652 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 24

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of February, 1941. Observations at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 65°·1; and at 3 ft., 64°. Number of rain days, 7. Total rainfall, 119 per cent. above normal. Sunshine, 56 per cent. of the possible. There were four days without any bright sunshine being recorded. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 54°·2; mean vapour pressure, 14·2 mb.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTE.—Gales occurred on three occasions, the one on the 4th being very boisterous. The three days’ heavy rain about the middle of the month caused some flooding and washouts.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR FEBRUARY, 1941.

General Notes.—February was a sunny month with normal temperatures. Over most of the North Island it was dry with only light winds, but from the Wellington Province southward it was frequently windy, and, although rain was heavy in the central region, fine days predominated. The main harvesting has been completed under favourable conditions, but in the low-rainfall areas, as well as in others where drying winds have been persistent, pastures have become brown and are at a standstill. At present the prospects for green and root crops for winter feed are not very bright. The diamond-back moth is reported to be damaging turnip and rape crops, and white butterflies are increasingly in evidence.

Rainfall.—Largely as a result of the three days of heavy rain towards the middle of the month rainfall totals for the area from the Manawatu Gorge south to Hokitika and Christchurch were in excess of normal, in several cases by more than 100 per cent. The remainder of the west coast of the South Island was rather wetter than usual, but over the rest of New Zealand the month was very dry. Totals were under half the average in the Auckland and Hawke’s Bay provinces, as well as in eastern and northern Otago, where the position has become acute. The greatest deficiencies were experienced between Napier and East Cape.

Temperatures did not depart appreciably from normal, but the tendency was towards mildness, especially in eastern districts. A few light frosts occurring in inland districts caused practically no damage. Some snow fell on the higher levels in the south about the 12th.

Sunshine.—Except in Westland sunshine figures exceeded average values, many eastern and northern stations having the equivalent of an hour a day more than usual.

Weather Sequence.—While pressure remained high in the north a disturbance in the south caused an early deterioration. Late on the 1st thunderstorms gave rise to flooding in Southland, then followed heavy rain in the Alps and Westland for two days, and in the Tararua ranges on the 4th. At this time there were north-westerly gales in the central districts, but a cool south-westerly change advanced with the disturbance and most parts of the country received some showers.

An anticyclone soon followed, and after a few clearing showers the weather became fine and milder. On the night of the 8th a tropical cyclone travelling rapidly southward from the vicinity of Lord Howe Island passed over Otago. Conditions were stormy in western districts with widespread rain, and strong north-westerly gales were experienced about and south of Wellington Province and were later replaced by strong southerly winds which brought scattered rain to eastern districts. Thereafter pressure rose and fine weather prevailed.

Another disturbance reaching the South Island on the 11th was followed by a southerly change with considerable rain. The heaviest falls were in Westland, Nelson, Marlborough, and Wellington provinces during the period 12th to 14th, there being slips and flooded rivers.

Anticyclonic conditions were restored during the 15th and continued until the 20th, when the next depression arrived in the south. With the resultant southerly change showers were very scattered and of brief duration, bright weather soon prevailing again. While moderate rain fell in Westland and over the northern portion of the North Island the passage of another disturbance on the 26th and 27th gave only isolated falls in other districts. Thereafter an anticyclone extended from the Tasman Sea on to the South Island, and during the 28th the weather became settled generally.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.