JUNE'S WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 6

JUNE'S WEATHER

DOMINION SUMMARY

ANOTHER COLD MONTH

June caw the cold conditions, which have now persisted almost continuously for two years, again strongly developed, states Dr. E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, in his summary of June's weather .throughout the Dominion. Several very widespread snowfalls occurred ami severe frosts were recorded, especially in the second half. Except in the Wellington province, the rainfull was generally considerably below .normal. Parts of South Canterbury and Otago, particularly, are feeling the long shortage of precipitation. The low temperatures of the latter end of the month effectively chocked the growth of vegetation. Supplementary feeding of stock is being resorted to in many districts, but the animals appear generally to be in good condition. Owing chiefly to heavy fulls between th<* I'ith and 14th, the Wellington province generally experienced an excess of rainfall. More than the average was experienced also at scattered places elsewhere in both North and South Islands. Low rainfalls were, however, the rule, and at many places heavy deficits were recorded. Temperatures averaged over 2dc(j F. below normal for the Dominion, the month being particularly cold in Canterbury and Otago. There were numbers of severe frosts, especially at the end of the. month. On the 6th the lowest grass minimum temperature hitherto recorded (15deg F.) was reported from Rotorua; while on the 30th, Bdeg F.was recorded at Gore, and 7deg^ V, at Fairlie. There were four periods or widespread snowfall, the 2nd-sth, the 14th--16th, the 22nd-24th, and the 28th : 29th. The amount of bright sunshine recorded was, for the Dominion as a whole, approximately tne average for June. As would be expected from the remarks regarding .temperatures/ southerly winds

were more frequent than usual. Southerly miles were severe in some part or other of the country on the 4th-sth, 16th-17th, 23rd, am! 26th. That of the 2Gth was very .heavy between Cook Strait iind Banks Peninsula,, and shipping received a severe buffeting. That of the 23rd was felt most severely in Canterbury and Otago, where considerable damage of a minor nature was done. ... On the 4th, a vigorous depression ol t-ie westerly type passed south of New /&«.• land. Southerly gales blew in its rear, and snow fell on the high levels. Hail showers also were experienced in the South. . , After a spell of line weather associated with an anti-cyclone which passed on the Sth. an irregular series of depressions crossed the Dominion between the 10th and the 14-th. There was. much lieavy rain m western .districts and in the Wellington province^ where considerable flooding occurred. , . A deep cyclone, the centre of which crossed the northern extremity ■of the North Island during the 16tb and 17th, brought heavy rain to North Auckland and the eastern districts of the North Island. Southerly gales blew after the centre had passed. On the 23rd a cyclone centre developed to the eastward of Canterbury in a complicated depression which had been moving eastward during the preceding three days. This storm was responsible for a severe snowfall on all the high levels and also on some of the plain country of tue South Island. Numerous hail storms also were reported. The southerly gale of the 23rd has already been mentioned. The last storm of tlie month reached New Zealand on the 26th, barometers falling to below 29 inches in the far South. Heavy southerly gales occurred on the 26th and gradually blew themselves out during- the following three days. Heavy rains fell in the Wellington province and parts of the South Island. Snow was exceptionally widespread on the 28th and 29th. Thunderstorms were experienced in the central western areas of the Dominion. These were particularly severe in the neighbourhood of Wanganui, where some damage was done by lightning discharges.