CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued
Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for February 1953—continued

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 1921–50. 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 FEBRUARY 1953

General.—The general pattern established in the three previous months of cloudy and rather cool conditions persisted. Over the greater part of New Zealand, however, February proved to be considerably drier than the three previous months. In Westland, comparatively warm and sunny weather was again reported, but the rain which fell in that province was welcome, ending a prolonged dry spell in some areas and causing better growth.

Dairy production was falling off in many districts. Cattle were in good condition, but the excess moisture underfoot was causing foot-rot in sheep in many eastern districts. It was a poor season for fattening lambs on account of the excessive growth of grass. In the northern half of the North Island blight continued to affect potato and tomato crops seriously.

Rainfall.—Rainfall was below normal over the greater part of the country, and was less than half the average in southern Northland, Waikato, South Westland, and the Southern Lakes district. A small excess was recorded in western Taranaki, Wellington, and Buller. A moderate excess in the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts and near Wellington City was due to a rather high rainfall on the 12th associated with the passage across the country in this area of a deep depression. In Manawatu and Wairarapa the rain was associated with considerable thunderstorm activity and some local flooding occurred.

A moderate excess was also recorded in the Nelson-Motueka-Takaka area; here the greater part of the rain fell from the 11th to the 13th, and serious flooding was reported in the Motueka River and its tributaries on the 12th.

Temperature.—The pattern of temperature departures was very similar to that of January, but the departures from normal were not as large as in that month. Temperatures were slightly above normal in Westland, but below normal in all other districts. In North Canterbury, Wairarapa, and near Gisborne, temperatures were more than 2° F. below normal.

Sunshine.—As in previous months, sunshine was above normal in Westland; slight surpluses being also recorded in South Canterbury and parts of Central Otago. Elsewhere sunshine was below normal, and the largest deficits were recorded between North Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay. Wellington City’s sunshine reached a record low value—more than two hours a day below average.

Weather Sequence.—A depression which formed east of Tasmania moved over the central districts of New Zealand at the end of January. The cold front of this depression brought light to moderate rain on the 1st over western and northern districts of the North Island, and over North Westland and Buller, with scattered falls elsewhere. In the ridge of high pressure behind the cold front the weather cleared rapidly on the 2nd.

A deterioration of weather occurred again with a cold front which passed on to Southland from the south on the 3rd and moved slowly northward until it became very weak

over the North Island on the 4th; rain was reported as far north as East Cape in eastern districts, and as far north as Hokitika in western districts.

Behind the front an anticyclone moved on to the country and brought two days of settled weather to all districts. On the 7th, however, a depression near Norfolk Island moved slowly southward, and rain fell on the 7th and 8th in all districts except Canterbury and North and Central Otago. The depression became stationary on the 9th to the north-east of North Cape, and for two days drizzle and light rain were reported from northern and western districts of both islands.

A deeper depression formed near Lord Howe Island early on the 10th and moved south-eastwards, deepening, and crossing the country in the Manawatu-Wairarapa area on the 12th. Rain became general over the whole country, except in Central Otago and parts of South Westland and Fiordland. Southerly winds freshened behind the depression as it moved slowly eastward, and showers persisted in some eastern districts up to the 15th. On this day westerly conditions brought light rain to Southland, and on the 16th rain extended to Westland, Manawatu, and the National Park district, with scattered light falls elsewhere.

On the 17th a weak ridge of high pressure brought fair weather to all districts except Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne. During the 18th, however, a deep depression developed rapidly off the Canterbury coast, and general light or moderate rain resulted over the whole country. As the depression deepened and moved slowly eastwards, winds from a southerly quarter became general and temperatures became considerably colder. Winds of gale force were reported from Canterbury, Marlborough, and Wellington. A clearance occurred in the Westland and Auckland Provinces on the 19th, but showers persisted in other districts, and on the 20th showers were still reported from many eastern districts north of Christchurch. By the 21st, however, a ridge of high pressure from an anticyclone over the Tasman Sea brought a welcome spell of four days of fair and milder weather to the greater part of the country.

During the latter part of this period, a series of westerly depressions was passing far to the south and causing scattered light rain in parts of Southland. On the 25th a depression of this series formed off the Southland coast, and the associated cold front moved north-eastwards over the country. Some damage was done by lightning in Invercargill, and damage was reported in Dunedin from a violent squall. General rain was reported over the South Island, and in southern and western districts of the North Island. By the 27th a clearance had occurred except in some eastern districts, and on the 28th an anticyclone centred to the east brought fair weather to the greater part of the country. In the Bay of Plenty, however, the moist northerly winds brought considerable rain; while in eastern Southland and coastal Otago a small local depression caused unsettled weather.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.
(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107.)