JANUARY WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1930, Page 10

JANUARY WEATHER

UNSEASONABLE MONTH

SOME HEAVY GALES

The following summary of a very unusual January's weather is supplied by Mr. E. Kidson, the Government Meteorologist:—

January was a most unseasonable month. , Unsettled weather prevailed with only a few short breaks. Cloudiness and tho number of wet days were much abovo the average, while sunshine was considerably below it. Temperatures fell below the normal for January by an unusually large amount. Kainfall was almost everywhere in large excess. The only exceptions to this rule were in parts of North Auckland, the Bay of Plenty, and Southland. Tho month was, in fact, tho wettest January since that of 1923, which was tho wettest so far recorded. At Auckland, Timaru, Geraldine, and a few other places record falls for January were experienced. Though weather of the westerly type has again been less predominant than in ordinary years, the two spells experienced were quite sufficiently vigorous samples. The first occurred during the first week of the month. The principal depression of this series was a deep V-depression which crossed New Zealand on the 4th. On that day there were widespread northerly gales. Very heavy and general rain fell on the 3rd and 4th. In the Thames Valley there was some flooding, md the Manga mahoo dam in Taranaki was damaged by a cloudburst. On the 3th, though there was less rain, the-c were some severe hailstorms in Canterbury, Mr-" ' -••■• """■"•'™. HEAVY WINDS. The second westerly spell lasted from the 19th to the 22nd. Northerly or north-westerly galea were particularly severe. At Wellington the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. on the 21st was one of the windiest ever experienced. In Canterbury, also, tho high winds caused some damage.- Very heavy rain fell on the ranges of the South Island during this period, and there were con sid--nble snowfalls on the high levels. Thunderstorms were recorded at many places. A combination of rain and snow in a thunderstorm and a northwesterly gale was responsible for the loss of five lives in the Tasman Glacier on tho 19th. At Auckland on the 21st a torrential downpour caused flooding in some of the city streets. Tho steamship Awarua was struck by a thunderbolt while at Halfmoon Bay, Stewart Island, on the 20th. CROPS IN GOOD STATE. The abundant rainfall has ensured prolific growtli of grass and vegetation generally. Crops aro in good state, the damage done by the rain being less severe than might have been expected. There has been some tendency in Canterbury for wheat stalks to break off near the roots, the effect chiefly of au earlier dry spell. Some crops, too, will be difficult to harvest through having been beaten down. Grass,- though plentiful, is rather soft. Dairy cattle are doing well, but lambs are not fattening properly. Haymaking has been everywhere retarded or prevented. Farmers converting fodder into ensilage have been more fortunate. Fruit crops are good for tlie most part, but with stone fruit this is not the case. A dry spell in February will be of much benefit.

During the remainder of the month the storm systems were mainly of cyclonic form. On the Bth, a shallow cyclono developed in the Bay of Plenty, and deepened rather rapidly through the night. At the same time, a rather intense anti-cyclone crossed the southern portion of the South Island. The result was that strong southerly or south-easterly winds suddenly set in, and rose to gale force iv places, especially in Cook Strait. Temperatures fell sharply, bringing on an unusually cold spell for the season of the year.' Kain was almost general with many heavy falls between the Bth and the 11th, especially on the Bth and 9th, eastern districts receiving the highest totals. On the night of the Bth, snow fell on the mountain tops of the South Island, and hail was recorded at places. Another cyclone approached New Zealand on the 14th, and passed through Cook Strait on the 15th. Except in he far North an,d the south-west, there was again general and heavy, rain. Falls wore particularly heavy in Canterbury, where there was much flooding. In tho Ashburton county the iloods were the heaviest known. Almost general rains, with many heavy falls, especially in the South Island,' were again experienced on tho 27th and 28th, when a cyclone moved across Canterbury. Thunderstorms were rather numerous during the month.