FEB. 25.] 237

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

Government Meteorological Observatory.

METEOROLOGICAL Observations at Kelburn, Wellington, for the Month of January, 1943. Observations taken at 9 a.m.
Altitude of Observatory, 415 ft.

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 65·4°; and at 3 ft., 63·0°. Number of rain days, 7. The total rainfall was 1 per cent. below normal.
Total bright sunshine, 53 per cent. of the possible. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m., 54·2°; mean vapour pressure, 14·2 mb.

Note.—On the 1st and 12th fogs occurred, and on the afternoon of the 30th a north-west gale was experienced.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

Gale (force 8 or more). .. | Forces 4 to 7. | 10 | 6½ | 2 | 2 | 2½ | 6½ | 2 | .. | 8½ | 1 |
N. | N.E. | E. | S.E. | S. | S.W. | W. | N.W. | Calm.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JANUARY, 1943.

General Notes.—January was a dry month with some cloudy, humid spells. Useful rains gave a measure of relief to the parched conditions prevailing in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, but falls were lighter in the Wairarapa and still less effective in Marlborough. The milk yield has been on the decline. There have been intervals of excellent harvesting weather. Vegetable and fruit crops have done very well and cereal crops are satisfactory. The dryness has adversely affected many of the supplementary root crops, especially those recently planted.

Rainfall.—In most districts rainfall was appreciably below normal. The month was particularly dry in Marlborough. There were substantial deficiencies in North Auckland. Between East Cape and Castlepoint the January averages were exceeded at the majority of places. Average values were reached also locally near Christchurch.

Temperatures.—With very few exceptions mean temperatures for the month differed by less than 1° F. from their normals. The only extremes of special interest were the high temperatures prevailing in eastern districts on the 30th, when, for example, Napier had a maximum of 96·5° F. and Blenheim 94·6° F.

Sunshine.—New Plymouth, Wellington, and Blenheim received slightly more than average sunshine, but at most other places there were deficiencies, which were greatest in the Bay of Plenty area.

Weather Sequence.—The month opened with cold southerlies, but as an anticyclone from the south covered New Zealand on the 3rd and 4th, showers persisted awhile on the east coast, but the weather became fine generally with a rapid rise in temperature. A trough travelled up the country on the 5th and 6th, and a depression from the north passed near East Cape. Fresh southerlies prevailed and the weather was showery in the east with scattered rain, which was fairly heavy in the Gisborne-Napier region. Pressure rose generally on the 7th, the weather becoming fair and warm.

Between the 9th and 13th a slow-moving trough advanced from the south, and a depression moved down the east coast of the North Island to Chatham Islands. The weather was cloudy and warm with scattered rain. Falls were heavy at first about the southern Sounds, and on the 11th moderately heavy rain occurred near East Cape and over the Central Provinces on the 12th. On the 12th and 13th the centre to the east deepened and cooler southerlies prevailed.

Conditions were cloudy and milder on the 14th and 15th, and a disturbance crossing the North Island on the 16th gave scattered rain and increased humidity. A high-pressure wedge passed over central New Zealand on the 17th with fine weather, but rather misty conditions persisted in the north.

Between the 18th and 20th a depression moved from the west; fresh to strong winds from a westerly quarter prevailed. Rain developed in the Taranaki area, and some heavy falls occurred about and west of the Alps. Later, brief showers extended to the east, but conditions were improving as an anticyclone covered northern New Zealand between the 21st and 23rd. On the later date a trough slowly advancing from the south brought rain to the south-west. With a centre developing in the west, the weather became more generally unsettled on the 24th with considerable drizzle and rain, especially in central areas.

On the 26th an anticyclone over the northern Tasman Sea intensified, and a series of rapidly moving westerly depressions passed in the south. Winds fluctuated between north-west and south-west, with temperatures very warm at times in eastern and northern areas. The depression on the 30th had a very deep trough with north-westerly gales ahead and some strong southerlies, in southern districts, behind it. Throughout the series there was surprisingly little rain even in the exposed areas.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.