DECEMBER WEATHER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 85, 9 January 1928, Page 3

DECEMBER WEATHER

UNUSUAL CONDITIONS Dr. E. Kidson, Director of the Meteorological Office, in his summary of the weather for the month of December, states; “A prominent cliaraccctistic of the present season has been lire frequency with which cyclones have controlled the weather in New Zealand, and during December these conditions were, to a large ■ extent, maintained. With the exception of a rather intense depression which crossed the Dominion on the 6th, the westerly type of pressure distribution was conspicuous by its absence. The depression mentioned caused strong northerly winds generally and was accompanied by heavy rain in Westland. “Between the 12th and the 19th a remarkable succession of cyclones moved down from a northerly direction off the east coast of the Dominion, their centres passing just eastward of tho Chatham Islands. The precise origin of these storms is unknown, but they maintained low pressures, cold, strong southerly winds, and dull, wet weather in NewZealand, especially over districts with an eastern aspect. Whereas our pressure variations are generally controlled mainly bv systems moving from the west, during this very unusual spell conditions over Australia and the Tasman Sea made little impression on the situation which had developed to the east of the Dominion. . Some snow tell in the high country in the centre of the North Island, and some heavy rains were recorded on the east coast ot the North Island. In Westland, though the weather was cold, no rain fell. Following this period there was a complete reversal of weather type, and the barometer rising persistently, anticyclonis conditions were maintained until the 28th. Fine and warm weather was, in consequence, experienced over the Christmas holidays. During the night of the 28th and on the 28th fairly general rains were experienced. These were associated n ith a cyclone which had moved slowly across the’ Tasman Sea, the centre crossing the South Island on the 29th. The total rainfall for the month exceeded the normal in *he East Coast districts of the North Island from EastCape southwards, and at scattered places on the East Coast of the South Island onlv. Elsewhere it was below normal, tlie deficiency being considerable in nil the Western districts. The weather during the month was unusually changeable with wide variations of temperature. It was not until file latter end that summer conditions became established. Temperatures were, on the average, considerably below normal and garden growth was again checked. Shearing operations in the Northt Island were delayed somewhat by the cold, wet weather. There was, however, aniplo feed for stock and the season continues to be on the whole a good one.