DECEMBER’S WET AND STORMY WEATHER

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7111, 8 January 1930, Page 7

DECEMBER’S WET AND STORMY WEATHER

Cyclonic Depressions Frequent SUMMARY OF GOVERNMENT METEOROLOGIST Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The following notes on the weather for the month, of December, 1929, are supplied by tho Director of the Meteorological Department: — December was a wet and stormy month. Although tho eastern districts experienced some hot sultry days, there was less than the average amount of sunshine and temperatures were considerably below normal. The only consi dcrablo areas where the rainfall was below the December average were in the northern half of the Auckland peninsula and in the eastern portions of the North Island from Hawke’s Bay to tho East Cape. Over all tho western districts and in the high country of the interior precipitation was heavily in excess of normal. Most of the stormy weather was associated with the passage of cyclone centres across the South Island. Gales from between north and west were experienced to the north of the centres, while to the south of them easterly or south-easterly w-inds prevailed. It was these latter which accounted to a largo extent for tho high rainfalls in Canterbury and Otago. Thunderstorms have been rather frequent and in many eases severe. A large proportion were accompanied by showers of hail. A considerable amount of fog was reported from both the northern and southern extremities of the Dominion. Although rather late for some crops, especially oats, rains were of very great benefit to farmers in Canterbury and Otago. The prospects, especially for wheat and root crops, have improved very much and feed is plentiful. Tho abnormal number of wet days and heavy rain proved adverse to haymaking over a large part of the country and shearing has been retarded. The weather has been too humid also for fodder to be in its most nourishing condition, but on the whole stock and crops arc in a satisfactory state and the season is a good one. A spell of fine and dry weather would now be advantageous. As indicated above the unusual frequency of cyclonic depressions which has characterised the past two years was fully maintained in December. Their movement was very rapid and this was on the whole fortunate since although there were numbers of cases of rivers reaching flood stage they usually receded just when serious floods appeared to be imminent and the actual damage was slight. Tie first of the cyclones referred to crossed the south-western extremity of the Dominion on the evening of the 4th to sth and caused boisterous weather. Rain was widespread witfl many heavy falls especially from Taranaki and Wellington southwards. On the sth there were many thunderstorms and at Edendalc in Southland damage was done by a severe hailstorm. From the 6th to the 9th weather of a westerly type prevailed. Squally winds blew' from tho same westerly quarter, frequently reaching gale force and the western districts especially experienced showery weather. On the 6th a tornado moving from the sea visited Greymouth. Houses were unroofed and much other damage was done. In Cowper street and Blaketown a whirling column of vapour and debris was very clearly seen. The finest spell of weather during the month followed the westerly weather and persisted till the 15th. During this period a severe tropical cyclone developed in the Fiji group and moved slowly away. On the night of the 12th a heavy fog in Cook Strait caused delays to shipping. On the 17th a second cyclone crossed southern Otago and again northerly gales and almost general rain accompanied its passage. Thunderstorms were a marked feature of this cyclone. During the whole time that it was moving over the Tasman sea and New Zealand, accompanying “atmospherics” were particularly frequent and violent, and wireless communication with shipping was at times greatly interfered with. On the 16th, a cloudburst at Norris Hijl, six miles from Westport, raised a flood in the Waimea Creek, and several bridges were damaged. Another cloudburst was reported from Pukemiro in Thames Valley on the 18th and that cyclone traversed the Dominion on the 22nd, the centre, this time, ciossing South Canterbury. Precipitation was again general, and southerly winds in the rear of the depression, brought particularly heavy rain to the eastern districts of the South Island.

Had the cyclone not moved away sf quickly, severe flooding would have been inevitable. As it was, the Leith stream again threatened to inundate Dunedin, and parts of Christchurch were under water at Kaikoura. A phenomenal fall of three inches in 65 minutes was registered. Thunder and hail storms were very violent and widespread.

In connection with this storm, especially on the 22nd, wireless operators again experienced trouble from “atmospherics.” The last of the month cyclones moved over southern Otago on the 20th. Boisterous weather and almost general rain, accompanied its passage. At Wellington, over 70 miles per hour was registered in a northerly gale on the 29th. Each of the cyclonic storms described, were responsible for falls of snow on the ranges in the South Island and a number of frosts occurred.