THE WEATHER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 239, 6 September 1940, Page 2

THE WEATHER

FAIR TO CLOUDY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. C. A disturbance is still located west of Auckland between anti-cyclones centred over Eastern Australia and to the south-east of the Dominion. The forecast is for moderate winds from an easterly quarter. The weather will be mainly fair to cloudy, but with some scattered light drizzle on the East Coast; cool temperatures; moderate seas. WEATHER IN AUGUST. UNUSUALLY~~~MILD MONTH. WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. .''August completes a remarkably good winter during which there was unusually little storm activity,” says Dr. M. A. F. Barnett (Director of Meteorological Services) in his notes on the weather for the month. “The month was on the mild side and, for most of New Zealand, a dry one, but north-easterly winds and weather have given some steady- soaking rains in eastern regions of the North Island. Conditions have been ideal for calving and lambing, which have been proceeding with the minimum of trouble. Agricultural work is well up to schedule. while the feed situation is most satisfactory, with good spring growth in almost all districts. As in the previous month, domestic -water shortage has been giving concern in Southland, and the persistent dry conditions in the south-east of the South Island will become harmful if they continue much longer.

“Over the greater nart of the country there was a deficit of rainfall, but a surplus was recorded in eastern sections of the North Island from the Coromandel Peninsula southward, with the totals in the Gisborne-East Cape area in considerable'excess. Districts where the rainfall failed to reach half the normal include some western portions of the . Auckland Peninsula, northern Taranaki, and the Manawatu in the North Island, as well as Marlborough and most of the country between’ Ashburton and Balclutha in the south.

“Temperatures were fairly uniform throughout the month, and mean values showed departures generallv of the order of 1 or 2 degrees above normal.. As in July, much less snow is lving on the ranges than is usual at this season. Frosts were fairlv frequent, particularly in the first half of the month, but they were not severe.

“The duration of bright sunshine registered was well below average in Nelson and Marlborough, as well as in the southern and eastern portions of the North Island. On .the other hand Auckland and Dunedin had a substantial excess above tho normal amount. RIVER GAUGE. Noon.—2ft, 9in. ! , A