A WET MONTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23109, 8 February 1937, Page 2

A WET MONTH

WEATHER DURING JANUARY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. 6. The Dominion meteorologist reports as follows on the weather during January:— GENERAL Though the rainfall was below normal in parts of the South Island, the weather was generally humid, and January was a wet month, especially in the North Island The humid conditions favoured the growth of pasture which is still abundant, in many places, indeed, super-abundant. Stock, consequently, are in good conditio, and the milk yield has been well maintained. Feed remains rather soft, however, and lambs have not fattened very well. The cool weather, too, has been rather unfavourable for crops of most kinds. Shearing, which has been held over in some districts by the wet weather, was still further delayed. and haymaking was interfered with. White butterflies have been rather more numerous again. Unusually low pressures prevailed throughout the month, which was more stormy and windy than most Januaries. RAINFALL The whole of the North Island, with the exception of parts of Taranaki, had more than the average rainfall. North Auckland had more than double, and between Hawke’s Bay and the Bay of Plenty, also, it was very wet. In the South Island, though it was generally a wet month, the total falls were below normal in Nelson and parts of North Canterbury and Otago. TEMPERATURES Temperatures were below normal over almost the whole country, the departure being generally about 2deg Fahr, Hastings and Hanmer Springs, however, were warmer than usual, doubtless owing to the Fohn effect in the strong westerly winds. About the middle of the month a few frosts were recorded, and snow fell to rather low levels on the mountains. SUNSHINE

Sunshine was above normal at Wellington and in the eastern districts of the South Island, but elsewhere was below it. Blenheim had 277.2 hours, Lake Tekapo 272.7, and Nelson 255.2. PRESSURE SYSTEMS

On January 1 a depression was passing away eastward and the weather was still disturbed over the Dominion. Rain was widespread. Some heavy falls occurred on both coasts of the North Island, but particularly in the north-east. On the sth a vigorous disturbance came from the Tasman Sea and a centre of low pressure moved from west of the Auckland Peninsula south-south-easterly across the North Island. Strong easterly or north-east-erly winds to gales blew over the North Island while westerly gales followed, in the central provinces. Heavy rain was general. Between the 9th and the 12th there was a series of westerly depressions which affected principally the South Island and southern portions of the North. On the 14th a cyclonic depression which had developed in the North Tasman Sea moved southwards from near Norfolk Island across the North Island and finally filled up on the 16th. On the 14th to 15th easterly gales in the Auckland Province did considerable damage. Heavy rain was again general over the North Island, and some flooding occurred in North Auckland and southern Hawke’s Bay. Dannevirke had 8.25 in of rain on the 16th. After a brief interval of anticyclonic weather, a series of very deep westerly depressions crossed the South Island between the 19th and 23rd. In the south the barometer fell below 29in. Westerly gales were experienced in many places and heavy rain fell in the west and south. The last storm of the month began as a tropical cyclone in the northern New Hebrides had passed, a week later, in a south-easterly direction down the east coast of the Auckland Peninsula on the 29th and 30th. Strong easterly winds and heavy rain occurred in eastern and northern parts of the North Island. Exceptionally high tides were recorded at Whangarei. At the same time, a westerly depression passing in the south. brought heavy rain to the west coast of the South Island.