Oct. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3291

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 50·9°; and at 3 ft., 49·8°. Number of rain days, 15. Total rainfall, 4·68 in., being 36 per cent. above normal. Sunshine, 49 per cent. of the possible. There were three days without any bright sunshine being recorded. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 44·0°; mean vapour pressure, 9·7 mb.

NOTE.—On the 26th a north-west gale was experienced, and the 14th was a very squally day. Hail fell on the 7th, and lightning was observed on the evening of the 26th. Only one frost was recorded.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR SEPTEMBER, 1941.

General Notes.—Over most of New Zealand September was sunny and rather dry. Late frosts have been numerous, causing damage to early vegetable and fruit crops, besides retarding pasture-growth which, however, gradually became vigorous. Cereal crops are showing good progress. Towards the end of the month conditions were much more favourable for outdoor activity, and caused little delay to the belated spring sowings. On the whole, lambing percentages appear to have been satisfactory, the areas where new lambs succumbed to the effects of wet and cold being fairly localized. Drier weather proved much more beneficial to stock.

Rainfall.—While Taranaki and South-west Wellington, together with parts of Nelson and Marlborough, received somewhat more rain than usual, precipitation was deficient in most other districts. The falls were particularly light in Hawke’s Bay, where totals were frequently only 20 to 40 per cent. of the average. Rainfall was rather less than half the normal in the Gisborne and Bay of Plenty areas, in the extreme north, and also in Central Otago. There was greater thunderstorm activity than for several months past.

Temperatures.—Mean temperature deviations from normality were not very significant, but it may be noted that eastern and far southern districts showed a tendency towards small positive departures. Cold spells occurred at intervals, with some snow on the higher country and fairly widespread frosts. A sharp frost on the 29th had very unwelcome effects upon many North Island gardens and orchards.

Sunshine.—There was more than the normal duration of bright sunshine, stations with an equivalent of an additional hour per day included Auckland and most stations between Napier and Timaru.

Weather Sequence.—Conditions were fair at first, but as an anticyclone passed to the east a low-pressure trough reached New Zealand on the 4th, and some heavy rain extended from the far south-west up to Taranaki. After a brief improvement a deep depression crossed the country during the night of the 6th, giving stormy weather, gale force being reached in Taranaki and Nelson, while there was rain of considerable intensity, especially in the Central Provinces. Temperatures became cold and snow fell on the ranges.

A weak anticyclone covered New Zealand on the 9th and intensified, the weather being fine with widespread frosts. This system was replaced during the 12th by an extensive depression which brought unsettled conditions with much heavy rain, particularly in western districts of both Islands. As the depression moved away on the 14th, south-westerlies became predominant and the weather improved.

For a period thereafter, an extensive anticyclone covered most of the Dominion. Westerly winds gradually predominated, with fair weather to the east of the ranges and only occasional light rain elsewhere; but a shallow disturbance as it travelled up from the south on the 18th and 19th gave a brief period of rain in most areas. By the 20th the weather was mainly fair again.

Pressure then remained fairly high over northern New Zealand and winds were mainly north-westerly, being strong at times in central districts. A series of westerly depressions brought periods of rain, as usual, chiefly to western areas, but those which passed on the 26th and 27th gave more widespread showers and, in several localities thunderstorms with hail. Finally, southerlies prevailed and, under the influence of a weak anticyclone, the weather underwent a rapid improvement although the nights were frosty. A shallow trough on the 30th brought rain to districts from Taranaki southward.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.