JULY WEATHER

Evening Star, Issue 20556, 7 August 1930, Page 6

JULY WEATHER

VERY COLD MONTH UNIQUE SNOW RECORD [?ek United Press Association-.] * WELLINGTON. August 6. The following notes on the weather for July arc issued by Dr E. Kidson, Director or Meteorological Services July. 1930. will be remembered for the very cold weather experienced, especially during the latter half of the month. Southerly winds prevailed almost continuously, except for a shrt spell between the 17th and 19th. and frequently reached gale force. Hail showers were numerous and widespread, and the high country also received many falls of snow, which extended on several occasions to parts of the low levels. The falls in general were not heavy, and, indeed, on the ranges there is less than the usual amount for this time of the year. Seldom, indeed, however, has snow been so widely recorded as on the morning of the 28th. Between the 27th and the 29th there were comparatively few places south of Auckland, except in Westland and parts of Nelson and Marlborough, which did not receive a few (lakes In many cases it was more than thirty years since snow had been seen previously. During the first eight days of the month the weather was the finest and mildest over most of tho country that had been experienced for some time. An anti-cyclone moved on to the dominion on the 2nd, and on tho 4th became centred over the southern poriton It remained practically stationary in this position until the Btb, and clear skies and light winds were the rule. Such rain as fell came mainly in tho night time. On the sth and 6th there was fairly general rain, with mamheavy falls in districts about and south, of Auckland. The Waihou River rose very high, and some severe Hooding occurred, especially in and around Thames. Between the Sth nd the 10th a small cyclone moved in a south-east-erly direction past the northern extremity of tho North Island. Rough weather was caused in the North Auckland. Bay of Plenty. Gisborne, and East Cape districts, and there were some heavy rainfalls. On the 10th the southeasterly gales reached as far south as Cook Strait. From the 17th to the 19th occurred the only spell in the month during which northerly winds prevailed. These were associated with a deep depression of a westerly type which moved eastward from Tasmania. Strong southertv gales with low temperatures followed on the 20th. On the 21st a cyclone developed from a secondary depression to tho one just mentioned and moved across the North Island to the Bay of Plenty. Southerly gales again set in on the 22nd. Between the 18th and the 22ml general rains fell, and the North Island, especially tho eastern poruons. recorded many heavy falls. From this time onwards the baro- j meters remained low on the east ot New Zealand, while on the west thev were high. Very disturbed conditions prevailed over the Pacific Ocean, and shipping received a severe buffeting Cold temperatures persisted, with frequent hail or snow falls in some part or other of the dominion. Southerly gales blew at intervals from the 25th to the 29th. On the 25th and 2Sth they were particularly severe. On the 28th occurred what was per* haps the most extensive fall of snow ever recorded in the dominion. The amount was, however, in most places only small. Coastal shipping was disorganised. and some damage was done on the shores of Wellington Harbour on the 28th.