2822 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 105

Government Meteorological Observations.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of October, 1942. Observations taken at 9 a.m.
Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 57.6°; and at 3 ft., 55.0°. Number of rain days, 12. The total rainfall was 29 per cent. below normal.
Total bright sunshine was 49 per cent. of the possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m. was 48.9°; and mean vapour pressure, 11.7 mb.

NOTE.—Hail occurred on the 12th and 26th for brief periods. A strong north-west gale was experienced on the 23rd.

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. |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| .. | 13 | 11 | 2 | .. | 2 | 5 | .. | .. | 10 | .. |

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR OCTOBER, 1942.

General Notes.—October was a mild month with fairly favourable weather. Rainfall over much of the South Island gave the ground a thorough soaking, to the great benefit of crops and pastures. In the North growth is barely up to normal, especially in the Hawke's Bay area, where winds have accentuated the dry conditions persisting during the last two months. Young stock is thriving well. There were, however, some lamb losses in Central Otago during the snowfall on the 23rd.

Rainfall.—On the whole, the North Island was drier and the South Island wetter than normal. There were, however, a few excesses in the Auckland Peninsula, appreciably only in the Opotiki district. Deficiencies south of a line extending from Hawera to Gisborne were considerable, with many totals in central and southern Hawke's Bay well under 1 in. The lower country from Banks Peninsula northwards received less rainfall than usual, but in the central areas of the South Island there were many heavy falls. There was some flooding in South Canterbury and Westland resulting from the rains of the 23rd. In the Foveaux Strait region the totals were slightly below average.

Temperature.—For the fourth successive month mean temperatures were above normal, this feature being most marked in the centre of the North Island. There were very few frosts. Snow showers occurred in the ranges about the 12th, and a steady fall of snow was experienced in Central Otago on the 23rd.

Sunshine.—There was ample sunshine. Totals were locally under normal near Christchurch. The largest surplus values occurred in Auckland, Hawke's Bay, and Marlborough.

Weather Sequence.—Fine anticyclonic weather prevailed at the opening of the month. A low-pressure trough arrived on the 5th with strong north-westerlies ahead, bringing rain to the West Coast and some rather heavy falls to Southland. A brief southerly change affected the South Island on the 6th. With a rise of pressure in the east, winds tended north-easterly causing cloud and scattered drizzle along the east coast. Winds freshened on the 8th in the far north and rain extended over the Auckland Province. After a depression crossed the North Island conditions improved from the west.

From the 10th to the 12th a cold front was crossing New Zealand, south-westerlies prevailing behind it and gradually increasing. There were some heavy showers together with scattered hail in the east and snow on the ranges. By the 13th an intense anticyclone well to the south extended on to Southland, and this system covered New Zealand the following day and fine weather became general. As the anticyclone moved off on the 17th freshening north-easterlies in the far north gave occasional rain, which spread to western and central districts with winds tending north-westerly.

A small anticyclone on the 21st followed a disturbance and produced a brief spell of fine weather. A deep depression formed near Lord Howe Island and became extensive as the centre moved southwards. Warm winds from a northerly quarter reached gale force in many districts, but behind a trough in the far south on the 22nd winds turned to cool southerly. A small centre in the latter disturbance gave heavy rains and flooding in the centre of the South Island. Otira received 21.51 in. for the two days 22nd and 23rd. Also, there were heavy snowfalls in Central Otago. At the same time there were numerous moderately heavy rains in other parts resulting from the major depression.

By the 25th fresh westerlies were prevailing and the weather was showery, but as the centre moved to the south of Chatham Islands the situation became more south-westerly with winds swinging between west and south-west and increasing to gale force at times. The weather was very changeable with showery periods. Some hail fell on the 27th, but the showers became less frequent and the weather less unsettled until the 31st when a high from the west covered New Zealand.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.