FEBRUARY'S BIG RAINFALL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21727, 9 March 1936, Page 18

FEBRUARY'S BIG RAINFALL

MUCH f'i T • -,■ u> ~ l'\, j\ "f fe, *' UNPRECEDENTED’ HEIGHT OF ASHLEY RIVER. —— '* " A “ , - '. (TUSB ABSOCUTIOJf TSUMUUV.) WELLINGTON. March 8. The following is the Dominion sum* .; mary prepared by Dr. E. Kidson for the month of February:—i February is usually a dry month, but ■ this year, not only did we. have by , far the wettest February hitherto recorded in New Zealand, but, except for the western and southern portions of the South Island, it is doubtful if so much rain has fallen pyer the country as a whole even in a winter month. Flooding occurred at times over practically the whole of the North Island, and in parts of the Auckland province the floods of ; February 1 and 2 were of record Marlborough*. Canterbury, and Northeastern Otago, also, there was heavy flooding. In Canterbury the floods of February 19 to 21 were the most severe since. 1923 and the Ashley river rose to an unprecedented height. In addition, there was much cloudy and humid weather between > the rains. In consequence of the wet weather there has been everywhere a rank growth of pasture. Stock are in good condition generally and the milk yield has been well maintained. For sheep the grass is too rank and soft and lambs are not fattening well. Severe damage has been done to the wheat crop which otherwise would have been excellent. In many instances grain, both standing and in stocks, has sprouted. Other crops are generally poor, and copdi--1 tions have been extremely unfavourable for haymaking. The apple crop, however, appears to be satisfactory. White butterflies, though not so numerous as in 1934-35, were more plentiful than earlier in the summer. Rainfall Over the whole of the North Island extremely wet weather prevailed and the totals were generally about three to lour times the average for February, though in places with a westerly aspect conditions were, relatively, not quite so bad, as elsewhere. In Marlborough, most of Canterbury, and Eastern Otago similar conditions prevailed. Most oi Westland, the McKenzie country, the interior of Otago, and Southland, had .less than the average rain. In South Westland there were some heavy falls. Temperatures Though there were cold spells on February 7 and 8, when considerable snow fell on the ranges of the South Island, and on February 19 and 26, the month was comparatively mild. In most cases the mean temperatures were below normal, but there were frequent exceptions to this rule. On the West Coasi means were generally above the average. Marlborough and most of Canterbury experienced a cold month, the departures from normal being approximately 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Fejp* frosts were reported. Sunshine Invercargill, with 189.1 hours, had considerably , more sunshine than usual* while Gore and Dunedin, also, were above the averaige. Everywhere else there were large deficiencies, 40 1;o 50 hours being common. It was the absence of sunshine and consequent low maximum temperatures which was principally responsible for the low mean temperatures for the month, Tauranga, with 207.2 hours had the highest registration. Storm Systems During the night of February 1 and the r morning of February 2, a deep cyclone, which had originated some days before as a tropical cyclone to the north-west of the New Hebrides, rapidly increasing its speed of movement, travelled down the western side of the Auckland Peninsula, and thence across the centre of the North Island and away in a south-easterly direction. In most of the Auckland province north-east-erly gales were followed, after the centre passed, by south-westerly. Elsewhere, over the North Island, southerly or south-easterly gales were experienced. Though short-lived, owing to the rapid movement of the storm 1 these winds rose to whole gale force in some exposed positions. It was probably the most violent storm ever experienced at most places in the North Island and certainly caused more destruction than any previous one. Extremely heavy rains occurred. falls of four to 11 inches being thq rule. Though there were some heavy rainfalls, principally. in Marlborough, the South Island was little affected. The remaining storms were rather complex in structure and none • was severe until the centre had passed New Zealand, although heavy rains were produced. The first of these systems operated from February 6. to ' February 9. On February 7 and 8 there were southerly gales; the temperature dropped sharply; snow fell on the ranges of the South Island; and there, were many violent thunder and hailstorms. Rain was almost general and in many places heavy. Canterbury had heavy fains on this occasion. Widespread, though brief flooding occurred. Another very wet period was from February 17 to 22. There was no very violent storm, but the persistence of high -pressure in the Chatham Island rqgion while depressions approached from the west led to the rainfall being very heavy, especially in Canterbury, where there was severe flooding and much damage done. At Akaroa 9iin of rain fell between 9 a.m. and 3.30 p.m_ on. February 20, and for 24 hours the fall was U.73in, A depression, which passed on February 25, deepened when to the eastward, and was by a severe southerly gale:,. Again, there was heavy rain at many places. Thunderstorms were frequent during the month and unusually Several buildings were struck and some stock were killed. A hailstorm in the Nelson district on February 7 did much damage to the tobacco crop.