February In N.Z. Was Wet, Warm And Humid

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 16

February In N.Z. Was Wet, Warm And Humid

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 7. February was a wet month, with extensive flooding, the Meteorological Service reports in its notes on the month’s weather. It was also sloudy, warm and humid. Milford received 69 inches of rain, with more than 20 inches in a single day. Nelson had its cloudiest summer month on record. Over the greater part of the country, the rain was welcomed after a dry January, and stock and crops benefited. In some inland districts of Canterbury and Otago, however, conditions were considered too wet for sheep. Rainfall was more than double the normal fall in the Auckland province, except Gisborne, and also in most western and inland areas of the South Island south of Hokitika. Elsewhere rainfall was mainly above normal, except

in Banks Peninsula and most of Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay. Heavy rain in the Auckland province caused unusually widespread flooding, affecting especially the King Country, The Kaitaia district, and the Waikato, Wanganui, Tongariro and Rangitikei rivers. Some local flooding was reported in Auckland city after heavy rain on February 16. The Rangipo prison farm, south of Lake Taupo, received 20 inches, its highest monthly rainfall in 30 years of observation. Of this amount 12 inches fell on February 23 and 24. In the south, Milford Sound received a total of 69 inches, its highest monthly rainfall and not far short of the New Zealand record for a month, which is 73 inches, at the Homer tunnel in February, 1940. The fall of 20$ inches on February 13 at Milford Sound was also one of the highest daily falls ever recorded in this country. The heavy rain extended to the Lakes district, and the Clutha river was in flood from about February 13. The previous four months had been somewhat cooler than usual, but in February temperatures were above normal throughout the country. Sunshine was more than an hour a day below normal, except in eastern districts of the North Island and about Invercargill. For Nelson, it was the cloudiest summer month on record, with a total sunshine of only 128 hours.