WEATHER LAST MONTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25430, 11 January 1944, Page 4

WEATHER LAST MONTH

DRY CONDITIONS GENERAL According to a bulletin Issued by the Dominion Meteorologist, Wellington, December was a warm, settled month. Disturbances which crossed New Zealand were weak, and any strong winds were of short duration. Most districts have had excellent conditions for harvesting and shearing, although some of the wool has been short. There has not been sufficient rain for many of the small crops and burnt pastures are adversely affecting dairy production. By the end of December the fire hazard throughout the country was becoming serious. With few exceptions, the month was very. dry. Average rainfall totals were reached locally at Whangarel and in the vicinity of Taupo, and were exceeded at most places between Hastings and East Cape. Other districts were dry. The South Island as a whole had only about half its usual rainfall, and Canterbury considerably less. In northern parts of Canterbury some rainfall totals were extremely small. Mean temperatures for the month were mostly one or two degrees above normal. Temperatures were persistently high, but on December 6 there were some light frosts affecting garden growth in parts of Southland. Except in the south-eastern portion of the Auckland Province, the duration of sunshine was more than the average, generally by substantial amounts. Wellington and Hokitika had the biggest surpluses.