364
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
[No. 16

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued
Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for February, 1946—continued

LATE RETURNS

NOTE.—At stations where departures from normal are in parentheses the record has been maintained for less than ten years in the case of temperatures and for less than twenty years in the case of rainfall and the normals are partly interpolated.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR FEBRUARY, 1946

General.—February was a sunny month with dry weather over most of New Zealand. As in January, disturbances had little effect except in the more southern districts. The unusual persistence of such dry conditions have led to widespread scrub and forest fires over the North Island. In the Auckland and Hawke’s Bay Provinces, which are those most severely affected by the drought, the provision of fodder for stock during the autumn and winter is a serious problem. In the South Island favourable harvesting weather has been experienced, although in Southland and Otago conditions were often very changeable.

Rainfall.—No measurable rain fell at Taupo and between Hastings and Waipukurau, and the amounts received at most places in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, and the Wairarapa were of negligible value. Totals were about a third the average in Western Taranaki and the Manawatu, while they were nearer normal about the Tararuas. The low country of Nelson, Marlborough, North and Mid-Canterbury received only from about a quarter to half the usual rain. Farther south deficiencies were less marked, and there were some excesses near Foveaux Strait. In and west of the Southern Alps rainfall was appreciably above average, being double that amount at Otira.

In most of Auckland and Hawke’s Bay the period from October to February has been the driest of any four consecutive months since 1914–15, which was a notable dry period. At several places, chiefly in Central Hawke’s Bay, one has to go back many more years to find a spell of similar length with lighter rainfall. The past four months at Poukawa in that district have experienced only 0·71 in. of rain.

Temperatures.—There were many cold nights, but these were usually compensated by the warmth of the days. For the whole month mean temperatures were slightly below normal in western districts from New Plymouth southward, but were warmer elsewhere. In the centre of the North Island some stations were 2° F. above normal.

Sunshine.—While sunshine values were near normal in Westland, Otago, and Southland, they were appreciably better elsewhere. Wellington and Palmerston North, with surpluses of sixty-one and sixty-six hours respectively, experienced a record duration for February.

Weather Sequence.—As a depression was passing to the south of Stewart Island warm north-westerly conditions prevailed, with rain in the south-west. A cool south-westerly change brought only a few showers as it spread northward during the 1st and 2nd. A small anticyclonic cell followed and passed eastward on the 3rd as another depression in the series approached southern New Zealand. Rain became heavy in western districts of the South Island, scattered falls extending to Otago and Taranaki. Strong north-westerlies predominated, pressure not rising greatly in the south until the 5th. By the 6th an anticyclone from the west was covering New Zealand, with fine weather generally.

A cold front with a sharp pressure trough swept over the country during the 9th, bringing a change to fresh south-westerlies and temporarily cooler temperatures. Scattered showers occurred south of Christchurch, but farther north showers were insignificant. A new anticyclone built up behind and the weather was soon fine again. As the centre of this system shifted to the east of the North Island it slowed up and conditions continued fine and warm, apart from occasional rain in south-western districts between the 11th and the 13th. The frontal system responsible then weakened, and a small anticyclonic cell moved east from the South Island on the 14th.

After a depression passed to the south of the Dominion a cold front advanced on the 15th. Rain fell in western districts of the South Island and was heavy in places. A slight depression on this front gave it a slow passage across central New Zealand, and some appreciable rainfalls occurred in that region. Farther north, where it moved more rapidly, the rainfall was negligible. During the afternoon of the 17th there were some brief but vigorous thunderstorms, with hail in eastern areas of the South Island. A secondary cold front on the 18th travelling rapidly brought a change to fresh southerlies with cold and showery conditions in Southland and Otago, but showers became increasingly more isolated farther northward.

An anticyclone soon advanced and covered the South Island on the 20th, by which time the weather was settled and cool, with some light frosts. This anticyclone collapsed on the 22nd, there being a deep depression passing near Chatham Islands and a shallow one in the northern Tasman Sea with a weak trough extending over the Auckland region. The latter gave some local drizzle or rain in that province, but otherwise the weather remained fair, and an anticyclone from the south-west spread over the Dominion on the 24th. During the 27th this system passed to the east, and, with the approach of a deep trough, north-westerlies strengthened. A band of general rain accompanied its gradual advance over the South Island.

R. G. SIMMERS, Acting-Director.

RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF THE RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND AS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY, 11TH MARCH, 1946

• Expressed in New Zealand currency.

Proportion of reserve (No. 7 less No. 5) to notes and other demand liabilities, 65·139 per cent.

W. R. EGGERS, Chief Accountant.