VERY DRY MONTH

Opunake Times, 11 January 1935, Page 2

VERY DRY MONTH

DECEMBER WEATHER PASTURES AND CROPS —— t'. December was a very dry and sunny mouth, states the report of me jJomiuion meteorologist. The cixect 1 of the dry weather was accentuated by tug very high temv peratures ruling but, on thH other hand, was somewhat gated by the unusual absent wind. It was the hottest her ever r corded in New Zeala"* and no other month has exhibit so large a difference from its responding normal. Pastures become parched and brown and fruits and cops have ripened and plants flowered in an immature condition. Root crops have germinated badly in many places. The milk yield has fallen considerably and lambs are not fattening so well as previously. Otherwise stock are iu good condition. In North Auckland and scattered places elsewhere, the general conditions were reversed and there is still plenty of green pasture. Tim Auckland Peninsula, especially the northern portion, had a veryWef month, but in all other major divisions of the country the average rainfall deficiency

was large. This was particularly tbo case from the Wellington Province southwards. Even where heavy falls occurred they were generally of a local character and less benefit was derived from them than if the rain had been general. In parts of the central plateau of the North Island, in the Opotiki district, and in much of Otago and Southland, conditions were better than elsewhere. The lowest rainfalls were experienced near Wellington, on the Wairau Plains and in parts of Canterbury. Several places near Wellington, much of Banks Peninsula and the Lake .Coleridge area recorded none at all.

High Temperatures. The mean temperatures were everywhere much above normal and "most places experienced the hottest December on record. In no other month since recording began has the average departure from normal oyer the Dominion, whether positive or negative, been so high. In numbers of districts the mean temperature was T deg. Fall, or more above the average. Many high individual temperatures were recorded, but the most noticeable feature was i the uniform conditions with per- J sNtentlv high readings. The cold- M esc spell occurred on the 9th and 10 .b., but minimum below 50 deg. Fahf were quent in all districts. Abundant sunshine was expert- HI .meed in most places and several had their highest monthly total H on. record. Nelson reports 336.0 H bouts, Blenheim 332.8 and Well- H ingto'- 313.7.

Pressure Systems. Extremely uniform pressure conditiones were experienced with reather high readings ruling. The outstanding feature 01 the situation was the almost continuously high pressure to the eastward us shown by the reports from Chatham Island. At the same time low pressure prevailed over Australia. As a result, the prevailing wind was a north-easterly and westerlies were conspicuous by their absence. Depressions which were deep and productive of much rain over eastern Australia and the Tasman Sea, became shallow and lost energy as they approached New Zealand. The anti-cyc-lones. except for one in the middle of the month, passed in high er latitudes than usual. There was no really stormy weather, and scarcely a gale was reported. There were strong southerly winds on several occasions over the Tasman Sea, but they fell away on reaching New Zealand and no strong southerly invasion and no really cold weather was experienced. The conditions in some respects resembled those in the sub-tropics. There were high temperatures and the at-

mosphere was frequently humid. The rains that fell were somewhat sporadic iu character, there being many isolated heavy falls, but no general rains. Thunderstorms were, very numerous and frequent, especially in the high country of the North Island and of Nelson. During the first ten days disturbed weather persisted over the Tasman Sea, a deep cyclone devel oping iu the northern portion. As the remains of this passed by to the north, very heavy rain fell in North Auckland, severe floods being experienced in the extreme north. A shallow depression followed closely on the above and on the 11th occurred the nearest approach to general rain. As this depression passed eastward also, the barometer at Chatham Island showed the only considerable fall recorded during the month. Several oi lier slight disturbances pass ed and from' Christmas time onwards conditions became increasing unsettled, with many local thunderstorms. JL