AUGUST'S WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 60, 8 September 1938, Page 14

AUGUST'S WEATHER

DOMINION SUMMARY

A BACKWARD SEASON

Summarising the weather , during August as it affected the Dominion as a whole, Dr., E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, says that August was a much better month than June or July. After the first ten days conditions were mild for winter and some dry and sunny weather improved the outlook generally. Unfortunately, at the end of the month there was some setback with a renewal of dull and, wet weather. The condition of stock and pastures varies considerably from district to district but, on the whole, it is less favourable than usual. Though vegetation is show-' ing signs of growth, it has not completely recovered from the cold and wet of the earlier months, and the season is somewhat backward. In most oi *Otago and Southland there is still a shortage of moisture. In other districts the soil is generally saturated ! and_ farnv work is being interfered with. This state of affairs is particularly marked in the Auckland ProVm^\ T he lambing season appears UPi lk- eK to be S0 good as last year's Rainfall was much above normal over the northern half of the North Island, numbers of places recording double the average or more. In the southern half of the North Island the average was exceeded only about Wellington. In the South Island it was a wet month in and west of the ranges but dry in eastern districts, especially from Canterbury southwards. There were places in Central Otago which had no rain at all. Cold weather continued from July over the first few days of August but after the 4th there was a warmer > • Af° ther cold snap followed £ n fr°nL the 10th it was mild for the t me of the year.. The mean temperature for the month was everywhere above average, though the departure! were generally quite small. Frc£s Tp ce nrtT de?ate^ *«*««* but confined generally to the surface layers and there was no really severe cold. The amount of snow on the ranges decreased considerably. The amount of bright sunshine was above average in the extreme north and_ south and considerably so, also, in Canterbury and Otago. Elsewhere it was well below average Neltnn had 179.2 hours and A Sandral7B 3 PRESSURE SYSTEM SEQUENCE. «T^nnthe^ begin"ing of the month, a shallow depression was centred west but wS T?< moVed eastward but was followed by a similar and rather deeper one on the 4th Theswera responsible for winds from an eas erly or south-easterly quarter and dull, cold weather. There was widespread heavy rain over the North Isnn k an S, nOW on the Wgh levels. H?ht^i ea? y' mormn S of the 4th a light fall of snow was experienced at Rotorua. Some flooding occurred in the Auckland and Hawke's Bay Provinces. J There followed a change in the type of weather. Previously, a long series of cyclonic depressions had formed off the west coast producing conditions similar to those described above Now however, the anticyclonic centres began to take a more northerly path and the depressions which developed were of the westerly type. Of these, a deep one passed on the 9th to 10th. It was accompanied by a severe northerly gale which did much damage from Taranaki and Hawke's Bay southwards to '.Vestland and Canterbury. Telephone, telegraph, and power lines were interrupted and trees and fences suffered considerably. Rain was general with many heavy falls, especially in western districts. From the 14th to the 19th further westerly depressions passed. One on the, 18th developed a centre of low pressure over the Cook Strait area and was responsible for some heavy rain, Wellington had a torrential downpour with much hail. A very fine spell followed with anticyclonic conditions ruling over the Dominion. A series of depressions was, however, crossing the North Tasman Sea. These gradually became more-intense and extended further southwards. On the 27th the sky was generally overcast. Thick weather with rain, spread gradually over the North Island and easterly gales blew in the far north. By the 28th a rather deep depression was centred west of Auckland. There were widespread north-easterly gales and rain became general. The depression moved southwards and, changing into one of the westerly type,- covered the Dominion on the 29th. Westerly weather, with unsettled conditions and intermittent rain, continued until thG end of the month. On the 17th a small tornado occurred at Opotiki, wrecking a house and doing other damage. AFTERMATH OF INFLUENZA. Thousands of people have recently recovered from influenza attacks but have been left with a persistent chest cough. Baxters Lung Preserver is an ideal remedy for shifting this cough while "Baxters" tonic properties help accelerate complete recovery. Get rid of that cough at once as you will not feel right until it. is gone. "Baxters" is a wonderful remedy that will do the job. No wonder "Baxters" is in such tremendous demand at the present time. All chemists and stores sell "Baxters" in the three popular sizes—ls 6d, 2s 6d, and the extra large family size 4s 6d. —Advt.