18 JUNE
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1015

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for May 1964—continued

NOTE—At stations where departures from normal have an asterisk, the temperature record has been maintained for less than 10 years, the rainfall record for less than 20 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 MAY 1964

General: Weather conditions in May were close to average, apart from being drier than usual over the North Island. In many parts of the country farmers found the weather reasonably satisfactory for the time of the year. However, eastern districts of the North Island were still being affected by a long dry spell, and in some of these areas there was a serious shortage of winter feed.

Small local whirlwinds caused some damage at Westport on the 13th and at Wanganui on the 19th.

Rainfall: In the North Island rainfall was mainly about three-quarters of the average value; in parts of Hawke’s Bay and eastern Northland it was less than half. In Auckland and Waikato rainfall was close to or somewhat above average.

It was wetter than usual in the Alps, the Canterbury high country, and most of the Plains. Greatest departures were reported from the high country, with more than double the average value. Elsewhere in the South Island rainfall was mainly close to normal; however, it was appreciably less than normal in coastal Otago, on Banks Peninsula, and on the Kaikoura coast.

Temperatures: Temperatures were close to or somewhat below average. The only area which was colder than normal by as much as 1–2 degrees extended from Coromandel and western Bay of Plenty through Waikato to central districts of the North Island.

Snow was reported in the South Island high country and to low levels in parts of Southland from the 14th to the 16th. A more general cold spell occurred from the 18th to the 20th with snow in the high country of both islands.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly close to the average value. However, it was below average in Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and most of Otago by 10–25 hours; and it was above average in Northland by 15–30 hours.

Weather Sequence: The month started with an anticyclone to the north and a depression far to the south-east. Westerly to south-westerly winds prevailed with showers in Southland and in most western districts. The anticyclone remained centred to the north, and on the 2nd the weather cleared, except in Southland. However, on the following day a weak trough brought light rain to north Taranaki, Waitomo, and Waikato.

A depression passed close to Southland on the 4th; and on this and the following day the associated trough of low pressure brought fairly general rain, mainly light in the east. A small depression developed near North Cape, and on the 6th cold south-easterlies covered the North Island, with some heavy rain in Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty, while conditions improved over most of the South Island.

From the 7th to the 9th an anticyclone moved across the country, with mainly fair weather. However, a few showers were reported, especially in Gisborne and coastal Southland.

The anticyclone remained to the east of the North Island, and from the 10th to the 12th a very deep depression passed far to the south. Strong westerlies covered the South Island, with persistent heavy rain on the West Coast and the Alps, extending on to parts of the Canterbury Plains on the 12th. Some rain was also reported in Southland. On the 13th a trough of low pressure crossed New Zealand. Heavy rain continued in the Alps and on the West Coast with some flooding; and rain also extended to most other areas, except for some eastern districts. Gales were reported in Cook Strait. Further heavy rain and some snow lashed Fiordland, south Westland, and the Alps on the 14th as a depression passed close to Southland, where snow was reported to low levels; but elsewhere the weather cleared.

From the 15th to the 17th a trough associated with a small depression crossed the country with general rain, which was, however, very light in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. Pressures remained low to the south-east, while an anticyclone over the Tasman Sea moved slowly eastward. From the 18th to the 20th cold southerly to south-westerly winds predominated, with some showers or rain in all districts.

The anticyclone moved across the country during the 21st and 22nd with fair weather, except in the Gisborne district.

From the 23rd to the 26th a small depression initially off the Westland coast drifted north-eastward and across the Auckland Province. This was another period during which nearly the whole country received some rain, except for parts of Southland and south Otago. Further rain affected all districts from the 27th to the 29th during the eastward passage of a trough of low pressure.

The weather improved on the 30th over almost the whole of the North Island and in parts of the South Island, as an anticyclone approached. On the last day of the month this anticyclone covered the country and the weather was generally fair.

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

New Zealand Electricity Department—Schedule of Construction Contract for £10,000 or More in Value

E. B. MACKENZIE, General Manager.