WET SUMMER IN N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28523, 28 February 1958, Page 13

WET SUMMER IN N.Z.

Causes: Sunspots, West Winds (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 27. The wet, unsettled summer was due to “an excessive westerly flow from October to January,” said Mr J. Finkelstein, senior climatologist at the Wellington Meteorological Office, when asked today to comment on the weather in New Zealand over the last few months. Mr Finkelstein said westerly winds were more frequent and stronger than is usual at this time of year. Winds from a westerly quarter must rise to cross the mountain ranges on the West Coast of the South Island and Mount Egmont in the North Island, he said. “The more the wind rises, the cooler it gets. The drop in temperature causes moisture to condense, and the result is rain.” It was significant, he said, that heavy rainfall had been experienced in the mountainous areas and districts in the lee of mountains. The South Island fared worse that the north during recent weeks. Rain maps produced by Mr Finkelstein showed that rainfall in the South Island varied from one and a half times greater than average to three times greater. Mr I. S. Kerr, officer in charge of the general forecasting office, said records showed many summer seasons in the past which were much worse than the period under review. Mr Finkelstein said rainfall usually increases at times of maximum sunspot activitiy Such a period was just concluding, and records showed that the rainfall . in the North and South Islands , was up on the general average. , He added that sunspot activity I was only one of the reasons ad- ■ vanced for increased rainfall.