1252

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

[No. 50

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE-continued
Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for June 1952-continued

LATE RETURNS

Rudstone, Methven, May 1,217 57.2 38.7 48.0 +0.9 70.0 18 27.9 27 3.08 16 -0.14 0.83 25 130.4 1952
Adair, May 1952 200 56.5 39.8 48.2 (+0.9) 77.6 7 28.9 16 1.17 12 (-0.42) 0.40 17 ..
Cromwell, May 1952 720 53.0 34.0 43.5 (-0.3) 70.7 7 19.4 27 0.96 6 (-0.25) 0.52 29 ..

NOTE.—At stations where departures from normal are in parentheses, the temperature record has been maintained for less than ten years, the rainfall record for less than twenty years. Rainfall normals have been revised and now refer to the standard period 1921-1950. Where observations are not available for the whole period, or where the site of the raingauge has been changed, the normals are partly interpolated.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE 1952

General.--June was a dull stormy month with frequent rain. An unusual number of depressions moved rapidly south-eastwards across the Dominion, passing mostly over or to the north of Cook Strait until near the end of the month when the tracks lay much farther to the south. In spite of the high rainfall, little flooding was reported, and that only local and of a minor nature. Over most of the North Island, little farming work was possible and stock were adversely affected by the waterlogged ground and lack of sunshine. By contrast, farmers in Hawke's Bay complained about lack of moisture in the soil. In the South Island stock were reported to be wintering well.

Rainfall.--Rainfall was substantially above normal over the greater part of the country. In the region from North Taranaki to the Waikato totals generally were about two and a half times the normal; most places experienced rain on at least twenty-four days of the month.

From the east coast of both islands in towards the foothills there was a slight deficiency. In coastal districts of the Gisborne area and Hawke's Bay, however, totals were less than half the normal.

During widespread thunderstorm activity on the 1st, several small tornadoes were reported from Northland. One crossed the Kaipara district causing some local damage to farm buildings.

Temperatures.--From Nelson and Marlborough northwards mean temperatures were above normal, the greatest departure being about 2° F. over the Auckland Province. In Otago and Southland temperatures were 1° to 2° F. below normal. An early light snowfall reported from Canterbury southwards on the 17th was followed by severe frosts on the next three nights.

Sunshine.--The duration of bright sunshine was below normal except for a small surplus on the east coast of the North Island and about Wellington. In most places the deficiency was equivalent to half an hour a day, but in South Auckland and North Taranaki totals were lower than any previously recorded in that area. In Auckland City it was the third successive month of record low sunshine.

Weather Sequence.--From the start, barometers were very low over New Zealand and remained so until the 10th. During this period the weather was very stormy, with rain falling every day over most of the country. On the Canterbury Plains and in parts of Hawke's Bay, however, rainfalls were lighter and less frequent.

The first storm-centre passed across the Cook Strait area on the night of the 1st, causing widespread thunderstorm activity over the North Island. About thirty-six hours later a second depression moved south-eastwards across the centre of the North Island. Another and even deeper depression passed between the two islands on the night of the 4th.

On the 7th a ridge of high pressure developed in the north, but pressures remained very low to the south as a series of westerly depressions passed across New Zealand. Strong westerlies predominated over the North Island, increasing at times to gale force.

After the passage of another depression across the centre of the country on the night of the 10th, barometers began to rise with the advance of an intense anticyclone across the South Tasman Sea. Following a change to southerlies, temperatures became very cold and snow fell to low levels in the south. There was a clearance in Westland on the 10th and two days later fair weather began to spread eastwards and northwards. In the north the improvement was delayed by the development of a small secondary depression which crossed Northland from the south-west on the 13th.

The anticyclone became much elongated in a north-easterly direction, and on the 16th it divided into two high-pressure cells centred respectively near Northland and over the South Tasman. With the deepening of an extensive depression far to the south-east and the approach of a complex depression from the Tasman Sea, winds turned south-easterly and became strong for a time about and south of Cook Strait. Rain was widespread over the North Island on the 17th during the passage of a low-pressure centre, and conditions remained very unsettled over the Auckland Province where a trough became stationary. Elsewhere a three-day spell of fine but cold weather developed on the 18th as the southern anticyclonic cell extended on to the South Island. Meanwhile the main centre of the Tasman depression had advanced slowly westwards, and on the 21st passed centrally across the Dominion bringing general rain, except in the south.

A temporary improvement occurred in the central provinces on the 23rd, but another depression advancing from the north-west passed rapidly across Northland on the same day. The main zone of meteorological activity then shifted southwards, and for the remainder of the month the tracks of depressions lay over or to the south of Southland.

The cold front associated with an exceptionally deep depression centred far to the south crossed the Dominion on the 25th preceded by north-westerly gales and accompanied by violent thunderstorms, especially in western districts. There was a similar visitation about thirty-six hours later though the depression on that occasion passed much closer to Southland.

A temporary change to fresh southerlies on the 28th brought a period of cold, showery weather and some hail. North-westerlies then predominated until the end of the month while two wave depressions moved rapidly eastwards across the South Island producing further rain except in a few sheltered east coast districts.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

(N.Z.M.O. 107)