276 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE No. 8

Temperatures—Temperatures were above normal by ½°C over
most of the country, and only slightly below in parts of Nelson,
Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. There were three warm spells
during the month, from the 3rd to 8th, 17th to 20th and from the
27th to the end of the month. Maximum temperatures were above
normal by 4° to 10°C on the 18th and 19th on the east coasts of
the North and South Islands. The greatest departures were in
Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland. On the 18th a
maximum temperature of 26.5°C was recorded at Kelburn
(Wellington), the highest December maximum since 1948 (29.1°C).

Sunshine—The only areas with sunshine hours considerably
below normal were parts of Taranaki, the West Coast, South
Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Many parts of the North
Island had 30–50 hours more sunshine than normal, but some
areas of Otago and Southland were below normal by the same
amount.

WEATHER SEQUENCE, DECEMBER 1978

The anticyclone that had become established over New Zealand
at the end of November persisted until the afternoon of the 5th. A
weak cold front moved quickly across the country on the 2nd
bringing isolated showers to both Islands. Another cold front
moved across the North Island on the 4th and some heavy showers
were reported in central districts. By the morning of the 6th
pressures had become low in the south Tasman Sea as a depression
moved east towards New Zealand. A cold front associated with
this depression brought heavy rain to Westland and Buller, and
moderate falls to districts west of the main ranges. Early on the
7th another depression had formed in the Tasman Sea to the north
of the depression moving towards the country. As these depressions
and their associated cold fronts crossed the country on the 7th
and 8th, rain was recorded in most areas of New Zealand, the
heaviest falls being in Westland. During the first week of the
month temperatures were slightly warmer than normal.

Pressures remained low over the whole country as a trough of
low pressure moved across the country on the 9th and 10th. During
the afternoon of the 10th an active cold front brought severe
thunderstorms to parts of Canterbury, and districts in the southern
half of the North Island. Some stations recorded in excess of
10 mm in a period of 10 minutes during the passage of this active
cold front. A ridge of high pressure extended northwards into the
Tasman Sea from south of New Zealand early on the 11th but
weakened rapidly. A small depression formed off the West Coast
during the morning of the 12th and moved slowly across the
South Island. Moderate falls were recorded in both Islands the
heaviest falls, of more than 30 mm, being about Christchurch and
Banks Peninsula. At Living Springs (Banks Peninsula) more than
70 mm was recorded in the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. on the 13th.

Temperatures were considerably cooler than usual throughout
the whole of the country from the 11th to 14th.

By the 14th a ridge of high pressure extended onto the South
Island from an anticyclone centred near Tasmania. A complex
depression had formed in the north Tasman Sea, and by the
afternoon of the 14th was moving slowly eastwards. Pressures were
high over New Zealand on the 16th as an anticyclone moved
quickly eastwards over the country. Only a few isolated showers
were reported in Northland. During the afternoon of the 17th
the depression had moved onto New Zealand and a cold front
ahead of it had crossed onto Northland. Moderate to heavy rain
was reported over most of the northern half of the North Island,
the heaviest falls being in the Bay of Plenty.

A trough of low pressure moved slowly eastwards across
New Zealand from the morning of the 18th to the morning of the
20th. This was followed by a complex low pressure system, with
associated cold fronts, which crossed the South Island and was
lying near the Chatham Islands by the morning of the 22nd.
Heavy rain was reported on the West Coast, Canterbury and
South Canterbury, also in central districts of the North Island.
Moderate falls were recorded over most of the country with lighter
falls in parts of Northland, Poverty Bay, and Hawke’s Bay.
Twenty-four hour totals of more than 40 mm were measured in
areas around Christchurch and Timaru. Maximum temperatures
were exceptionally high on the east coasts of both islands on the
18th and 19th.

A weak cold front moved across the country on the 23rd bringing
light to moderate rain to most of the country. By the morning
of the 24th a ridge of high pressure extended onto the South
Island from the Tasman Sea, and later in the day an anticyclone
had moved onto the country. The anticyclone persisted until the
morning of the 28th giving fine weather to most of New Zealand.
Only a few isolated showers were reported during this period.
Early on the 28th a cold front associated with a depression moving
to the south of the country moved onto the South Island. This
front weakened as it moved northwards and moderate to heavy
showers were reported on the West Coast and in Canterbury,
Otago and Southland. A ridge of high pressure extended over the
North Island until the morning of the 30th.

On the 30th a cold front moved northwards across the South
Island, and moderate rain was reported in Fiordland and Westland,
with lighter falls in many districts of Otago and Southland. This
front later weakened as it moved across the country on the 31st.
Temperatures were above normal over the whole of New Zealand
from the 27th to 31st.

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

J. S. HICKMAN, Director.