9 JANUARY
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
31
CLIMATOLOGICAL TABLE—Summary of the Records of Temperature, Rainfall, and Sunshine for November 1974—continued
| Station | Height of Station Above M.S.L. | Means of A Max. | Mean B Min. | Difference From Normal | Absolute Maximum and Minimum | Total Fall | No. of Rain Days | Difference From Normal | Maximum Fall Amount | Date | Bright Sun- shine |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Makaretu, October 1974 | 335 | 16.9 | 6.6 | 11.8 | .. | 22.5 | 7 | -0.2 | 1 | 129 | 25 | .. | .. | 33 | 18 | .. |
| Mohaka Forest, September 1974 | 286 | 15.4 | 6.8 | 11.1 | .. | 21.0 | 25 | 3.4 | 29 | 185 | .. | .. | .. | 41 | 11 | .. |
| Mohaka Forest, October 1974 | 286 | 17.1 | 7.9 | 12.5 | .. | 21.8 | 20 | 0.5 | 2 | 129 | 15 | .. | .. | 22 | 21 | .. |
| Massey University, October 1974 | 61 | 16.7 | 8.3 | 12.5 | .. | 21.7 | 7 | 1.5 | 1 | 128 | 17 | +37 | .. | 23 | 18 | .. |
| Stratford, October 1974 | 311 | 15.2 | 6.9 | 11.1 | +0.6 | 19.4 | 17 | 0.6 | 1 | 256 | 17 | +55 | .. | 49 | 8 | 168 |
| Kahui, Taihape, October 1974 | 518 | 15.7 | 7.0 | 11.4 | .. | 19.8 | 8 | 0.1 | 30 | 70 | 16 | .. | .. | 14 | 18 | .. |
| Wanganui, October 1974 | 22 | 17.4 | 9.6 | 13.5 | +0.6 | 22.9 | 7 | 3.9 | 1 | 93 | 19 | +12 | .. | 24 | 15 | 203 |
| Otira Substation, October 1974 | 383 | 15.0 | 5.8 | 10.4 | .. | 24.0 | 18 | 0.5 | 30 | 429 | 17 | -64 | .. | 101 | 7 | .. |
| Kaikoura, October 1974 | 99 | 14.1 | 8.0 | 11.1 | -0.7 | 21.0 | 6 | 4.1 | 30 | 126 | 16 | +65 | .. | 39 | 18 | 156 |
| Craigieburn Forest, September 1974 | 914 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 73 | 16 | -64 | .. | 15 | 2 | .. |
| Craigieburn Forest, October 1974 | 914 | .. | 2.1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | -2.5 | 31 | 195 | 16 | +60 | .. | 67 | 8 | .. |
| Ashley Forest, October 1974 | 107 | 14.1 | 5.8 | 10.0 | -1.2 | 21.5 | 7 | 0.1 | 10 | 114 | 11 | +56 | .. | 31 | 9 | 174 |
| Invermay, Taieri, October 1974 | 24 | 14.7 | 5.1 | 9.9 | -0.4 | 22.0 | 6 | 0.6 | 22 | 132 | 16 | +81 | .. | 36 | 8 | .. |
| Hokonui Forest, October 1974 | 46 | 15.0 | 5.5 | 10.3 | -0.1 | 22.0 | 25 | 0.5 | 1 | 52 | 11 | -29 | .. | 20 | 20 | .. |

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 NOVEMBER 1974
General—Barometric pressures were high over New Zealand and
to the south in November, and there were more easterly winds than
normal, as in previous months of 1974. It was one of the driest
Novembers on record and also warm.
After the wet unsettled weather of the previous months the dry
weather was welcomed at first by many farmers, especially for hay-
making and shearing. However, by the end of the month rain was
needed in most districts.
A heavy hailstorm at Roxburgh on the 15th caused damage to
the trees and fruit, greatly reducing the crop in this area.
Rainfall—Rainfall was mainly less than half the normal value.
It averaged 38 percent of normal over the North Island and 43
percent over the South Island. It was less than a quarter of the
normal in most areas east of the ranges north of Waimate, and also
in Auckland and parts of Waikato. Most of the small amount of
rain recorded fell between the 7th and the 15th, except in northern
districts of the North Island.
On the Canterbury Plains this was the driest November so far
during this century, with totals of 5–10 mm. Other very dry Novem-
bers in Canterbury occurred in 1908 and 1945.
Temperatures—Temperatures were above normal, mainly by
1°–2°C. Highest departures were in western districts of both Islands.
The last 6 days of the month were particularly warm, with some
unusually high maxima in Otago and Southland on the 28th. On
the other hand, the first 5 days were unusually cool, especially in
eastern districts.
Sunshine—Sunshine was above normal by 40–70 hours in most
western and southern districts of both Islands except in Fiordland
and the Southern Lakes district, where it was about normal. It
was below normal by 30–40 hours in Northland and Auckland.
Weather Sequence—During the first 5 days of November a large
anticyclone centred initially over the South Island moved slowly
eastward, while pressures remained low to the north. The weather
was mainly fine but cool. However, light showers were reported at
times in the easterlies, mainly in Northland, Auckland and Gis-
borne.
Rain set in over Northland on the 6th with the approach of a
depression centred to the northwest. The depression developed a
second centre and moved southward. By the following day it was
west of Taranaki, causing rain to become general over the North
Island besides northern and most western districts of the South
Island. During the 8th and 9th the two centres continued to move
southward but lost intensity. In the warm north-westerlies rain
affected mainly the West Coast and the central North Island, but
showery conditions were reported from many other areas. During
the 10th and 11th conditions remained somewhat similar as a
trough of low pressure associated with a depression far to the south-
west crossed the country. These westerly conditions still persisted
on the following day. On the 13th and 14th a shallow depression
moved eastward across Otago. The rain became heavier over the
West Coast and in the Alps, and some showers affected other
parts of the South Island. On the 15th another small depression
was centred off the Westland coast and rain became fairly general.
By the following day the main centre lay to the south of the
Chatham Islands, and cool south-westerlies predominated with
showers in many districts.
Pressures were high over New Zealand for the next 12 days.
During the 17th and 18th two anticyclones were centred to the
northwest and to the east respectively with a small depression
between them, north-east of Auckland. The weather was fine
except in northern districts of the North Island, where showers
were reported. During the next 2 days a weak trough of low pressure
brought showers to some coastal districts of the South Island. On
the 21st the main centre of high pressure was close to Stewart
Island, while the same trough continued its northward movement.
Temperatures became cooler and rain was mainly reported from
New Plymouth across the North Island to Napier and Gisborne.
For the next 3 days an anticyclone covered most of the country
but a small depression centred to the northwest moved slowly
southward. Rain affected mainly Northland, with some consider-
able falls on the 24th.
From the 25th to the 28th an extensive belt of high pressure;
with centres initially over Southland and to the east of the North
Island, moved slowly eastward. The weather was warm and also
mainly sunny, but isolated showers were reported, especially in
northern Northland. During the last 2 days of the month the anti-
cyclone was centred to the northeast of the Chatham Islands while
a very deep depression east of Bass Strait moved slowly southward.
The warm, settled weather persisted, except on the West Coast,
where some rain was reported.
J. F. DE LISLE, Director.
(N.Z. Met. S. Pub. 107)