1192

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

[No. 42

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued

Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for June 1953—continued

LATE RETURNS

Oratia, Henderson, May 1953 | 138 | 62·7 | 48·7 | 55·7 | (+1·7) | 69·9 | 2 | 33·9 | 30 | 10·24 | 18 | (+3·44) | 2·47 | 1 | ...

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 rain-gauge has been changed, the normals are partly interpolated.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE 1953

General—For the greater part of the country June was dull and wet though comparatively mild. In western and southern districts of the South Island, however, it was much sunnier and rather frosty. The frequent rain and lack of sunshine have adversely affected sheep in the North Island, but on the whole stock were reported to be wintering reasonably well.

Rainfall—Rainfall was appreciably above normal in Marlborough and the Waimea Valley, and over the North Island with the exception of the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts, Bay of Plenty, and north of Whangarei. There was a substantial surplus east of the main ranges between Kaikoura and East Cape; in parts of Gisborne and the Wairarapa there has not been a wetter June recorded in the last thirty years. Extensive flooding occurred throughout this area on the 10th and to a lesser extent on the 18th. Slips and washouts interrupted road and rail communications. Over the remainder of the South Island rainfall was appreciably below normal, especially in South Canterbury and North Otago.

Temperatures—Over the North Island and in northern and western districts of the South Island mean temperatures were above normal, mostly by about 1°F., but reaching 2°F. in the north. In Southland and Central Otago they were appreciably below normal, mainly due to an excess of clear frosty nights. After a cold southerly change on the 25th there were moderate snowfalls on the high country of both Islands and light falls down to sea-level in the south.

Sunshine—Apart from a slight excess in Westland, Southland, and parts of Otago sunshine was below normal. The greater part of the North Island south of Auckland, and also Nelson, had a deficiency equivalent to more than an hour a day, while new record low values for June were created at Wellington, Wanganui, and Palmerston North.

Weather Sequence—The month opened with several days of unsettled weather except in districts east of the main ranges. On the 6th the rain spread eastward as a cold front became stationary south of Auckland. On the 7th a ridge of high pressure brought a clearance to the South Island, but a depression formed to the west of Northland and moved south-eastward. The combination of strong easterly winds with an intense slow moving warm front caused heavy rain over a wide area. Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, and eastern districts of the North Island and Marlborough were affected in turn from the 8th to the 10th. Serious flooding was reported in parts of Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough, but the district which suffered most was Lower Wairarapa, where thousands of acres were under water.

With the departure of the depression to the south-east there was a temporary clearance in eastern districts on the 12th. A disturbance to the south of the country was, however, already affecting all western districts. A depression developed near Northland on the 14th and moved south-eastwards, followed by a second depression. The weather cleared on the West Coast, but elsewhere became unsettled for several days. In the areas between East Cape and Kaikoura rain was again heavy from the 17th to the 20th. In Gisborne and northern Hawke’s Bay there was some flooding, while in the Wairarapa numerous roads were blocked by slips.

On the 21st and 22nd the North Island experienced a temporary improvement in weather, while the West Coast received some rain as westerly conditions again prevailed in the south. A complex depression formed over the eastern Tasman Sea, and rain became general as it moved across the South Island on the 23rd and 24th; heaviest falls were experienced about Cook Strait. A cold southerly current swept over the whole country on the 25th and 26th, bringing snow to most of Otago and Southland and to comparatively low levels on the ranges of both Islands. Auckland and Northland reported unusually violent thunderstorms.

On the 26th and 27th the weather cleared in Westland and about Cook Strait, but elsewhere it remained rather showery. A weak cold front which moved north-eastward over the country in the last three days of the month was associated with a period of light rain in most districts.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)