2368

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 99

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of August, 1940. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 47·4°; and at 3 ft., 48·0°. Number of rain days, 15. Total rainfall, 14 per cent. below normal. Sunshine, 37 per cent. of the possible; nine days without any bright sunshine recorded. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 43·7°; mean vapour pressure, 0·284 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.

NOTE.—Fog occurred on the afternoon and evening of the 8th. Four frosts were experienced, but none was severe. Fresh snow fell on the Orongorongos on the 23rd–24th, and the Tararuas received a fresh coating on the same day, but by the end of the month it had almost disappeared.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR AUGUST, 1940.

General Notes.—The month of August completes a remarkably good winter during which there was unusually little storm activity. The month was on the mild side and, for the most of New Zealand, a dry one, but north-easterly winds and weather have given some steady soaking rains in eastern regions of the North Island. Conditions have been ideal for calving and lambing, which have been proceeding with the minimum of trouble. Agricultural work is well up to schedule, while the feed situation is most satisfactory with good spring growth in almost all districts. As in the previous month domestic-water shortage has been giving concern in Southland, and the persistent dry conditions in the south-east of the South Island will become harmful if they continue much longer.

Rainfall.—Over the greater part of the country there was a deficit, but a surplus was recorded in eastern sections of the North Island from the Coromandel Peninsula southwards, with the totals in the Gisborne – East Cape area in considerable excess. Districts where the rainfall failed to reach half the normal include some western portions of the Auckland Peninsula, Northern Taranaki, and the Manawatu in the North Island, as well as Marlborough and most of the country between Ashburton and Balclutha in the South.

Temperatures were fairly uniform throughout the month and mean values showed departures generally of the order of 1° or 2° above normal. As in July much less snow is lying on the ranges than is usual at this season. Frosts were fairly frequent, particularly in the first half of the month, but they were not severe.

Sunshine.—The duration of bright sunshine registered was well below average in Nelson and Marlborough as well as in the southern and eastern portions of the North Island. On the other hand, Auckland and Dunedin had a substantial excess above the normal amount.

Weather Sequence.—Conditions at first were rather unsettled in central districts, but an intense anticyclone became centred immediately east of the South Island and covered the Dominion from the 2nd to the 5th, so that fine weather with frosty nights prevailed, although occasional showers were slow in clearing in the East Cape region. A depression passed well to the south of New Zealand while another, advancing across the North Tasman Sea, caused north-easterly to northerly winds to freshen from Nelson and Marlborough northwards and rain to extend from the Auckland Peninsula. The latter depression remained near the North Island from the 8th to the 13th, while pressure was high to the east, with the result that north-easterlies persisted and gave a very wet spell in the districts from Hawke’s Bay to the Bay of Plenty; occasional lighter falls were experienced elsewhere but chiefly in eastern parts of the North Island.

Pressure, which meanwhile had risen in the south, fell on the 13th due to the approach of an extensive disturbance, and the next day a southerly change, accompanied by frequent showers and some snow, spread over most of the country. Low pressure near Chatham Islands and high over Australia maintained south-westerly winds until the 20th, the weather being changeable at times in most districts. Then barometers rose in the north and a series of weak depressions passed in the south, giving scattered rain in the west. On the 23rd winds became more definitely south-westerly again with rain widespread but mainly light except in the far south-west and about Cook Strait. At the same time some snow fell in the high country.