JULY WEATHER.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19691, 7 August 1929, Page 7

JULY WEATHER.

METEOROLOGICAL REVIEW. (PRESS ASSOCtATIOS TTLEGBiX.) WELLINGTON, August fl. The following is the meteorological report for ,Tuly:— The month was, on the whole, cold, wet, and unsettled, but except for a few occasions, there was an absence of strong winds. The rainfall was again considerably above the average over most of the Dominion, though deficiencies were recorded in some districts in the South Island. The deficiencies were experienced south of Westport, in Otago, And at a few scattered places in North Canterbury. In the North Island places on the East Coast and about Wanganui tod Taihape received less than the normal fall. The greatest differences from the average occurred at Lambrook Station, Fairlie, with 263 per cent, and Timaru 169 per cent, above, and at Okuru, South Westlanrt, with 60 per cent, below. The excessive rain in Canterbury interfered with ploughing so that the spring sowing of cereal crops was retar ed. In parts of the North Is'.and there were more deaths amongst hoggets than usual. Temperatures everywhere were lower than the average for July, frosts being fairly numerous, and in some cases severe. There was, in consequence, little growth in pastures, but owing to the absence of high winds, the actual damage to vegetation -vas very slight. Snowfalls were frequent and copious in the high country in both islands, though none lay for any time on the low levels. There still appears generally to be ample green feed available, and in comparatively few cases only a resort to ensilage has been necessary. Stocks are, on the whole, in good condition and farming prospects favourable. The most notable meteorological feature was the tend' ncy for the anticyclones to pass north of New Zealand. There was only one which proved an exception in this respect, namely, that which moved across the Dominion between the 3rd and sth. Fine weather prevailed generally during these three days. Cyclones were again very pre valent, and even when the depressions were of a wester'y type originally, they generally developed cyclonic form by the time they reached the Dominion. The first of the mor<? severe cyclones experienced moved on to New Zealand on the 7th and at 9 a.m. centred off the West Coast of the South Island. During the night of the 6th, the northeasterly winds inei eased to gale force in many parts, and at Christchureh the wind was exceptionally violent. Eain set in and became general on the 7th. The Nelson and Marlborough districts experienced particularly heavy falls at this time, and the resulting floods caused considerable damage through low-lying ground becoming inundated and through numerous landslips.

A week later, on the 13th, another cycline advanced on New Zealand, its centre being located off Pusegur Point on that date. This disturbance proved to be a slow moving one, and a controlling influence over our weather was exercised by it until the 19th. This period was the wettest portion of the month. Heavy rains were recorded every day over large areas of the Dominion, and the total amount of precipitation produced by the storm was very great. On the 14th the Nelson district again suffered from floods and serious damage was done. At Tahuna, a slip occurred on the hillside, and some houses were wrenched from their foundations. In Canterbury and Otago also floods resulted from the prolonged heavy rains, main road communication being interrupted both North and South of Timaru stn4 on the Mount Cook route. The Taieri plain was covered with water. Fortunately ample warning was provided and Btock were removed to high land in time to prevent serious loss. By the 20th the cyclone centre had passed eastwards, and a brief respite of almost spring-like weather was experienced on this day. During the night, however, rain again set in, with cold southerly winds, on the 22nd and 23rd. While the anti-eycline was passing north of New Zealand fair weather prevailed. From this date onwards, however, cold, changeable, and showery conditions were the rule, though mainly fair weather was experienced on the 27th and 28th.