18 DECEMBER

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

2331

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for November 1957—continued

†Observations for 26 days.

LATE RETURNS

| Levin, October 1957 .. | 100 | 58·8 | 45·8 | 52·3 | −1·3 | 66·8 | 23 | 36·8 | 6 | 4·78 | 17 | +0·55 | 1·26 | 2 | 153 |
| East Gore, October 1957.. | 245 | 58·0 | 40·3 | 49·2 | −1·5 | 71·0 | 17 | 31·0 | 4 | 4·73 | 23 | +1·88 | 0·65 | 14 | .. |

NOTE—At stations where departures from normal have an asterisk, 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 NOVEMBER 1957

Like the previous month, November was unusually windy. It was also much wetter and cloudier than usual in most districts. In the South Island growth was adversely affected. Shearing was delayed in many areas by the unsettled conditions.

On the 25th a strong north-westerly gale caused damage in Wellington, Wairarapa, and Canterbury.

Rainfall: Rainfall was well above normal, except in northern and eastern districts of the North Island. Around Lake Wanaka and in parts of Central Otago it was more than three times as wet as usual, and a few stations received the highest rainfall of any month on record. To the north and west of the lake totals were from 20 to 26 in.

For Invercargill it was the wettest November in over 50 years, with a total of 7·43 in.

On the other hand, the Gisborne - East Coast district received less than half the average rainfall.

Following heavy rain in the Lakes District from the 14th to the 20th in north-westerly conditions, major floods were reported in the Clutha and several Southland rivers. At the foot of Mount Aspiring, west of Lake Wanaka, 14·2 in. were recorded from the 16th to the 20th, of which over 8 in. fell on the 18th.

Many thunderstorms were reported on the West Coast from the 23rd to the 28th, and at the times they extended to other districts as far north as Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay.

Large hailstones exceeding an inch in diameter were reported on at least two occasions. The first was at Maronan, west of Ashburton, on the 14th; the second at Barrytown, north-east of Greymouth, on the 26th.

Temperatures: Mean temperatures were mainly close to normal. However, eastern districts of the North Island were 1–3 degrees warmer than usual, while the South Island high country and Central Otago were 1–2 degrees cooler than normal.

Some unusually high temperatures for November were recorded in eastern districts during north-westerly conditions from the 17th to the 19th. At Christchurch the temperature reached 88°F. and at Gisborne 90°F.

Falls of snow were reported on the ranges of Otago and Southland at the beginning of the month and again on the 27th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was below normal by 1–2 hours per day, except in the provinces of Auckland and Hawke’s Bay. The only area favoured with appreciably more sunshine than usual was Northland and Auckland City.

Weather Sequence: On the first two days of the month a deep depression passed close to Southland, and most districts received some rain. Temperatures were cold in Otago and Southland, with snow on the ranges. The weather remained generally unsettled on the 3rd and 4th as a trough of low pressure became stationary across the North Island and a depression developed. With rising pressures on the following day conditions improved in western districts; and from the 6th to the 8th an anticyclone brought fine weather generally—the longest spell without rain for the whole country during this month.

A depression over the North Tasman Sea commenced to affect the weather on the 9th. During the next two days it moved south-eastward, crossing Southland and bringing general rain. A second centre which formed on the 12th brought further rain to the North Island.

For about the next thirteen days westerly conditions prevailed over the country, with high pressures to the north and deep depressions passing to the south. Strong north-west winds brought rain to the West Coast, especially in the south, and warm temperatures to eastern districts of the South Island. From the 13th to the 17th these districts, as far north as Timaru, also received rain at times. Some particularly heavy falls were recorded in Fjordland and the Southern Lakes District on the 18th, leading to major floods in the Clutha and Southland Rivers. Rain became general on the 19th and 20th with the slow passage of a trough of low pressure. Another trough crossed the country on the 23rd and 24th, with unsettled weather in most western districts and about Cook Strait. On the following day a deep depression crossed Southland, causing north-westerly winds to increase to strong gale force about Cook Strait and in Wairarapa and Canterbury; rain affected mainly the central districts.

The passing of yet another trough of low pressure from the 26th to the 28th and the development of a depression over the South Island were associated with generally unsettled weather. Pleasanter conditions prevailed on the 29th under the influence of a ridge of high pressure. However, on the last day of the month there was rain once again in western districts as a depression passed to the south.

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

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director