WEATHER IN APRIL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 15

WEATHER IN APRIL

EFFECT ON.STOCK ~

REPORT BY DR. KIDSON

During the first part of April there I was a predominance of lino and mild weather, but in the latter half there . were frequent boisterous winds from a westerly or south-westerly quarter, states Dr. E. Kidson, Director of ..Meteorological Services, in his report for April. An unusually cold spell for the time of year occurred on April 23 and 24. Heavy snow fell down to low levels on the ranges, and frosts were numerous and rather severe. It was not until April 28 that mild conditions returned. Though rainfall vaa below average over most of the North Island, tho fulls were well distributed, and stock and pastures have- maintained unusually goud condition. Milk yields were very well maintained until the cold weather set in, whan there was a rapid falling off. On the cast .soast and in parts of the Wairarapa, however, the continued shortage of rain is being felt, and the cold, dry, westerly winds had n very exhausting effect on ■pastures. Winter feed is likely to bo scarce. In the South Island, Canterbury unfortunately missed most of the heavy rains. On the Plains thero is an acute shortage of feed, and most turnip crops have been ruined by tho effects of the drought and the ravages of tho diamond-backed moth. In Marlborough conditions have improved somewhat, satisfactory rains having fallen \arid temperatures having remained sufficiently mild to permit some growth of vegetation. . The remainder of the South Island experienced wet conditions, and tho state of stock and pastures is generally satisfactory. Kaiui'ail was very much below average over the greater part of the North Island. The Hawko's Bay and Poverty Bay- districts had less than half. V*A small area• around Hamilton and the country surrounding tho South Taranaki Bight, however, recorded moro than tho normal totals. In the South Island, Canterbury was again unfortunate, dry conditions still persisting. Somo stations once moro experienced a shortago of more than CO per cent. Over the remainder of tho South Island, the 'rainfall was ' above the average;. A particularly wet month was experienced in Otago and Southland, .the normal for April being more than doubled at many places. Temperatures were slightly abovo normal over, most of tho North Island, but the reverse was tho case in Taranaki. In tho South Island, 'coastal portions of Marlborough and Canterbury recorded temperatures slightly above normal, but over tho remainder they wcro considerably below. From April 23 onward there were many frosts, especially in the South Island. At most plaeos moro than tho average amount of bright sunshine was experienced, but in' parts oF the South Island, especially the wqst coast and tho south, there was a deficit. Napier with 223.4 hours had the best record. The outstanding featuro of the month was a very intense anticyclone which covered tho whole of Australia, practically continuously, from April 12 to 26. Anticyclones of this type are not unusual in the autumn, but soldom so early as this. Tho consequence of this high pressure to tho westward was that New Zealand experienced a sovcro spell of westerly weather. From April 14 to 27 there was scarcely a day without strong and squally winds from a westerly quarter.