2 SEPT.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1405

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—continued
Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for July 1954—continued

LATE RETURN
Gore, June 1954 | 240 | 52·1 | 37·8 | 45·0 | (+4·4) | 65·0 | 1, 3 | 28·5 | 24 | 3·60 | 20 | (+0·85) | 0·90 | 3 | 60·4

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 JULY 1954

General.—The mild weather which was a feature of the early winter season gave place to dull, unsettled, and colder weather early in July.

A vigorous cold front which swept over the country from the 8th to the 10th was accompanied by snow to low levels over most of the South Island and as far north as the King Country; some areas received their first snowfall in twenty-five years. At the same time a strong southerly gale affected many eastern districts, causing some damage about Wellington City.

On the 21st and 22nd there was another heavy fall of snow on the central plateau of the North Island. At the same time south-easterly gales caused damage in Taranaki, and heavy rain interrupted transport between Napier and Gisborne.

Heavy rain in Northland on the last two days of the month caused some local flooding.

A whirlwind wrecked a box factory at New Plymouth on the 26th.

Rainfall.—For most of the country rainfall was close to or a little above normal. However, there was an appreciable surplus on the Southland coast and in some eastern districts. From Auckland to Dargaville rainfall was somewhat below average.

On the 21st several stations in northern Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne received between 4 in. and 9 in. of rain. On the 31st several falls of about the same magnitude were reported again from the northern part of the Gisborne district.

Temperatures.—Temperatures were mainly about normal. However, parts of the Auckland Province and the Wanganui-Manawatu area were 1° F warmer than usual.

In addition to the two snowfalls on the 9th and 22nd, previously mentioned, there was snow on the Southern Alps on the 16th and in inland districts of Otago and Southland on the 26th.

Sunshine.—Sunshine was below normal over the greater part of the country. The deficiency was about twenty hours in most western districts. As in the previous month, sunshine at Invercargill was the lowest for over twenty years. The Gisborne district was favoured with a moderate surplus.

Weather Sequence.—On the first two days of the month a depression passed to the south of the South Island, and the corresponding trough of low pressure moved across the country accompanied by rain, except in eastern districts. With a ridge of high pressure over the North Tasman Sea and the North Island from the 3rd to the 5th, conditions improved in most areas, but the weather remained unsettled on the West Coast and in the far south.

A depression which formed near Lord Howe Island on the 5th moved south-eastward and commenced to affect Auckland Province on the 6th. On the following day rain became general from Christchurch northward as the depression moved across central districts. On the 8th a vigorous cold front moved on to Southland from the south-west, and a small depression formed on it to the east of the South Island. As the front swept north-eastwards over the country during the next two days, rain became general and snow fell to low levels as far north at Taranaki and the King Country. In addition, southerly gales were reported from Canterbury to Hawke’s Bay; they became exceptionally strong in Wellington City on the morning of the 10th. With an anti-cyclone passing across the North Tasman Sea and the North Island, a period of settled weather followed for most districts, but there was still rain at times in the far south.

A depression which had caused serious flooding in Queensland on the 12th and 13th moved south-eastward and passed across northern districts of the South Island from the 15th to the 17th. Rain was general, with some considerable falls in central districts. Conditions remained unsettled with the approach of another depression across the Tasman Sea and the development of further centres of low pressure in the area. As the main centres moved across the North Island on the 21st and 22nd there was heavy rain in Hawke’s Bay, with disruption of road and rail transport north of Napier. The central plateau of the North Island received a second comparatively heavy fall of snow, and south-easterly gales caused some damage in Taranaki.

With a weak ridge of high pressure over the country on the 23rd, there was a temporary improvement in most areas, but westerly conditions soon developed, with considerable rain in western and far southern districts. As a depression passed far to the south of the country on the 25th and 26th, the associated cold front brought thunderstorms and hail in many western districts and showers elsewhere. Somewhat more settled conditions prevailed again from the 27th to the 29th under the influence of a weak ridge of high pressure. However, a depression which had formed near Noumea moved southward, and it was centred off North Cape on the 30th. For the last two days of the month south-easterly winds reached gale force in Northland, Taranaki, and Marlborough, while rain affected Auckland Province and east coast districts north of Christchurch. Heavy falls were reported from Northland with some flooding, while in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay heavy rain continued into August.

R. G. SIMMERS, Acting Director.
(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)