THE WEATHER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 265, 7 October 1940, Page 2

THE WEATHER

SOUTHERLY CHANGE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. Pressure is high over the northern Tasman Sea and Tasmania', while a disturbance is crossing the South Island. The forecast is for moderate to strong north-westerly win<ls, with a change to moderate south westerlies during to morrow. The weather will at first be cloudy on the West Const and fair to fine elsewhere with moderate temperatures; some scattered showers with the southerly change. Seas moderate inshore on the east coast, otherwise rather rough to rough.

A MILD MONTH. WEATHER IN SEPTEMBER. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. The Dominion Meteorologist reports that September was a mild spring monfh, with considerable cloud and frequent scattered i'alis of rain, while once again there was an absence of sustained windy weather. Warm soil and grass temperatures, assisted by favourable atmospheric conditions, have produced an early season as evidenced by the prolific blooms on shrubs and bright displays of spring flowers. Lambing was above average and very few losses attributable to wet weather have been reported. The main dairying districts are in an excellent state, but, while there is a geueral abundance of feed, in some areas the pastures are in need of more sunshine. Apart from cases of milk fever in the North Island, stock generally is in excellent condition.

The rainfall totals exceeded normal in eastern districts from Napier southwards to about Oamaru, percentage excesses being appreciably’ larger in the Canterbury Province, where a'number of stations had over double their usual fall chiefly as the result of continuous rain on the sth and 6th. A small area around New Plymouth had a slight surplus, but over practically the whole of the remainder of the country the totals showed deficits. These were, on the whole, most marked over the Auckland Province, where falls between 50 per cent, and 70 per cent, of the average were common. Some isolated thunderstorms occurred in the North Island during the first half of the month. Mean temperatures were with few exceptions .above normal, the departures ranging for the most part between 0 and 20. There were few hard frosts, and although on several occasions snow fell on the ranges, no significant fall was experienced on the lower levels. It was a poor month for sunshine in Hawke’s Bay and the South Island, but especially so in Canterbury. On the other hand, the Auckland Province enjoyed a surplus, the city averaging seven hours per day.