1162
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 42

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of March, 1942. Observations taken at 9 a.m.

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 62·2°; and at 3 ft., 61·7°. Number of rain days, 14. Total rainfall was 121 per cent. above normal, being the heaviest March rainfall since 1922. Sunshine was only 43 per cent. of the possible, and was the dullest March since 1924. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m. was 52·4°; mean vapour pressure, 13·2 mb.

NOTE.—The month was remarkable for the number of dull, cool days, and the heavy rainfall on the 10th. Foggy weather was prevalent in the last week.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MARCH, 1942.

General Notes.—There was little settled weather during March, although there was only one very active depression, viz., the cyclone on the 10th. The persistence of damp and mild conditions during the latter portion of the month has favoured excellent autumn growth almost generally, pastures and root crops receiving great benefit. In the Auckland Province previous dry conditions have caused an appreciable falling off in dairy-production. Broken weather made further difficulties for late harvesting, and skies were too dull for ripening fruit. Reports indicate that the linen-flax crops have done very well this season. Stock, except in one or two of the wetter areas, have done excellently.

Rainfall.—Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, and Marlborough all had excessive rainfall, with many totals above double average figures. The Auckland Province had subnormal falls, the driest areas being the Gisborne district, the Hauraki Plains, and the Hokianga-Bay of Islands region. Rainfall was also very light from mid-Canterbury southwards, the deficiencies being most marked about the Timaru-Oamaru vicinity.

Temperatures.—Whereas there was some cool weather at the opening of the month, the conditions towards the end became mild and humid. Mean temperatures were slightly above normal in the Auckland Province and below in most other districts, the departures increasing to 2° Fahrenheit in the far south-west.

Sunshine was well below average over the area between Auckland City and the northern portion of the South Island, totals in Taranaki being some sixty hours under normal. Between Christchurch and Invercargill values came closer to the average or exceeded it slightly.

Weather Sequence.—During the first two days a disturbance crossed New Zealand, strong westerly winds turning to the south-west with showery weather and cold temperatures. Thereafter, with an anticyclone centred over the Tasman Sea, a south-westerly situation persisted, the weather in most districts being predominantly fine. As this anticyclone moved over northern New Zealand and a disturbance approached from the west, central New Zealand experienced strong westerlies on the 6th and 7th and scattered rain fell. There was a brief improvement on the 8th, but during the 9th a cyclone of tropical origin began to travel rapidly from Lord Howe Island towards central New Zealand, which it crossed on the evening of the 10th. Strong squally westerlies were experienced over much of the North Island, but finally southerlies prevailed generally. Near the path of the cyclone there was heavy rain, but towards the extremities of New Zealand falls were more scattered. Conditions moderated as this depression continued rapidly eastward and was replaced by a weak anticyclone. Between the 12th and the 15th a trough of low pressure in the New Zealand area gave considerable cloud and occasional mist and rain. Then the arrival of an intense anticyclone gave two days’ settled weather.

Associated with a complex depression which approached from the Tasman Sea on the 19th there was widespread rain in the high country and western districts. A disturbance remained almost stationary over the North Island where there was extensive mist and occasional drizzle, while in the South Island the weather was predominantly fair to cloudy. On the 23rd the anticyclone which had been over southern New Zealand intensified somewhat and its centre moved to the east of New Zealand. Thereafter, until the end of the month, a north-easterly situation prevailed, conditions being cloudy, mild, and humid with considerable fog or drizzle, but more especially in the North Island. Some heavy rain fell in the far south-west on the final two days of the month.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.