MAY 22.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 1389

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 57·3°; and at 3 ft., 59·6°. Number of rain days, 10. Total rainfall, 26 per cent. below normal. Sunshine, 50 per cent. of the possible. There were three days when no bright sunshine was recorded. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 47·8°; mean vapour pressure, 11·2 mb.

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.
.. | 14 | 6 | 5 | ½ | 1 | 6½ | ½ | 1 | 7½ | 2

NOTE.—Hail occurred on two occasions. On the 23rd a violent southerly squall passed over Wellington and was accompanied by heavy rain, thunder, and hail, which fell to a considerable depth along the eastern side of the harbour.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR APRIL, 1941.

General Notes.—April was fairly dry and cold with frequent southerly winds. The cooler temperatures now prevailing have checked most garden growth. The chief dairying districts report ample feed with pastures still growing slightly, but production is dwindling. Supplementary fodder supplies for the winter are mainly satisfactory, but in some cases turnip and rape crops have not recovered from the effects of moth and insect earlier in the year. Seasonal cultivation and the autumn wheat sowings have suffered few interruptions.

Rainfall.—The totals were below normal over most of the country, the distribution being somewhat erratic on account of the showery nature of the precipitation. Falls were very light in Auckland, northern Taranaki, and the Manawatu, as well as in Nelson, Marlborough, and North Canterbury. On the other hand, moderate excesses occurred in South Canterbury and from Dunedin southwards. Average values were attained in a small district near Taihape and also in a few exposed stations on the eastern coast of Wellington and Hawke’s Bay Provinces.

Temperatures.—In contrast with recent months, mean temperatures were everywhere colder than normal, and while departures were only about one degree in some eastern districts they frequently increased to three or four degrees towards the west. Frosts were fairly numerous, but were not unusually excessive.

Sunshine.—Except in the far south, the duration of bright sunshine equalled or exceeded average values, Nelson and Blenheim having substantial surpluses.

Weather Sequence.—For the first five days westerly depressions gave windy and showery periods, with gales in many districts on the 3rd. After the eastward passage on the 6th and 7th of a low-pressure trough, strong south-westerlies prevailed, rain being widespread, while snow fell in the ranges and down to lower levels in the south.

By the 10th the situation was of the westerly type, north-westerly winds becoming very gusty on the 12th and temperatures were milder. As an intense anticyclone centred near Tasmania extended over the Tasman Sea, a southerly change set in on the 13th, and a secondary disturbance brought stronger winds on the following day. Except in Westland and Auckland the weather was cold and squally with wintry showers. Winds decreased slowly, while conditions improved from the south, the anticyclone which had been centred well to the south being over New Zealand on the 18th. Winds from between west and south-west predominated as several minor disturbances passed, but one of these was accompanied by a cold and squally southerly on the 23rd, after which conditions improved rapidly.

From the 27th onward an anticyclone was centred immediately to the east of the South Island and pressure was relatively high to the south-west, while a depression, that developed near Lord Howe Island, remained almost stationary in the Central Tasman Sea. Over New Zealand easterly winds predominated, cloud and mist increasing, especially in the east and in the far north, where there was occasional drizzle.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

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