DECEMBER WEATHER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 January 1930, Page 6

DECEMBER WEATHER

WET AND STORMY MONTH

CYCLONIC DEPRESSIONS MAIN

TAINED

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Till January

Notes on the weather for the month of December 1929 are supplied by the Director of the Meteorological Department.

December was a \vci> and stormy month. Although eastern districts experienced some hot sultry days tnoro was- less than the average amount of sunshine and temperatures were considerably' below normal. The only considerable areas where the rainfall was below the December average were in the northern half of Auckland peninsula, and in the eastern portions of the North Island from Hawkes Bay to East Cape. Over all western districts and in the high country of the interior the precipitation was heavily in excess of normal.

Most of the stormy weather was associated with tlie passage of cyclone centres across the South Island. Gales from between north and west were experienced to the north of centres while to the south of them easterly or southeasterly winds prevailed. It was these latter which accounted to a large extent for tlie high rainfalls in Canterbury and Otago. Thunder sloians have been rather frequent and in many cases severe. A large proportion were accompanied by showers ofi hail. A'considerable amount of fog was. reported from both 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. Tlie 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 he in its most nourishing condition, hut on the whole stock and crops are in a satisfactory state and the season is a good one. A spell of fine and dry weather would not be advantageous.

CYCLONIC DEPRESSIONS

>, As indicated above, the unusual frequency of cyclonic depressions which has characterised the past two years was frilly maintained in December. Their movement was very rapid, and this was qd the whole fortunate, since although there were numbers of cases of rivers teaching the flood stage, they usually receded just when serious floods appeared to be imminent, and actual damage was slight. filjhe first of the cyclones referred to crossed the south western extremity of the Dominion, on the evening of 4th to sth, and caused boisterous weather, Rain was widespread, wjith many heavy falls especially from Taranaki and Wellington southwards. On sth there were many thunderstorms, and at Edendale and Southland damage was done by a severe hailstorm. From 6th to 9th weather of a westerly type prevailed. Squally winds blew from some westerly quarter, frequently reaching gale force, and western districts especially experienced showery weather. On 6th a tornado rising from the sea visited Greymouth. Houses were unroofed, and, milch other damage 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, with westerly weathfer, and. persisted till 15th. During this period a severe tropical cyclone developed in the Fiji group and moved slowly away. On the night of 11th and the morning of 12th heavy fog in Cook Strait caused delays to shipping. On llthi 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. AccomJianying “atmospherics” were particuarly frequent and violent, and wireless communication with shipping was at times greatly interfered with.

■ v - CLOUD BURSTS On 16tii a cloud-burst at Norris’ Mill 6 miles from Westport raised a flood in Waimea creek and several bridges were damaged. Another cloud-burst was reported from Pukemiro in Thames Valley on 18th. The third cyclone traversed the Dominion on the 22nd, the centre this time crossing 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 so quickly severe flooding would have been inevitable. As it -was Leith stream again threatened to inundate Dunedin, and parts of Christchurch were under water. At Kaikoura the phenominal fall ,of 3 inches in 65 minutes was registered. Thunder and hail storms were very violent, and widespread in connection with •this storm, especially. On 22nd wireless operators again experienced trouble from “atmospherics.” The last of the month’s cyclones moved over southern Otago on 29th. Boisterous weather and almost general rain accompanied its passage. At Wellington over 70 miles per hour was registered in a northerly gale on 29th. Each of the cyclonic storms described was responsible for falls of snow on ranges in the South Island and a number of frosts occurred.