JULY A COLD MONTH

Hawera Star, Volume L, 7 August 1930, Page 6

JULY A COLD MONTH

TiKCORD FALL OF SNOW (]3y Telegrap’:- -Iress Association.) WELLINGTON, August (>. July, 1930, will bo remembered for tlie very cold weather experienced-, especiallv during the latter half, says Mr Kidsoii, Director of Meteorological Services. Southerly winds prevailed almost continuously, except for a short sped between the ,17th and the ,19th, and frequently reached gale force. Hail showers were numerous and widespread. The high country also received manv falls of snow which extended on ‘several occasions to low levels. The falls in general were not heavy and, indeed, on the ranges there was less than the usual amount for the I time of the year. Very seldom indeed, however, has snow been so widely re- [ corded as on the morning of .July 28. [Between the 27tli and 20tli there were comparatively few places south of Auckland, except in Westland and l parts of Nelson and Marlborough, which did not receive a few flakes. In (many cases it was more than 30 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 the country that ha i been experienced for some time. An anti-cyclone moved on to the Dominion on the 2nd, and on the 4th it became centred over the southern portion. It remained practically stationary in this position until the Bth, and clear skies' and light winds were the rule. iSuch rain as fell came mainly in the night. On the nth and fith there was fairly general rain with many heavv falls in districts about and south of Auckland. The Wailiou River rose very high and some severe flooding occurred, especially in and around Thames. Between July 8 and 10 a small cyclone moved in a south-easterly direction past Ihe northern extremity of the North Island. Rough weather was j caused in North Auckland, Bay of [plenty, Gisborne and Fast Cape districts, and there were some heavy rainfalls. On the ,10th south-easterly gales readied 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 the westerly type which moved eastward from Tasmania. Strong southerly gales and low temperatures followed on the 20th and on the 2.lst a 1 cyclone developed from a secondary depression to the one just .mentioned and moved across the North Island to the Bay of Plenty. Southerly gales again set in on the i 22nd. Between the IStli and the 22nd •general rains fell and the North Island ,especially the eastern portions, recorded many heavy falls. From that time onwards the barometer remained low to the cast of New Zealand, while to the west it was 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 gules blew at intervals from tiro 25th to the 29th. On the 25th and 28th they were particularly severe, and on the 2Sth occurred what was perhaps the most extensive fall of snow ever recorded in the Dominion. The amount was, however, in most places onlysmall. Coastal shipping was disorganised also and some damage was done on the shores of Wellington harbour on the 28th.