1322
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 48

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for June 1967—continued

LATE RETURNS

Alexandra, May 1967 .. | 461 | 54.2 | 38.0 | 46.1 | +3.0 | 66.3 | 13 | 28.5 | 18 | 0.52 | 6 | −0.4 | 0.15 | 6 | 120

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 1967

General: Barometers were unusually high over New Zealand during June and it was a month of settled weather with comparatively low rainfall. Southerly winds were more frequent than usual, especially over the North Island, where temperatures were below normal. Most farmers found the weather very much to their liking. However, in parts of King Country, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty unusually frequent frosts greatly reduced growth.

Rainfall: Rainfall was less than half the average over nearly the whole of the South Island and also over the greater part of the North Island. Greatest deficiencies were recorded in the Alps together with the Canterbury high country, and parts of Central Otago; also in most of North Otago and the Dunedin district. In all these areas rainfall was less than a quarter of the average value.

The only district with rainfall above average was Hawke’s Bay, where two-thirds of the total fell on the 3rd and 4th.

This was the driest June over the country as a whole since June 1958. However, in the South Island, June 1964, was drier than either June 1958 or June 1967.

Temperatures: In the North Island temperatures were 1-4 degrees below average. Greatest departures were recorded in Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, and Taupo; in these areas it was the coldest June for many years, but about equal with June 1951.

In the South Island temperatures were mainly close to or somewhat above average.

On the 21st snow was reported in Southland to low levels and elsewhere well down on the ranges.

Sunshine: Sunshine was above average over the greater part of the country. Waikato, Waitomo, Canterbury, and Westland were particularly favoured, with surpluses of 30-40 hours.

By contrast, eastern districts of the North Island and Northland received less sun than usual, mainly by 30-40 hours. For Te Paki, in northern Northland, the total of 87 hours was the lowest recorded in any month in 37 years of observation.

Weather Sequence: On the 1st the weather was mainly settled under the influence of a weak ridge of high pressure. However, some light rain was reported in parts of the West Coast.

The period from the 2nd to the 4th was unsettled in most districts. A trough of low pressure crossed the country; and behind it a shallow depression formed over the South Island and moved north-eastward, finally crossing Northland. Rain was general except for eastern districts of the South Island. There were some heavy falls in Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay on the 3rd and 4th.

From the 5th to the 11th the depression was moving away to the east, while an anticyclone was approaching slowly over the Tasman Sea. Rain soon spread to eastern districts of the South Island while persisting still in Gisborne and Northland, but elsewhere the weather cleared. However, from the 8th the rain became scattered and very light, though extending at times to other eastern districts of the North Island and the Cook Strait area.

From the 12th to the 16th the weather was settled under the influence of a large anticyclone almost stationary over New Zealand.

By contrast, from the 17th to the 21st the weather was unsettled. Rain came first to western and northern districts of both Islands in most northerly winds with the approach of a complex depression over the Tasman Sea. As a shallow depression crossed the North Island and a trough of low pressure moved over the whole country, rain became general. A southerly change on the 21st brought snow to low levels in Southland.

Two days of fair weather followed, under the influence of an anticyclone.

During the 24th and 25th a complex trough of low pressure crossed the country, while a small depression moved over the South Island. Rain affected mainly western and northern districts of both Islands, but scattered falls were reported elsewhere. With rising pressures, conditions improved on the 26th but some rain still affected North Taranaki and Buller.

The last four days of the month was another period of mainly settled weather as an extensive belt of high pressure straddled the country from west to east. However, a few showers were reported in the easterlies in Gisborne and Northland, and in the westerlies in Southland.

J. F. GABITES, Director.

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