1030
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 35

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

Supplementary data, sunshine: Foxton, .. hrs.

LATE RETURNS

Foxton, April 1965. Supplementary Data, Sunshine: Foxton, 179 hrs.

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 records.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MAY 1965

General: May, like April, was somewhat drier than usual. Generally it was regarded by farmers as a very favourable month, and in the North Island growth was considered to be particularly good. The main exception was Marlborough, where after several months of below-average rainfall conditions were too dry.

Rainfall: Rainfall was mainly only three-quarters of the average value. In Hawke’s Bay, northern Manawatu, and considerable areas of Marlborough and Canterbury it was less than half. On the other hand, Otago and Southland received 50 per cent above average rainfall; and parts of Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Westland also received somewhat more than average.

Temperatures: Temperatures were close to average, except in parts of the South Island, where they were a degree below average. The coolest weather occurred during the first 11 days, with southerly and south-westerly winds. Snow was reported from the 2nd to the 4th on the Kaikouras and North Island ranges and on the Urewera high country between Rotorua and Lake Waikaremoana. For the remainder of the month temperatures were for the most part milder than average. However, snow was reported on the ranges in Central Otago on the 21st.

Sunshine: Sunshine was close to average over the greater part of the country. However, it was 20–40 hours above average over most of Hawke’s Bay and South Canterbury and also in the Bay of Islands.

Weather Sequence: The cool spell during the last five days of April, with winds mainly from south or south-west, persisted for the first 11 days of May. Pressures remained very low far to the south-east, and at first the winds were south-westerly, with rain in coastal districts of the South Island, in North Taranaki, Waikato, and Auckland. A depression soon developed near the Chatham Islands, pressures rose in the south, and on the 2nd winds changed to southerlies. The weather cleared over most of the South Island, but rain spread over the whole of the North Island, except Bay of Plenty. Snow was reported on the Kaikouras and on the North Island ranges and some high country, especially between Rotorua and Lake Waikaremoana. With rising pressures the weather improved on the 4th. However, it deteriorated once again during the next two days on the West Coast, in Southland, and in western districts of the North Island as a depression passed far to the south. Another southerly change occurred on the 7th, with some light rain in eastern districts. During the next four days an anticyclone over the Tasman Sea moved slowly on to New Zealand. The weather was mainly fine and cold, with many frosts. However, light showers were still affecting the Southland coast and the Auckland district at times.

On the 12th a small depression with its associated trough affected most western districts; and during the next three days another trough crossed the country, bringing rain to the West Coast, the Southland coast, and the northern half of the North Island. Yet another trough was soon approaching from the west, and a depression which formed on it crossed the North Island. From the 16th to the 18th rain was reported from most districts, except in the Wellington Province.

A spell of westerly weather followed, from the 19th to the 23rd, with pressures high to the north and low to the south. Considerable rain fell on the West Coast and in the Alps, at times extending to the Canterbury high country. The weather was also persistently unsettled in Southland; and rain extended at times to some western districts of the North Island.

A small depression formed off the Auckland Peninsula on the 24th and moved eastward across it during the next two days. There was a clearance over most of the South Island, but rain was reported from Taranaki and the Auckland Province. A ridge of high pressure brought temporarily fair weather on the 27th.

From the 28th to the 30th pressure remained high to the east. The passage of a small depression close to Southland caused rain on the West Coast at first. A complex depression also moved down the west coast from the North Tasman Sea, starting west of Auckland. Conditions became more and more unsettled over the North Island and northern and eastern districts of the South Island, while they improved for a couple of days on the West Coast. As this depression finally crossed the South Island at the end of the month, the weather cleared over the North Island except in Taranaki and the Wellington Province; but rain spread to the West Coast and Southland.

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