2416

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 88

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 47.6°; and at 3 ft., 48.7°. Number of rain days, 11. Total rainfall was 44 per cent. below normal. Sunshine was 49 per cent. of the possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 43.7°; mean vapour pressure, 11.4 mb.

NOTE.—Snow fell on the Orongorongo and Wainui Ranges on the 26th and 27th. Light hail occurred on the 27th during a very cold southerly. Fog was experienced on the 6th.

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 7 3½ .. 2 5½ 1½ ½ 5 6

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR AUGUST, 1942.

General Notes.—Except for frequent rain in Auckland Province, August was a favourable month. Cultivation is well up to schedule, and crops continue to make excellent progress. The feed position has been very good, the general standard of the health of stock being maintained throughout the winter. The very wet conditions prevailing on the 26th and 27th on the east coast of the North Island, however, caused many deaths among newly born lambs.

Rainfall.—Rainfall was in considerable excess over the Auckland Province, while more moderate surpluses were received in Hawke’s Bay. Elsewhere, rainfall was below normal, with largest percentage deficiencies on low levels between Kaikoura and Dunedin.

Temperatures.—As in July, mean temperatures were milder than normal throughout New Zealand. Dull conditions in the north restricted the occurrence of frosts, but in Canterbury and Otago these were very numerous although mainly light. The chief occasion of snowfall was about the 26th, but the amounts were not excessive and were chiefly in the higher hills.

Sunshine.—The southern portion of the Auckland Province had a low sunshine total. Canterbury, on the other hand, enjoyed an appreciable excess above the average. In other districts values were close to normal.

Wind.—On the 23rd a whirlwind, accompanying a thunderstorm, destroyed and removed a shed at Tariki, Taranaki. A small destructive tornado rapidly moving from Ninety-mile Beach through Awanui on the morning of the 26th caused extensive damage in the business area of Kaitaia, and one child was killed.

Weather Sequence.—There was a south-westerly situation at first with mainly fine, though cool, weather, but from the 2nd to the 4th a belt of rain moved up the west coast. With the approach of a depression, north-easterlies freshened on the 5th north of Taranaki, giving rain which extended to central New Zealand. To the south falls were scattered and mainly light. By the 7th winds were south-westerly, giving showers in the extremities of the country, but otherwise fine weather prevailed with some frosts. A wedge of high pressure intensified and was centrally over New Zealand on the 9th.

North-easterly winds soon set in over the northern portion of the North Island, there being a strong gale in the Cape Egmont vicinity, and rain spread from the north and west. On a disturbance which reached East Cape region and retreated slightly, a centre developed rapidly on the 12th and 13th into a vigorous depression which passed over Auckland. Heavy rain fell in the far north, where squally westerlies replaced the strong north-easterlies, while moderate southerlies advanced from the south. Conditions cleared west of the Alps, but drizzle and rain persisted in central New Zealand. Following the departure of the depression the weather improved, although occasional light rain still fell in the North Island.

On the 18th a westerly disturbance commenced its crossing over New Zealand, the precipitation being fairly heavy in the south-west. Conditions were fair on the 20th and 21st, after which a trough associated with a deep depression to south brought a belt of showers. On the 24th a cold front was moving from the south, while a disturbance from near Lord Howe Island began to develop into an extensive cyclonic depression, which became centred near Auckland. Wintry showers occurred in the south, while widespread rain extended from the north. In central and northern New Zealand there were numerous south-easterly gales. Conditions were much improved on the 28th, the weather, however, being slow to clear in the Auckland Province. An anticyclone to the south-east intensified considerably, so that the last two days were mainly fine.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.