DRY CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Issue 56, 7 March 1934, Page 5

DRY CONDITIONS

t SPRING AND. SUMMER METEOROLOGIST'S REPORT Very dry conditions continued during last month iv Kelson and Marlborough, states Dr. E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, in his review of the weather for February. The spring and summer in those provinces have been tho driest on record, and come as the culminating point of four dry years. There is a very serious lack of moisture in the subsoil, and the question of winter feed for stock is causing great anxiety. Tho west coast, of the South Island also experienced a very dry month. In Canterbury, though the rainfall was below average, the humid conditions delayed harvesting. Towards the end of the month, however, tho situation improved and good progress was being made. Heavy rains were experienced in the North Island and were of enormous benefit to pastures. Over much, the greater; part of 'the' Dominion herbage is in the tender and succulent condition usually. associated with spring, and an abundance of winter .feed v is assured. Stock are generally in good condition, and dairy yields have. recovered to beyond the average for the time of year. Tobacco crops have been adversely affected in Nelson by drought and in other parts by excessive,moisture. There has also been some damage to small crops and fruits. RAINFALL. ; Tho only, parts of the North Island which had less than the average rainfair were" in ccntraland northern Taranaki, the southern Waikato, and portions of the Auckland Peninsula. Much of the remainder had twice the averr age and many places considerably more than twice. The week from the 7th to the 13th was a particularly wet one, especially in. tho South Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, Hawkc's Bay, aud:central. districts. In Hawke's Bay the Tutaekuri burst its banks and severe flooding occurred in the vicinity of Meeanee, Taradale, and Pakowhai. There was some flooding, also, in north Auckland, and-the Bay of Plenty, where Whakatano had a record rainfall for February. j In the South Island some; parts of southern Marlboroughj most of Otago, and the interior of South Canterbury, recorded more than the average fall, the excesses1 being largo in places in Central Otago. ,The rest of tho Island had considerably less than normal. On the west coast it was a particularly dry month. Westport had l.Ooin, and Karamea 1.47 in only. Except in. Otago and Southland temperatures were below normal, the departures being, largest In. eastern districts of the North Island. A number of fairly severe frosts were recorded at some of the- higher stations in Canterbury, but elsewhero theio were practically none. . ..''■.■ \ .' The amount of bright su;ishine recorded did not differ greatly from normal. :In the North Island it was rather less, but. in most of .'tho South Island rather more. Blenheim had 240.4 hours and Lake Tekapo 236.9 hours.:. PRESSURE SYSTEMS. There were two principal storm systems which ■■ affected New Zealand during the month, each.of which commenced as' a vigorous cyclono in the coastal area, of- Queensland, and caused extensive flood rains in the eastern Australian States. In each, the eastward movement was very slow. The first appeared, near Mackay on February 1, and,'travelling slowly in a south-south-easterly direction, became a very deep and violent storm by the 4th, when it was situated west of the centre of the Tasinan Sea. During this period there were easterly winds in northern New Zealand, and the unsettled weather which had prevailed there during" the latter part of January was very slow in dissipating. After1 the 4th, the cyclone commenced to fill up. The remains of it passed over Now Zealand as a complex trough of low pressure, which, though shallow, was* responsible between-"the 6th and the Bth for a general rain, which was the best experienced during the month. The southerly wind which followed the depression on the Sth and 9th was very cold and boisterous. Conditions remained unsettled to the east and north until the 13th. , ; ' The second cyclone appeared on the central Queensland coast on the 20th and moved southward until, on the 24th, it had reached Tasmania. It there, like'its predecessor, commenced to pass slowly eastward, at the same time filling up. A low-pressure trough lying in a north to south direction was left, however,. over the • Tasman Sea, and while it crossed the Dominion, between tho 26th and :28th, fairly widespread rains fell. Each: of these cyclones was preceded in the New Zealand area by: a rather intense anticyclone. In addition to ' the storms already mentioned moderate depressions passed between the 16th and 18th, and the 20th' and 21st respectively, but neither produced a great deal of rain.