THE WEATHER IN NOVEMBER

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21652, 10 December 1935, Page 21

THE WEATHER IN NOVEMBER

DISAPPOINTING SPRING MONTH SUNSHINE BELOW AVERAGE AND MUCH RAIN November as a spring month was very disappointing, states the report of the Dominion Meteorologist on the weather for the month. The outstanding features of the month, as set out in the report, were its coldness, its lack of sunshine, and its excess of rainfall in most districts. The rain had had an adverse effect on pastures, and lamb-fattening and milk-yield were thus below normal. Shearing had also been delayed but stocjc generally were in good condition.

The general rainfall exceeded the average over the greater part of the North Island, there being slight deficiencies in parts of the Auckland district and the Taranaki Bight only. The rainfall was- above normal also over the eastern half of the South Island, but below in the western half. The largest excesses occurred in Hawke's Bay and Canterbury. Napier had 05 per cent, above, while in Canterbury the percentages averaged about 80 per cent, above normal. Temperatures were below the average over the whole Dominion, and, in fact, the November just passed proved in many parts to be one of the coldest on record. In the North Island the average departure below normal was 1.9„ and in the South Island 3.3 degrees. Tiraaru recorded as much as 4.9 and Christchurch 4.7 degrees below. Fortunately there were very few frosts during the month, and none of a damaging nature. Sunshine Below Average Over the greater part of the Dominion sunshine was less than the average, the only meteorological stations recording an excess being Wai-

poua, Auckland, Blenheim, and Hokitika. With the exception of Hokitika, the excesses were very slight. Hawke's Bay and Canterbury had particularly low aggregates'. Blenheim recorded the largest amount with 243.5 hours, Nelson coming next with 225.5 hours. In November, most of the anticyclones passed in northern latitudes, and consequently depressions were more numerous than usual. Indeed, there were very few days On which some part of the Dominion was not being affected by one of them. This had the effect of producing squally weather, and even snow fell in a few of the higher stations in the South Island. Cold, squally weather continued throughout November 7 and 8, and on the night of November 7 a severe hailstorm in the Feilding district did considerable damage to fruit trefes and vegetables. Hail showers also occurred about this time at various other places in both the North and South Islands. For the rest of the month there was bad weather all over New Zealand, with occasional short fine spells.