METEOROLOGICAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1940, Page 10

METEOROLOGICAL

PHASES OF THE MOON. DECEMBER, 1940.

(N.Z. Summer Time). WEATHER REPORT. 9 a.m.: Wind, north-west (gentle breeze); barometer, 1022.3; thermometer, 60; weather, overcast and drizzling; bar, moderate swell; river, normal; rainfall, 9 points. WEATHER FORECAST. General situation: An anti-cyclone is centred north-east of New Zealand, and a depression is advancing across the South Tasman Sea. Forecast: Moderate to fresh northerly winds, turning later to westerly or south-westerly. Weather cloudy and unsettled, with intermittent rain. Mild temperatures. Seas moderate to rather rough.

NOVEMBER WEATHER. Notes on th'e weather state:—November was cool and rather unseasonable, but the weather considerably improved towards the end of the month. Showers caused some delays in shearing operations, but on the whole the rain was welcomed by farmers, especially on the east coast of the South Island, where falls were just sufficient to bring relief to the cereal crops at a critical time. Most types of crops promise good harvests and hay-making has started earlier than usual. The feed position is most satisfactory, and stock are well advanced and healthy. The total rainfall for the month was unusually excessive in Central Hawke’s Bay, chiefly as the result of torrential rain on the 3rd. A sursus was recorded over the rest of the •North Island with the exception of the south-western portion of the Auckland Province. Rainfall was lighter than 'usual over the major part of the South -Island, but moderate excesses occurred in North Otago and about the Southern Sounds region. There was a good deal of thunderstorm activity throughout the month, the main displays being just after the middle of the month.

Mean temperatures were below normal in many cases by one or two degrees, but several days were very hot. Snow’ fell on the southern ranges on several occasions and hail was of fairly widespread occurrence. Temperatures were, however, on ,a much warmer level during the last part of the month. The duration of bright sunshine was under average in the central districts, but was considerably above over the northern half of the North Island as well as in Westland, Otago and Southland.

First Quarter, Dec. 7 4.1 a.m. Full Moon, Dec. 15 7.38 a.m. Last Quarter, Dec. 22 1.45 p.m. New Moon, Dec. 29 8.56 a.m.