CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for February 1965—continued

Supplementary data, sunshine: Foxton, .. hrs.

LATE RETURNS

The “normal” refers to the present site of the instruments. The standard periods for normals are: for temperature 1931–60, for rainfall 1921–50, and for sunshine 1935–60. No normals are available for stations with only short periods.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR FEBRUARY 1965

General: February was marked by an unusually high frequency of south-westerly winds, a reversal of January’s north-easterlies. It was cloudy and cool – much cooler in fact than January. In the North Island rainfall was adequate and growth was better than usual. However, the feed was too soft for lambs. In Nelson, Marlborough and parts of Canterbury the weather was too dry. In Southland and parts of Otago the weather was too unsettled for haymaking and harvesting; this was also a complaint in some North Island districts.

Rainfall: Rainfall was above average over nearly the whole of the Auckland Province and in Southland and eastern Central Otago. Greatest excesses were recorded in Waikato, where many stations received more than double the average value. Elsewhere rainfall was below normal. Greatest deficiencies occurred in Nelson and Marlborough, where only a few stations received even half the average.

In the Auckland Province about three-quarters of the total rain for the month fell during the 11th and 12th, as a tropical storm passed to the east. In parts of the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne districts two-day falls of 7 to 13 inches were reported. Flooding was particularly serious around Whakatane and on the Rangitaiki Plains.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly 1–2 degrees cooler than average. In some districts exposed to south-westerlies, notably most of Southland and the West Coast and parts of Manawatu and Waikato, departures exceeded 2 degrees. On the other hand, about Cook Strait and on the South Canterbury - North Otago coast temperatures were about average.

Snow fell on the North Island mountains on the 14th.

Sunshine: Sunshine was mainly 10–30 hours below average, highest departures being in Manawatu. In most inland areas of the South Island, about Cook Strait, and in Taupo, Hawke’s Bay, and Gisborne it was about average.

Weather Sequence: At the beginning of the month the depression which had caused heavy rain over the Auckland Province at the end of January was moving away to the east. Some light rain was still reported in many districts.

From the 2nd to the 8th pressures were high over the Tasman Sea and low near the Chatham Islands. This was a period of south-westerly winds, causing rather unsettled conditions on the Southland coast and at times on the West Coast. Some rain spread to western districts of the North Island with the passage of a trough of low pressure on the 5th; and on the 8th rain spread to Otago and Canterbury as a trough associated with a small depression off the Canterbury coast crossed the South Island.

An anticyclone centred over the North Island brought fair or fine weather generally on the 9th. However, on the following day conditions deteriorated over the Auckland Province and South Westland as a tropical storm east of Noumea moved southward and a trough of low pressure approached New Zealand from the Tasman Sea. During the 11th and 12th the tropical storm passed to the east of Auckland, while the trough crossed the country with the formation of a depression east of the South Island. Rain was general, with particularly heavy falls in the Auckland Province, especially Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. The worst flooding was reported in and around Whakatane, where some families had to be evacuated; but many other areas also suffered.

The 13th to the 20th was another period of predominantly south-westerly weather, with pressures high over the north Tasman Sea and low to the south-east and south of New Zealand. The 13th was a day of clearing weather, but with still some rain or showers in many districts. A trough of low pressure which crossed the country during the 17th and 18th also brought fairly general showers; but throughout the remainder of this 8-day period showers were mainly restricted to the West Coast and the Southland coast.

On the 21st a depression formed east of the South Island on a trough which was crossing the country, and winds turned to southerly. The weather cleared on the West Coast, but most other districts received some rain. During the next three days an anti-cyclone was passing to the north, while a trough of low pressure moved slowly northward over New Zealand. The belt of rain associated with the trough affected all areas, except for parts of Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Hawke’s Bay. The 25th and 26th were dominated by an anticyclone which eventually covered the whole country; however, some rain was reported on the Southland coast. During the last two days of the month a trough of low pressure brought rain to western and southern districts of the South Island.

R. G. SIMMERS, Director.

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

New Zealand Government Railways—Schedule of Civil Engineering and Building Contracts of £10,000 or More in Value

Amount of Tender Accepted
£ s. d.
13,510 0 0

A. T. GANDELL, General Manager