WEATHER IN AUGUST

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 240, 7 September 1928, Page 4

WEATHER IN AUGUST

SATISFACTORY RAINFALL.

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Sept. 6

■ Tho report of tho Government meteorologist, Dr. Kidson, on the weather for August is as follows: August was, on the whole, a satisfactory month as regards rainfall, especially in view of tho distribution during the preceding months. In most of the Auckland province, where there was little need for it, the rain was below normal. In Nelson and parts of Otago and Southland, too, there was a deficiency, and good rains will be wanted soon in these districts, especially if the season is to commence well. Elsewhere, registrations were mainly above the average and much good will be done. Most districts experienced remarkably uniform temperatures during the mouth, and the absenco of extreme cold gave tho effect of mildness even where the mean temperaturo was below the average. Growth lias, on tho whole, been good, and although there is still some shortago of feed in some of the parts which experienced a very dry. summer, conditions generally aro favourable and stock and clops are doing well. The month began with a continuance of tlio fine weather which had prevailed over tho greater part of July. Rain-producing disturbances were of slight intensity in tho New Zealand area until August 13. A particularly fine spell was experienced from the Bth to the 11th, during which period the weather was controlled hv a very intense anti-cyclone. On August 12 the western districts were affected by a dpression in the Tasman, which gradually moved eastward. On tlio 14th the trough of the depression lay across the Dominion and a cyclone developed in its northern portion. The centre of the cvclono crossed the North Island from Northern Taranaki to Hawke’s Bay on the 15th, and thence passed awav to the eastward on the 16th. Tliero were north-westerly gale.s in Cook Strait on the 13th. while on the 15th tliero were gales generally from a soutlierlv direction at many places. At Wellington these southerlies were especinllv severe and, combined with the high tide, caused much damage to the Kaiwarra-Petone railway. Shipping about Cook Strait was delayed, and minor damage of various kinds done about tile city. The period from the morning of the 13th to that of the 16th was a very wet one. Rain was genral and there were many heavy falls. Another storm, somowhat. similar in type, passed during the 20th. There were northerly gales in Cook Strait during its approach and fairly general souther!; gales over the North Island on the -Zlst. After the centre had passed again, there was almost general rain. Ga es .and general rains Avero associated also with an intense southern depression which passed during the 23rd and 24tli. At the end of tlio mo nth occurred the fourth and last of the important disturbances. This was an intense southern depression of tho inverted \ - type. Depressions of this type are usually followed by one or more secondary ones, but there was none in this instance. Tlio barometer fell rapidly to tlie minimum, and then commenced to rise again immediately with even greater rapidity. There were northerly gales during the 30tli over much of tlie South Island which changed suddenly during the evening to southerlies. The drop in the temperature was very marked, and snow fell thickly on all the ranges, at least as far north as the Wellington province. In South Canterbury and part of Otago and Southland tlie snow reached low levels, being particulaily heavv in South Canterbury. Near Wellington, it was low - down on the Oiongorongo and other nearby lulls. The 31st was fortunately a brilliantly fine day over most of the area which received the snow - fall, and there w - as a rapid thaw. Very little loss of stock therefore resulted. Apart from the 6now, there was fairly general rain m

connection with this storm also. Snow was reported from the Hermitage on a number of occasions in the courso of tho month, and tho mountains generally are well on tlie way toward receiving a good covering for tlie season.