1128
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 43

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for April 1972—continued

LATE RETURNS

| Tairua Forest, March 1972 | 3 | .. | 14.5 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 9.0 | 19 | 368 | 15 | +271 | 71 | 8 | .. |
| Paeroa, March 1972 .. | 4 | 23.5 | 13.4 | 18.5 | +2.1 | 23.6 | 26 | 7.4 | 15 | 249 | 13 | +160 | 61 | 5 | .. |
| Makaretu, January 1972 | 335 | 22.1 | 9.5 | 15.8 | .. | 27.3 | 13 | 0.5 | 28 | 61 | 16 | .. | 13 | 7 | .. |
| Mount Bruce, March 1972 | 305 | 19.9 | 11.3 | 15.6 | .. | 25.7 | 3 | 2.5 | 19 | 185 | 16 | .. | 52 | 10 | .. |
| Kahui, Taihape, March 1972 | 518 | 20.3 | 11.5 | 15.9 | .. | 25.8 | 3 | 6.2 | 19 | 102 | 10 | .. | 34 | 9 | .. |
| Haldon, March 1972 .. | 399 | 19.9 | 6.6 | 13.3 | .. | 27.5 | 23 | .. | .. | 31 | .. | .. | 12 | 10 | .. |
| Lower Retaruke, March 1972 | 223 | 22.2 | 11.3 | 16.8 | .. | 26.0 | 2 | 3.4 | 19 | 154 | 9 | .. | 37 | 4 | .. |

Errata—

| Makaretu, November 1971 | 335 | 19.0 | 8.1 | 13.6 | .. | 23.4 | 29 | 1.1 | 22 | 93 | 14 | .. | 13 | 20 | .. |
| Makaretu, December 1971 | 335 | 21.2 | 10.8 | 16.0 | .. | 27.0 | 25 | 3.9 | 6 | 82 | 13 | .. | 49 | 3 | .. |

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.

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

A “rain day” is equal to or greater than 0.1 mm.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR APRIL 1972

General—Although April was marked by an unusually high frequency of south-westerly winds, it was a warm month. Conditions were mainly favourable for farming, especially in the North Island, where dairy production was higher than usual.

South-westerly gales were reported in many districts on the 17th, 18th, and 19th.

Rainfall—Rainfall was mainly somewhat below normal over the North Island and somewhat above normal over the South Island. The greatest deficiencies were recorded in Bay of Plenty, most of which had less than half the normal, with some eastern coastal areas below a quarter. Greatest excesses were recorded in two areas, both of which had more than 50 per cent above normal. The first was an inland area extending through parts of Nelson, Buller, and North Canterbury. The second consisted of Stewart Island and eastern Southland with parts of South Otago.

Temperatures—Temperatures were above normal, mainly by ½–1°C.

Sunshine—Sunshine was above normal by 20–40 hours in eastern and southern districts of the North Island. It was below normal by 20–40 hours in Buller and North Westland and by 20–30 hours in Otago and Southland.

Weather Sequence—During the first 5 days of April an anticyclone moved from Bass Strait across the Tasman Sea to the east of the North Island, while pressures remained low to the east and south-east of the South Island. South-westerlies predominated with settled weather in many districts. However, some showery periods were reported on the Southland and Otago coast and on the West Coast; while light showers affected western districts of the North Island.

From the 6th to the 8th pressures were low over the eastern Tasman Sea and New Zealand. A depression formed over the North Tasman Sea and moved on to the South Island. A second depression then formed west of Northland and remained almost stationary. Rain was general as far south as Canterbury and South Westland.

The second depression drifted northward on the 9th, while an anticyclone moved on to the country, progressing further eastward during the next 2 days. Easterlies brought showers at times to Northland, Gisborne, and Hawke’s Bay. During the next 4 days an anticyclone passed over and to the east of Campbell Island, while pressures were low over the North Island. Easterlies became more general, bringing rain to eastern districts as far south as Christchurch and also to Northland.