25 SEPTEMBER THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1293

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for August 1958—continued

LATE RETURNS

Waikeria, July 1958 .. 156 55·5 37·3 46·4 .. 61·0 17 23·5 13 4·79 13 .. 1·32 18 ..
Waerenga-o-kuri, July 1958 1,130 50·2 39·8 45·0 −0·1 59·9 18 33·4 16 4·89 23 −1·27 1·42 30 ..

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 AUGUST 1958

General: Like the two previous months, August was comparatively dry, especially in eastern and far southern districts. It was also rather cloudy, but considerably milder than July. For the most part it has been a particularly good winter for stock. Conditions were reported to be favourable for lambing, except in Southland, where a few losses were reported during snow at the end of the month.

Rainfall: Rainfall was below average, except in western districts from Hokitika to Waikato, where there was a slight excess. In Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury, and Otago it was less than half the average value. Greatest deficiencies were recorded in an area covering the Kaikoura coast and most of North Canterbury, and also in Central Otago.

Temperatures: Temperatures were a degree above normal in northern districts of both islands.

The most extensive fall of snow occurred on the last two days of the month, when it reached low levels in the South Island and also affected the central plateau of the North Island. The latter area also received some snow during the first week of the month.

Sunshine: Sunshine was below normal over the greater part of the country, and departures exceeded 30 hours in parts of Taranaki, Manawatu, Westland, and Central Otago.

Marlborough and most of Canterbury were favoured with somewhat more sunshine than usual.

Weather Sequence: For the first three days one very deep depression lay to the east, and another was passing to the south. A cold west-south-westerly airstream covered the country, with some rain over practically the whole of the North Island and in western and far southern districts of the South Island. Snow was reported on the central plateau of the North Island. When winds became more southerly on the 4th rain extended to eastern districts from Dunedin to Hawke’s Bay, while the weather began to clear in western districts. With rising pressures conditions improved during the next three days, though a few showers were still reported.

On the 8th and 9th yet another very deep depression was passing far to the south-west, and there was heavy rain on the West Coast, with some rain also about Cook Strait and in Taranaki. The associated trough of low pressure crossed most of New Zealand on the 10th, bringing rain to the North Island. A shallow depression developed in the trough, affecting Gisborne and eastern Northland. Fiordland and South Westland also received some rain, but for most districts an anticyclone brought fair weather from the 11th to the 13th. Another trough associated with a deep depression to the south crossed the country on the next two days bringing some rain to most districts; light snow was reported about Christchurch. From the 16th to the 18th the weather was fine under the influence of an extensive anticyclone.

For the next three days a depression advanced slowly eastwards from Tasmania into the central Tasman Sea. A northerly airstream covered the country with rain, except in eastern districts of the South Island. From the 22nd to the 24th the depression crossed the North Island and further centres developed. The weather remained unsettled in the North Island with further rain, but there was a clearance on the West Coast. Some showers were still being reported on the 25th, but on the following day an anticyclone brought a brief spell of fine weather.

On the 27th and 28th northerly winds prevailed again as a depression moved from the Tasman Sea on to the South Island, and a deterioration occurred except in Canterbury and Otago. Another depression soon passed far to the south and the associated cold front crossed the country. For the last three days of the month a cold south-westerly airstream brought rain mainly to western and far southern districts. Snow was reported on the central plateau of the North Island and to low levels in the South Island.

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

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