WEATHER NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17933, 2 November 1918, Page 8

WEATHER NOTES.

CANTERBURY CONDITIONS. (By F. h. WOOLES.) The weather in October was very changeable, and showed a remarkable variation in temperature, the latter half of the month being some four degrees colder than the first portion, the reverse of what should be expected with the advance of the season, nevertheless an obvious example of how the climatic conditions of the province, and sometimes the whole of the Dominion, are affected by Antarctio influences. The first half of October was very dry, warm north-westerly conditions prevailing for several days. Towards the middle of the month the weather took a stormy-change, and from the fifteenth to the eighteenth a Beries oi heavy westerly gales swept the province. On* tho eighteenth a thunderstorm and showers were experienced, and on the following day a cold snap set in with heavy thunder, rain and hail in parts of the district. On the twenty-second and twenty-third a cold southerly storm prevailed, chiefly affecting the up-country districts, bringing a rainfall up to an inch and a half in parts, and laying a heavy snowfall on tho backcountry ranges. From then cold, showery weather prevailed until the thirtieth, when a heavy thunderstorm and hail broke over parts of the province, followed by a general rainfall. The strong cold southerly wind that accompanied the storm laid a further heavy coating of snow on the back country highlands. The month closed with a rainfall well up to average over the northren and western portions of the province, but somewhat below the average along the coast and in South Canterbury. Frosts were experienced in the city oh fourteen nights during the month, the most severe being 10.8 degrees on the eleventh and 10.3 degrea on the nineteenth. In the country the frost conditions were more severe, and in conjunction with hailstorms have occasioned a considerable amount of damage to. orchards and gar- 1 dens in parts, especially in the Methven district.

PROSPECTS FOR NOVEMBER. The cold type of weather conditions that were expected to prevail during October, and which resulted as anticipated, should also be in evidence during November. In fact, the outlook up y to mid-December is not too good. As is usual a\ this time of the year, wo should certainly have some warm days, but considering tho lateness of the season, the type of weather should be on the cold side. However, in contrast to tho comparative dryness of October November should experience an over average rainfall,' due principally to the expected prevalence of thunderstorms, conditions this year being particularly favourable for such a development, and November being the month when electrical disturbances are most likely to occur. Occasionally a cold southerly storm should appear, with snow on the back country highlands. Late frosty may also be expected this month.