DECEMBER'S WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 15

DECEMBER'S WEATHER

FREQUENT CYCLONES As has been remarked in the notes for previous months, a prominent characteristic of the present season has been the frequency with which cyclones have controlled the weather in New Zealand, and during December these conditions were, to a large extent, maintained, states the - Director of the Meteorological Office in his monthly summary of the Dominion's weather. 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 tho 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 the Chatham Islands. The precise origin of these storms is unknown, but they maintained low pressures, cold strong southerly winds, and dull, wet weather in New Zealand, especially over districts with an easterly aspect. Whereas our pressure variations are generally controlled mainly by 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 tho. Dominion. Some snow fell in the high country in the centre of tho North Island, and some heavy rains were recorded on the east coast of 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, » anti-cyclonic 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 29th fairly general rains were experienced. These were associated with a cyclone which had movod slowly across tho Tasman Sea, the centre crossing the South Island on tho 29th. The total rainfall for the month exceeded the normal in tho east coast districts of the North Island from East Cape southwards, and at scattered places on the cast coast of the South Islaud only. Elsewhere it was below normal, the deficiency being considerable in all the western districts. Tho weather during tho month was unusually changeable, with wide variations of temperature. It was not until the 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 North Island were delayed somewhat by the cold, wet weather. There was, however, ample feed for stock, and the season continues to be on the whole a good ono.