14 OCTOBER THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 3451

THE NEW ZEALAND WEATHER IN AUGUST 1983

General—August was a mild month with less rainfall than normal in most parts of New Zealand.

Pressures over the country were 4 to 5 mb higher than normal. North-westerly winds were more frequent than usual over the North Island, while south-westerlies were unusually frequent over the South Island.

Heavy rain on the 2nd and 3rd caused some localised flooding at Wakefield (near Nelson) and rain also disrupted rush hour traffic in Wellington.

On the 13th and 14th heavy snow fell in central North Island areas resulting in the closure of the Napier-Taihape and Napier-Gisborne roads.

Farmers in most northern and eastern districts reported dry conditions with little growth, and some Hawkes Bay farmers lost lambs due to the lack of feed available to ewes.

Elsewhere adequate growth has been reported in spite of rather low rainfalls.

Rainfall—As a whole the country received less rain than usual during August, although Paraparaumu and parts of Westland, Southland, Otago and the Alps, recorded rainfalls close to, or slightly above average.

Northern and eastern areas of both islands generally received less than half of their normal August rainfall. Tauranga, Napier and Kaikoura recorded less than 30 percent of their usual totals for the month; Tauranga and Napier had only slightly more than the record low rainfalls of August 1982.

Mount John and Alexandra recorded high, although not unusual rainfalls (respectively 170 percent and 180 percent of their usual August totals).

Temperature—Temperatures over New Zealand during August were generally close to, or slightly above average. Northern and central parts of the North Island, and southern and eastern South Island areas recorded monthly mean temperatures 0.5°C to 1°C warmer than usual. Remaining areas experienced near-normal temperatures.

Apart from a cool period from the 5th to the 7th, temperatures were mild between the 1st and the 11th. The following seven days however were cold, with some heavy snowfalls in the central North Island. Between the 19th and 22nd daytime temperatures were generally below average, but with mild nights being experienced in most areas. The last nine days of the month saw a return to cooler temperatures.

Sunshine—Most North Island areas received slightly less sunshine than normal during August, although the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Taranaki regions recorded average or slightly above average totals. Cloudier than usual conditions were experienced in Southland and Otago, while the remainder of the South Island recorded sunshine totals close to, or slightly higher than normal.

THE WEATHER SEQUENCE AUGUST 1983

1–7 August

A shallow trough moved across New Zealand on the morning of the 1st, bringing rain to western areas while fine mild weather was being experienced in the east. Another trough moved onto the country on the 2nd, bringing rain to much of New Zealand as it gradually crossed the country during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. This caused some minor flooding in the Nelson area. Cool south-westerlies spread over the country during the 5th with showers in western areas. The flow over New Zealand gradually turned north-westerly during the 6th and 7th, as an anticyclone moved eastwards across the north Tasman Sea. The north-westerlies brought some rain to Fiordland but fine mild weather elsewhere.

8–14 August

The anticyclone continued to give fine mild weather to northern and eastern areas on the 8th and 9th while fast moving cold fronts brought periods of rain elsewhere. A shallow trough gave more widespread rain to the North Island on the 10th and 11th, while the high moved off to the east. Another high spread across the Tasman Sea during the 12th, and a strong cold west to north-west flow on the south-eastern flank of the high brought showers to western and southern parts of New Zealand, and gales to Southland. Showers spread onto eastern areas, and the weather cleared in the west, as the flow turned southerly during the 13th and 14th. The southerlies brought heavy snowfalls to some central North Island areas.

15–21 August

The anticyclone spread over New Zealand, giving mostly fine weather from the 15th to the 17th. A cold front moved quickly east across the Tasman Sea during the 18th and across the South Island during the 19th, bringing rain to western South Island areas. A depression developed on the front in the mid Tasman Sea during the 19th and moved across central New Zealand on the 21st, bringing rain to most of the country.

22–31 August

A cold showery south-west flow spread over the country during the 22nd. Cold southerlies continued to give showers to much of the country, and some snow to the high country until the 25th. By the 26th the showers had become confined to the East Cape-Gisborne area, and an anticyclone had spread onto the country giving fine, cool weather elsewhere.

The high continued to bring fine weather to most of New Zealand for the rest of the month, although a few showers persisted in the Gisborne area and a complex trough, which moved across the north Tasman Sea brought showers to Northland on the 29th and 30th.

(N.Z. Mets. Pub. 107) J. S. HICKMAN, Director.

Price 45c BY AUTHORITY: P. D. HASSELBERG, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND—1983 5680B—83PT