THE WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1937, Page 2

THE WEATHER

MONTH OF AUGUST.

WELLINGTON, September 8 GENERAL.

August is normally regarded as the last month of winter, hut that just past was mild, pleasant and distinctly spring-like in character. There was less wind than usual, and temperatures were generally above the average for the time of year. The cold of the early winter caused a shortage of pasture in many districts during the first part ol the month, and it was necessary to resort to hand feeding of stock. The dry weather accentuated this condition. In addition to pastures, the wheat crops ini mid-Canterbury and North Otago, suffered considerably, and mild rains are badly wanted there and a some other localities. Over most oi the country, however, there was fairly rapid growth of vegetation during tin latter half of the month and stock have kept in fair condition. • The weathe; was favourable for lambing and tin losses have been relatively light.

lIAINFJuLL

The month was a particularly dr\ oim over most of the Dominion, 'lilt greatest defects from normal rainfai occurred in the southern half of tin North Island and the eastern area o the South. In some places it was the driest August ever experienced. In parts of eastern North Auckland, in the Bay of Plenty, and in the Gisborne area, however, the average was exceeded, chiefly on account of heavy rain which occurred about the 24th. and the 30th. of the month.

TEMPERATURE,

At a few places in North Auckland and in Hawke’s Bay the mean tem perature was slightly below normal, but over the remainder of the country th normal was exceeded. The departure was in the vicinity of 0.5° in the North Island, but greater in the South, and at places in the western and fa. southern districts it exceeded 2°/ . A very cold spell set in on the evening o| the Gth. and continued through the 7th. The 13th and 14th, also, were cold, and some severe frosts followed.

SUXSHIXE

There was a prevalence of cloudy weather and the amount of bright sun shine recorded fell, below the average for August, the deficiency being great in the eastern districts of the South Island. Nelson had 192.4 hours, which was 17.2 hours below the average.

PRESSURE SYSTEMS

One storm system alone during tin | .month caused generally disturbed conj ditions. This was a deep depression o. the westerly type which passed between the 3rd. and 7th. Strong winds and fairly general rains occurred during this period, the worst effects being experienced on the night of the Oth and on the 7th, when a severe southwesterly gale blew in most districts, with hail and snow in places. By the Bth the front of an anti-cyclone had extended on to the Dominion, and from then until the 26th pressure re mnined high. On the 13th and 14th the highest pressure was over southern .New Zealand and cold south-westerly winds blew along the East Coast, ac companied by showers between Cook Strait and East (’ape. By the 19th the centre of the anti-cyclone had passed. and thereafter it remained practically stationary in the vicinity of Chatham Islands until the 2oth. An intense cyclonic depression, which was located off the New South Wales coast on the 21st, moved slowly across the Tasman Sea during the next few days, and from the 23rd to 27th was responsible for north-east winds and mild, dull, misty weather in the Dominion, with scattered rains. The latter was mostly light but some heavy falls oc- I curred at places in North' Auckland J and on the East Coast of the North Is- j land. By the 27th, when it had at last crossed the Dominion, the cyclone had become a very shallow one and the southerly which was associated with its rear proved a very mild one. I Anti-cyclonic conditions and fine weather again ruled on the 28th and 29th ,but on the latter day a Iresli I cyclonic depression formed to the j north-west of New Zealand. r lhijs j moved slowly, at first, in a south- j easterly and later in an easterly direction, passing Cape Maria van Diemen to the northward on the 30th. Dull and misty weather prevailed over most of the country. Gales from between i east and south-east blew in the northern and eastern portions of the North Island on the 30th and 31 st, accom- J panied in many places by heavy rain. I In the Bay of Plenty some flooding occurred. Except in the distri ts mentioned, however, the rain wa s light.