NOVEMBER WEATHER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 11

NOVEMBER WEATHER

Many Sudden Changes

November was a month of many and sudden weather changes, according to the weather summary prepared at Lincoln College. At the beginning of the month, air temperatures fell to near freezing point. Gales arose and the next day, temperatures were in the high seventies. On November 18, a violent thunderstorm to the north and east of the station, brought hail and heavy rain to the area. On November 21 and November 22, a cold south-west storm, with heavy rain, caused some minor local flooding. As the month ended, temperatures moved up into the eighties. The highest maximum November temperature since 1963, 83.1 degrees, was recorded on November 30.

Heavy rain maintained pasture and lucerne growth, Improved the potential of cereal crops and encouraged specialist white clover crops to come away evenly. However, large quantities of hay were spoiled, shearing was held up and some lambs were more dirtytailed than usual.

Dairy production has been at a high level while lamb growth tended to be a little slow. In home gardens, vegetable growth has been satisfactory and some good crops of strawberries have been noted. The hours of sunshine were 177.8, the lowest since 1963.