3256

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

No. 102

percent and in Southland by at least 50 percent. At Waingawa, Masterton, a 24-hour fall of 58 mm was recorded at the beginning of the month. At Milford Sound more than 180 mm were recorded in the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. on the 29th and further heavy rain was recorded on the 30th.

In Marlborough and Canterbury some of the lowest September rainfalls for at least 10 years were recorded. At Blenheim only 20 mm were measured (this being the lowest for the month since 1965) and at Timaru 14 mm, only 34 percent of the normal fall.

Temperatures—Most of New Zealand had temperatures at least 1°C above the September average and in Taranaki, Nelson, Marlborough, and parts of Canterbury they were above by more than 1°C. The only areas with slightly below normal temperatures were parts of Northland, Wellington, Southland, and Fiordland. Night minimum temperatures were appreciably above average in most districts.

During the first half of the month temperatures were well above average, but the 23rd to the 26th inclusive and the 29th and 30th were very cold periods.

Sunshine—Sunshine hours were below or near normal throughout the whole of New Zealand during the month. In Manawatu, Wellington, Wairarapa, and Marlborough the departures were 30 percent below normal. At Waingawa only 65 percent of the average for the month was recorded.

WEATHER SEQUENCE—SEPTEMBER 1979

A depression that had been moving towards New Zealand at the end of August was lying to the west of the country early on the 1st. During the period from the 1st to the 4th, this depression and associated cold fronts crossed the country and brought heavy rain to most areas in the North Island, and west of the main ranges in the South Island. Twenty-four-hour falls of more than 50 mm were recorded in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Wairarapa, and Westland. On the east coast temperatures were considerably colder than usual on the 3rd and 4th. A ridge of high pressure extended on to New Zealand from late on the 4th to the evening of the 5th.

Early on the 5th a complex depression near Tasmania had started to move towards New Zealand, and by the morning of the 6th was lying off the west coast of the South Island. The cold front ahead of this depression brought moderate to heavy falls of rain to areas west of the main ranges in both Islands. Late on the 7th a complex trough of low pressure crossed the country followed by a weak cold front on the 8th. Temperatures were warmer than usual throughout most of the country until the 8th. An anticyclone to the north of New Zealand moved slowly east, and a ridge of high pressure covered the country on the 9th. Showers were reported in most areas, apart from Northland, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, and Canterbury.

On the 10th a cold front moved north-east across the South Island and weakened as it moved on to the North Island. The only areas with moderate to heavy falls of rain were the West Coast and Southland. A complex trough of low pressure developed in the Tasman Sea, and by the morning of the 12th was approaching the country. Falls of 80 mm in 24 hours were recorded in Fiordland, and in Westland more than 50 mm were reported during the same period as the trough moved across the South Island. Light to moderate rain fell in many areas west of the main ranges. This trough was followed by another on the 14th/16th, with heavy rain in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, parts of Wairarapa and West Coast being recorded. The rest of New Zealand had light to moderate rain in most districts.

A ridge of high pressure extended into the Tasman Sea from an anticyclone off the Australian coast on the 16th but this weakened rapidly and was replaced by a trough of low pressure moving eastwards towards New Zealand. From the evening of the 17th to the morning of the 19th and a further trough crossed the country. Rain was reported in most areas apart from Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa. Pressures were high to the north of New Zealand and low to the south from the 19th to the 23rd, and this produced a strong westerly airstream on to the country. Disturbances in this airflow brought heavy rain to Nelson, parts of Canterbury and the West Coast.

On the 24th a ridge of high pressure extended on to the South Island from an anticyclone centred near Tasmania. By the 25th the anticyclone had moved on to New Zealand bringing fine weather to most districts until the 28th. An active cold front, associated with a depression moving to the south of the country, crossed on to the South Island on the 28th and moved slowly northwards. Rainfalls of more than 100 mm in the 24-hour period up to 9 a.m. on the 29th were reported in parts of Fiordland and Westland, and many places in these districts had 24-hour falls in excess of 50 mm. Light to moderate falls were recorded elsewhere in the South Island and western areas of the North Island.

A cold front associated with a trough of low pressure moved on to the South Island early on the 30th. More than 200 mm of rain were recorded in 24 hours at Milford Sound, and some stations in Westland recorded more than 150 mm in the same period. The heaviest falls were west of the main ranges in the South Island. In the North Island only light rain was reported in most areas. Temperatures were warmer than usual over most of the country at the end of the month.

J. S. HICKMAN, Director.

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

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