CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for June 1966—continued

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 records.

*Sunshine recorder is not located at the station but is in the near vicinity.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE 1966

General: June was unusually dry in Canterbury. Spells of several days of settled weather were somewhat more common than usual for June, the 15th to the 19th being one such spell over the whole country. Generally farmers found it a good month for stock.

Rainfall: Rainfall was less than half the average value in most eastern districts from East Cape to Balclutha. It was less than a tenth on the Canterbury Plains from Rakaia to Temuka and inland to Methven, and in this area many stations received their lowest June rainfall on record. Ashburton’s total was 0·08 in., the lowest in any month in nearly 60 years of observation.

Elsewhere rainfall was mainly somewhat above average. In a few areas, especially parts of Taranaki, the surplus exceeded 50 per cent.

Temperatures: Mean temperatures were mainly close to average. However, they were 1–2 degrees below average in Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo and North Taranaki; and 1–2 degrees above in parts of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland.

A light fall of snow was reported in Central Otago on the 14th. However, most of the snow fell during south-westerlies in the last week of the month, disrupting road traffic in Southland and Otago, and in the central high country of the North Island. The 29th was a particularly cold day with extensive snow, especially in Southland.

Sunshine: Canterbury, Otago, and Southland and parts of Northland were favoured with up to 25 hours more sunshine than usual. On the other hand, Waitomo, Taranaki, and Buller received 15–25 hours below average.

Weather Sequence: On the first two days of the month an anticyclone was centred to the east, while a trough of low pressure crossed the South Island. Rain soon set in on the West Coast, and later extended to western districts of the North Island. A depression formed on this trough on the 3rd, as it crossed the North Island, and soon a second centre developed over the Tasman Sea. The weather cleared on the West Coast but became generally unsettled over the North Island from the 3rd to the 5th. However, only a little light rain was recorded in most of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

The depression lost intensity and, as an anticyclone moved eastward across the Tasman Sea, south-westerlies prevailed, with showers mainly in Northland and Southland from the 6th to the 9th. During the next two days the anticyclone crossed Northland, with fair weather, apart from rain at times in Fiordland and Southland. A deep depression of tropical origin had been moving southward and by the 12th it had reached the middle of the Tasman Sea. Rain set in over Northland and Waikato. On the following day a second centre developed, and the rain extended to the whole of the North Island besides Nelson and Marlborough. The 14th was very similar, except for a southerly change bringing rain to southern and eastern coastal districts of the South Island.

From the 15th to the 19th there was a spell of settled weather as an anticyclone moved slowly across the North Island and to the south-east.

On the 20th a trough commenced to move north-eastward over the country. A depression soon formed on this trough and crossed the South Island on the following day, with rain becoming general, except in Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, and Gisborne. This rain continued to the 22nd and 23rd as the depression moved away to the east and winds changed to cold south-westerlies, with snow to low levels in Southland and Otago.

For the last week of the month south-westerlies still predominated, with showers in many districts. From the 26th to the 28th another depression crossed the South Island, with fairly general rain; and on the following day a very cold south-westerly change brought snow to low levels in Southland, South Otago, and the central North Island.

J. F. GABITES, Director.
(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)

Mining Privileges to be Struck Off the Register

Pursuant to section 188 of the Mining Act 1926, I hereby give notice that unless sufficient cause be shown to the contrary within one month from the date hereof, the mining privileges mentioned in the Schedule hereto will be struck off the Register.

Dated at Westport this 6th day of July 1966.

C. H. KENT, Mining Registrar.

SCHEDULE