370
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 19

Government Meteorological Observatory.

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

Mean earth temperature at 1 ft., 65·4°; and at 3 ft., 63·9°. Number of rain days, 17. Total rainfall, 48 per cent. above normal. Sunshine was very deficient, being only 40 per cent. of the possible, and second lowest February total since records commenced. Mean dew-point at 9 a.m. 55·7°; mean vapour pressure, 14·9 mb.

NOTE.—This was the dullest February since 1932. Gales were recorded on three occasions and fogs on four. A thunderstorm occurred in the early hours of the 16th.

DIRECTION OF WIND.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR FEBRUARY, 1943.

General Notes.—February was a dull month with little settled weather. Except in northern districts rains and strong winds were frequent, so that conditions were difficult for harvesting. Growth has been mainly good, especially for pasture and root crops, but soaking rains are required in Auckland and in most of the east coast districts of the North Island. The dairy yield is declining, particularly in Auckland. All stock are well, but lambs have not fattened as well as usual.

Rainfall.—Totals were well above average in Taranaki, western Wellington, Nelson, and Westland. Mangahao Dam and Otira had more than 30 inches of rainfall. Over three times the normal falls were received in the vicinity of Mount Egmont and of the northern Tararuas, and also in western Nelson. In a number of cases this is a new February record for wetness. Rainfall was generally deficient over the north-eastern half of the North Island, markedly so along the east coast north of Tauranga. Falls were light also in northern Hawke’s Bay, the southern Wairarapa, and from Timaru southwards almost to Dunedin. In the remaining districts mostly moderate surpluses were experienced.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were rather cool in Taranaki and the South Island with the exception of most of Canterbury, the departures being greatest in the more westerly and southerly localities. Elsewhere temperatures were milder than average but, apart from Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, only by small margins. A few light frosts occurred on the 10th and isolated ones again on the 27th.

Sunshine.—Except in the extreme north sunshine values were poorer than usual. Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, and Westland Provinces suffered most in this respect. Very few February months have had less sunshine, and for some stations this year’s values became new low records.

Weather Sequence.—Throughout the early days of the month pressure remained high to the north and north-east of New Zealand. A deep westerly depression centred to the south passed on the 1st, giving north-westerly gales and considerable rain in and west of the Alps. Strong westerly or south-westerly winds followed, but on the 3rd, with a wedge of high pressure over the country, fairer though cooler weather prevailed.

From the 4th to the 7th a slow-moving disturbance was over the South Island. Cloudy, humid weather with extensive mist accompanied the north-westerly winds. Occasional drizzle fell in the west, but some heavy rain fell in in the ranges. High floods occurred in the Wairarapa rivers from the rains in the Tararu watershed. After the passage of a disturbance on the 8th the weather became clearer, but the south-westerlies following a secondary disturbance on the 9th brought considerably colder temperatures. Passing showers were experienced, in Otago and Southland particularly, and some snow fell on the southern ranges.

On the 11th a disturbance which crossed rapidly from the west gave a period of fairly widespread rain, heaviest in the southern high country. Winds from a westerly quarter were strong at times, but the weather improved and temperatures became milder.

As disturbances associated with a deep depression in the southern Tasman Sea crossed New Zealand on the 15th and 16th, there were north-westerly gales in central districts and fairly general rain, heaviest this time in Nelson, Wellington, and Taranaki. Little rain fell east of the Alps. An anticyclone south-east of Chathams intensified on the 18th and persisted in that region for a week. The deep depression previously mentioned had moved on to Otago from the south, but filled up on the 18th. Meanwhile, a depression which had been developing north of East Cape began to cross New Zealand and deepen, so that rain fell over most of the North Island and extended to the greater part of the South.

A depression from the Tasman Sea gave unsettled weather with moderate rain in many districts, the centre filling up off Westland, leaving a shallow disturbance along the coast to the north. The moderate north-easterlies then prevailing gave cloudy, humid weather, with mist and drizzle in the west and later fog in the east. On the 24th a trough from the west crossed New Zealand, with rain chiefly in districts from Taranaki southwards. Disturbances developed in the trough, giving scattered rain in the Gisborne area on the 25th and also in eastern districts to the south.

On the 26th conditions were more settled, with an anticyclone over the Central Tasman extending on to the Dominion. A disturbance advancing from the south on the 28th gave rain in Westland and Southland, and the south-westerly change brought some thunderstorms to the east coast of the South Island.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.