| Timaru | 56 | 64·9 | 50·2 | 57·6 | +0·3 | 72·8 | 14 | 34·8 | 30 | 1·45 | 8 | —0·71 | 0·51 | 9 |
| Waimate | 200 | 65·2 | 50·8 | 58·0 | +1·6 | 76·0 | 24 | 44·0 | 24, 27 | 1·83 | 10 | —0·25 | 0·58 | 9 |
| Milford Sound | 23 | 64·8 | 51·2 | 58·0 | .. | 73·0 | 11 | 39·0 | 30 | 6·79 | 13 | .. | 1·45 | 9 |
| Queenstown | 1,110 | 70·1 | 49·0 | 59·6 | +3·8 | 77·2 | 2 | 37·4 | 30 | 0·84 | 4 | —1·78 | 0·63 | 10 |
| Ophir | 1,000 | 73·1 | 44·4 | 58·8 | +3·1 | 85·2 | 2 | 25·9 | 30 | 0·63 | 5 | —0·67 | 0·18 | 9 |
| Waipiata | 1,550 | 70·6 | 44·9 | 57·8 | +3·3 | 84·2 | 2 | 28·8 | 30 | 1·72 | 7 | .. | 0·81 | 10 |
| Alexandra | 520 | 72·6 | 49·2 | 60·9 | (+3·9) | 85·0 | 1 | 32·0 | 30 | 0·50 | 2 | (—0·51) | 0·32 | 10 |
| Manorburn Dam | 2,448 | 65·8 | 42·0 | 53·9 | (+3·9) | 75·8 | 1, 2 | 26·0 | 30 | 0·57 | 7 | —1·32 | 0·26 | 9 |
| Dunedin | 240 | 65·3 | 48·5 | 56·9 | +0·9 | 76·5 | 17 | 38·9 | 30 | 1·54 | 10 | —1·36 | 0·65 | 10 |
| Invercargill | 12 | 64·5 | 47·7 | 56·1 | +1·6 | 74·0 | 16 | 35·0 | 22 | 1·69 | 10 | —2·20 | 0·55 | 10 |
NOTE.—At stations where departures from normal are in parentheses the record has been maintained for less than ten years in the case of temperatures and for less than twenty years in the case of rainfall, and the normals are partly interpolated.
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VUW Te Waharoa —
NZ Gazette 1939, No 27
NZLII —
NZ Gazette 1939, No 27
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Meteorological Observations for March 1939
(continued from previous page)
🏗️ Infrastructure & Public WorksWeather, Temperature, Rainfall, Wind, Sunshine, Wellington
- Edward Kidson, Director