September Dry

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30879, 12 October 1965, Page 7

September Dry

(N.Z. Preu Arsn.—Copyright) WELLINGTON, October 10.

September was a dry month in most districts. By the end of the month conditions were too dry in parts, and in the Auckland province lack of rain was retarding pasture growth. Frequent and persistent westerly winds marked the month, and on September 18 a local tornado caused some damage in New Plymouth. Rainfall was below average over the greater part of the country. In the northern districts of both the North and South Islands it was less than half the normal value. The rainfall totals for Blenheim were below a quarter of an inch and among the lowest on record. In parts, rainfall was 50 per cent above average. The largest area of abovenormal rainfall was on the West Coast, western Nelson and the Southern Lakes district. Temperatures were mainly elose to average although in parts of Canterbury and Otago they were one or two degrees above average. In most areas sunshine hours were average for September. Southern parts of the North Island. Marlborough, and Nelson received 20 hours above average and western and southern districts of the South Island were below average by about the same amount.