25 JULY
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1563

CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for June 1974—continued

The “normal” refers to the present site of the instruments. Standard periods for normals are: Temperature 1931–60, Rainfall 1941–70, Sunshine 1935–60. No normals are available for stations with only short records.

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

A rain day is a day with rainfall equal to or greater than 0.1 mm.

Where the extremes of temperature and rainfall have occurred more than once during the month, the date of the first occurrence is given.

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR JUNE 1974

General—June was marked by an unusually high frequency of easterly winds, especially over the North Island, where the weather was very wet and cloudy east of the ranges. Farming conditions showed considerable variation. In a few North Island areas both pastures and stock were still suffering from the effects of the dry autumn weather. However, in most areas the health of stock was reported to be good. Heavy seas affected many areas on the east coast of both islands on the 21st, causing some damage.

Rainfall—Rainfall was below normal in northern and most western districts of the South Island besides the greater part of Southland and Otago; also in western districts of the North Island and in northern Northland. A considerable area of Nelson and Marlborough received less than a quarter of the normal value. By contrast, east of the North Island ranges and on the Northland coast from Whangarei to Bay of Islands, rainfall was more than 50 percent above normal. It was more than double the normal value over most of the Hawke’s Bay coast and extending inland over the Heretaunga Plains; also in part of the Gisborne district. In these areas some stations received 130–270 mm on the 15th, causing serious and extensive flooding around Hastings. At Napier Aerodrome 124 mm of rain were recorded in 12 hours, corresponding to the maximum fall to be expected once in 50 years.

Temperatures—In the North Island temperatures were above normal by up to 1°C. In the South Island they were mainly close to normal, but in parts of Central Otago and inland Canterbury they were below normal by up to 1½°C. There was a marked cold spell in southerlies, especially over the South Island, from the 11th to the 20th; and this was followed by a marked mild spell in westerlies from the 21st to the 26th.

Sunshine—Sunshine was mainly close to normal. However, it was below normal by up to 60 hours east of the ranges in the North Island; and above normal by 20–40 hours in Southland, Otago and South Canterbury.

Weather Sequence—At the beginning of the month a large anticyclone extended from Victoria over the Tasman Sea and New Zealand to the Chatham Islands. The weather was mainly fine, but a trough of low pressure to the north-east caused some rain in Northland and Auckland. From the 2nd to the 4th the main centre of high pressure moved to the south-west of the South Island and a southerly change brought a few showers to eastern districts. During the next four days an anticyclone over New Zealand moved slowly eastward and the weather was fine but frosty.

On the 9th and 10th a deep depression was almost stationary over the North Tasman Sea with an associated trough moving slowly over Northland and Auckland, which received considerable rain, with flooding in parts of Northland. Lighter rain spread to most other districts. During the next three days the depression moved slowly eastward and lost intensity, while the trough continued its slow southward movement over the North Island. Rain affected most districts and a south-easterly change brought colder temperatures to the South Island. From the 14th to the 16th the depression crossed the North Island. Rain was reported in most places but there was a clearance during this time on the West Coast and in parts of Otago and Southland. The rain was particularly heavy in some eastern districts, causing serious and extensive flooding around Hastings. Colder temperatures spread over the North Island. From the 17th to the 19th the depression moved slowly away to the east and cold southerlies persisted with snow to comparatively low levels in some eastern districts. However, the rain cleared gradually from the west. On the 20th a weak ridge of high pressure extended over the country from the north and the weather was fine but cold.

From the 21st to the 26th pressures were high to the north while a series of deep depressions passed far to the south. This was a period of westerlies, with rain affecting mainly the West Coast and Southland, but also at times western districts of the North Island. Temperatures became considerably milder.

On the 27th a depression formed on a trough during its passage over the North Island, causing considerable rain in northern districts besides Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, while rain also persisted in the west and south of the South Island. On the following day the depression lost intensity; light rain persisted in some places. During the last two days of the month an anticyclone with centres to the north-west and south-east covered most of the country. However, a small depression passed close to Southland, bringing rain there and on the West Coast, with light falls also in Otago.

J. F. DE LISLE, Director.

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

Post Office—Schedule of Building Contracts of $20,000 or More in Value

W. J. SEWELL, Director-General.

P.O.H.Q. 3/578