APRIL WEATHER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 184, 7 May 1928, Page 6

APRIL WEATHER

DOMINION SUMMARY RAIN AND SUNSHINE BELOW NORMAL “April was, on the whole, a miid and humid month, with an absence of extreme temperatures,” states the Director of the Dominion Meteorological Office. “Although gales were recorded on several occasions, and that of April 30 was very severe, there have been few drying winds. Rainfall was below normal over most of Taranaki and parts of the Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay, and North Canterbury districts, but elsewhere there was an excess, which in most cases was considerable. Large areas in Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, South Canterbury, and Northern and Central Otago received more than double the average fall.

“The central provinces experienced heavy falls in the wet spell which occurred during the Easter holidays. This was a particularly beneficial rain, since it was accompanied by very mild temperatures, extended over several days, and in the early stages was light,- but steady. The ground, therefore, became thoroughly soaked, and the maximum of good and the minimum of damage was done. Complete relief was given from the very dry conditions which had prevailed for the greater part of the interval since the end of December in Nelson, and to a less extent in other districts. In other parts of the Dominion the heaviest rains were generally recorded in connection with the stormy period which commenced on the 25th and culminated on the SOtli.

“Sunshine Below Average.”

“Sunshine was below the average, and cloudiness and humidity above. Mean temperatures were two to three degrees above normal at most places. Damaging frosts occurred in some parts of the South Island on the sth and the 22nd. Gales were experienced over wide areas on the 4th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 21st, and 30th. None of these however, was a westerly gale, and consequently, as mentioned above, none of them had any great desiccating effect. Much misty weather, with fog in many places, was experienced in connection with the several cyclones which controlled our weather at intervals during the month. Observers’ reports indicate that there has been good growth of pasture over the Dominion generally. Stock are in fair condition, and milk yields have been well maintained in most districts. There have been good yields of fruit and other crops.

Cyclones and Anti-Cyclones.

“The weather from the 6th to the 11th, during which such widespread, and in many places heavy, rain fell, was of a very unusual type. On the 4th a small, but rather intense, anticyclone was centred over Otago, and owing to the steep pressure, gradients to the north-eastward, strong southerly winds, reaching gale force at many places, blew from Cook Strait northwards. The characteristics of this anti-cyclone suggested some unusual activity to the cast or north-east. During the sth and 6th a southern depression advanced over the south Tasman Sea and crossed the Dominion with much decreased intensity, rain setting in over the southern districts. This was followed by a feeble anticyclone. On the 7th a shallow cyclone was centred over the Tasman Sea. From this point onwards, northerly or north-easterly winds set in over the New Zealand area, and the period of unsettled weather commenced. Pressure began to rise over, and especially to, the eastward of New Zealand. The unusual phenomenon was, therefore, experienced of northerly winds and wet weather accompanying a rising barometer. The cyclone from the Tasman Sea crossed the South Island on the 9th, but was so shallow as to

be scarcely recognisable on our charts. The heaviest rain occurred on this day. After the passage of the cyclone there was a further rise of pressure, which reached 30.63 Indies at Chatham Island on the 11th. Winds continued northerly. Throughout the period it was evident that some other influence than the usual march of pressure systems from the westward was exercising a control over the weather. The sources of this influence were probably in the regions to the east of New Zealand. The very mild conditions, combined with the heavy rains, led to a rapid growth of grass. “A somewhat similar condition followed in the period from the 12th to the 16th. Northerly gales were experienced on the 12th to the 14th, , while an intense southern depression was advancing

over the South Tasman Sen. Lhls depression filled up on crossing the Dominion as did that of the 6th, and following it pressure was again high at Chatham Island. A cyclone then developed in the central Tasman Sea find crossed . Canterbury on the 16th. Rains were once more widespread with many heavy falls. In the Cook Strait region the rate at which the rain fell on the 16th was remarkable. At one stage 20 points wer recorded in 6 minutes at Wellington, and in a space of one hour 74 points fell. There were northerly gales on the 16th. On the 21st, following the passage on the 20th of a southern low pressure wave, which deepened when in the neighbourhood of Chatham Island, there were strong south-westerly winds to gales and rain fairly generally, except in some of the eastern districts. Severe Gales. “A rather intense cyclone crossed the southern portion of the South Island on the 26th and 27th, causing general rain. This was followed by the development of a second cyclone in the northern Tasman Sea, which increased in intensity and advanced eastward. This cyclone was west of Auckland on the 30th, and caused general rain with very heavy falls in all northern districts and heavy falls in many other parts, especially in eastern districts. In the 24 hours subsequent to 9 a.m. ( on the 30th, the barometer fell over an inch at many places from Wellington southwards. Severe gales blew on this day. The direction was between east and northeast at most places, but was deflected to south-east in parts of Cook Strait. The severity was greatest in the Auckland province, where much minor damage was done to shipping, buildings, telegraph and power lines, etc. Smaller damage was done in other centres, including Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.