NOVEMBER WEATHER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 8, 8 December 1936, Page 2

NOVEMBER WEATHER

A CHANGEABLE MONTH. "November proved a dull, wet and changeable month, and consequently from the- point of view of the public comfort it was an extremely disappointing one," says Dr. E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, in his Dominion review for that month. "Although there were several brief periods of cold southerly conditions, particularly on the Bth and 9th, and during the, last thrco days, northerly winds predominated, and temperatures were, on the whole, on tho mild side. As a result, there has been a wonderfill growth of grass and vegetation generally, and stock aro in splendid condition.

"Tho lack of, sunshine, however, lias kept the grass soft and in some districts lambs have not fattened well. Frequent rainfall also caused interruption in shearing, and a certain amount of mortality among shorn sheep. Generally, however, the month was a favourablo one for the farmer. "The total rainfall was above the average over tho greater part of the Dominion, only a small portion of the coastal area in the South Taranaki Bight and Greymouth reporting a deficit," continues the report. "The greatest excess occurred in the Auckland province, where some places experienced more than double the usual amount. .Russell had 11.32 inches, against an average of 2.22 inches, and Whangarei 10.11 inches, the average being 2.80 inches. Some large increases occurred also in Canterbury

TEMPERATURES ABOVE NORMAL.

"In spito of an excess of rain, temperatures were nearly everywhere above normal. The departure in most cases was only a fraction of a degree, but in the southern half of the North Island several places registered over two degrees Fahrenheit, and New Plymouth as much as three degress. "Frosts occurred on only a few occasions, but some places experienced rather sharp ones on the mornings of the 15th and 10th. Some damage was caused to plants on the 15th in Hawkc's Pay. Sunshine was nearly everywhere below normal, the only one of the recording stations having an excess being Tauranga, where 210 hours were registered. Napier had 228.9, Blenheim 209.9, and Masterton 205.4 hours.

"Tho first two days of November were line under the influence of an anti-cyclone. Tho only other anticyclone which brought fine weather over the Dominion as a whole was one which crossed between the loth and 17th, tho remainder usually passing too far north to benefit New Zealand.

"On the other hand, tho month was remarkable for the number of occasions on which depressions of both westerly and cyclonic typo passed over or in close proximity to the Dominion. Between the 2nd and oth a cyclone moved across northern New Zealand in conjunction with a deep westerly depression passing in the south. The former was responsible for heavy rain and some flooding in North Auckland, while the latter caused a strong northwest gale in Canterbury during the night of November 3. Among other damage a church spire in course of erection at Washdyke was wrecked. "On the Bth, associated with a cyclone centred west of the Auckland peninsula, strong south-easterly or easterly winds blew in tho central provinces." Conditions were particularly boisterous in the Cook Strait area. Severe thunderstorms, accompanied by very heavy rains, occurred in Taranaki and the central parts of the Xorth Island. A series of depressions of the westerly type crossed the Dominion between the 11th and 14th and the 17tl) and 23rd, and owing to the prevalence of north-westerly winds, rain during these two periods was confined chiefly to districts with a westerly aspect. "From the 24th to the close of the month a succession of cyclones passed from the northward over New Zealand and widespread rain fell on most days in this period. On November 25 the central districts experienced a heavy north-west gale, a gust up to 76 miles per hour occurring on this day at the Kelburn Observatory, Wellington. A temporary improvement took place next day, but on the last three days cold southerly winds and dull, misty, wet weather prevailed generally. The last of this series of cyclones was centred between Cook Strait and Chatham Island on tho last day of the month."

FAIR TO FINE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. A moderate anti-cyclone covers the Dominion, the centre being to the north. A deep depression is developing over south-eastern Australia. Forecast: —Winds between west and north-west, moderate mainly, but freshening at times. Weather: Fair to fine, and warm. Seas, moderate to rather rough. RIVER GAUGE. Noon —'2ft Sins.