AUGUST WEATHER

Evening Star, Issue 21820, 8 September 1934, Page 18

AUGUST WEATHER

TWO GOLD SNAPS WIDESPREAD SNOWFALLS The Dominion Meteorologist reports as follows for the month of August;— There were two sharp, cold snaps in August, each associated with widespread snowfalls, the first shortly before the middle and the second before the end of the month. The second was tlie more severe owing especially to the southerly gale which accompanied it. The remainder of the month, however, was mild and spring-like, and mean temperatures were, in general, somewhat above normal. A good deal of showery weather occurred, and the amount of sunshine experienced was less than usual. Rainfall was generally above the average in the South Island, but below it in the North. Though, in some districts, there were heavy losses in the cold spell towards the end of the month, the lambing season is proceeding favourably. Pasture is plentiful for the time of year, and stock are reported to be in very good condition. In Canterbury the wetness of the soil has prevented the sowing of wheat crops over large areas, and the work on other crops is behindhand. Signs of spring in bird and plant life are numerous. White butterflies are already appearing in large numbers.As stated above, the month was a dry one over most of the North Island, eastern districts, from the Wairarapa to East Cape, particularly, receiving much less than the average fall. Parts of North Taranaki, the Bay of Plenty, and .an area round Wellington, however, had rather more than the average; while in the extreme north there were some very heavy falls. In the .South Island most districts experienced a very wet month, but in Southland and the eastern portions of Otago and South Canterbury isolated areas recorded less than the average.

At a few places on . the east coast the mean temperature was slightly below normal, but over the rest of the country the normal was exceeded. The departures were ■ generally slight, but in parts of the South Island amounted to over Ideg. Frosts were fairly numerous, and occasionally severe, but there were some beautifully mild days. The amount of bright sunshine fell considerably below the average for August. Napier, with' 188.7 hours, and Invercargill were the only places where the normal was exceeded.

There were only three storms of any severity. A shallow depression which crossed the dominion during the sth and 6th caused considerable rain during its passage, especially in the far North and north-east, where there. was some flooding, but no very stormy weather occurred. The disturbance rejuvenated, however, when it was to the eastward, and there was an outpouring of cold air. from the south over New • Zealand. Snow was widespread on the 9th, though it did not lie long at lojy levels. The weather became very cold, and severe frosts followed on the 10th and 11th. On the 10th a severe thunderstorm at Warkworth was accompanied by the precipitation of enormous quantities of hail. A second depression, which had a considerable extension in a north to south direction, was responsible for northerly gales on the 15th and 16th, and heavy rain fell in places. A sudden downpour at Wellington

caused flooding in the city. Snow wa3 reported in places on the 17th -after, the depression had -passed. , The worst weather in the month resuited fi'om a cyclonic depression which moved in a south-easterly direction, across the dominion on the 22nd and 23rd. It was responsible for general rain, with many heavy falls. After ih passed, on the 24th and 25th a southerly gale extended over most of jfcha country. Heavy snowfalls occurred on all the" high levels and in the interior of Canterbury it lay for' several 0a%3 on some of the plains. Frequent hadstorms were experienced at mauyj places. Severe frosts followed until ■* ha 27th, but thereafter until the end ""f the month the weather was mainly beautifully fine and mild.