WEATHER SUMMARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3987, 12 August 1930, Page 62

WEATHER SUMMARY.

THE MONTH OF JULY.

WELLINGTON, August 6. The following notes on the weather for July are issued by Dr E. Kidson, director of meteorological services:— July, 1930, will be remembered for the very cold weather experienced, especially during the latter half of the month. Southerly winds prevailed almost continuously, except for a short spell between the 17th and 19th, and frequently reached gale force. Hail showers were numerous and and the high country also received many falls of snow 7 which extended on several occasions to parts of the low levels. The falls in general were not heavy, and, indeed, on the ranges there is less than the usual amount for this time of the year. Seldom, indeed, however, has snow been so widely recorded as on the morning of the 28th. Between the 27th and the 29th there were comparatively few places south of Auckland, except in Westland and parts of Nelson and Marlborough, which did not receive a few flakes. In many cases it was more than 30 years since snow had been seen previously. During the first eight days of the month the weather was the finest and mildest over most of the country that had been experienced for some time. An anti-cyclone moved on to the Dominion on the 2nd, and on the 4th became centred over the southern portion. It remained practically stationary in this position until the Sth, and clear skies and light winds were the rule. Such rain as fell came mainly in the night time. On the sth and 6th there was fairly general rain, with many heavy falls in districts about and south of Auckland. The Waihou River rose very high, and some severe flooding occurred, especially in and around Thames. Between the Sth and the 10th a small cyclone moved in a south-easterly direction past- the northern extremity of the North Island. Rough weather was caused in the North Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and East Cape dis tricts, and there were some heavy rain falls. On the. 10th the south-easterly gales reached as far south as Cook Strait. -s

From the 17th to the 19th occurred the only spell in the month during which northerly winds prevailed. These were associated with a deep depression of a westerly type which moved eastward from Tasmania. Strong southerly gales with low temperatures followed on the 20th. On the 21st a cyclone developed from a secondary depression to the one just mentioned and moved across the North Island to the Bay of Plenty. Southerly gales again set in on the 22nd. Between the 18th and the 22nd general rains fell, and the North Island, especially the eastern portions, recorded many heavy falls.

From this time onwards the barometers remained low on the east of New Zealand, while on the west they were high. Very disturbed conditions prevailed over the Pacific Ocean, and shipping received a severe buffeting. Cold temperatures persisted with frequent hail or snow falls in some part or other of the Dominion. Southerly gales blew at intervals from the 25th to the 29th. On the 25th and 28th they were particularly severe.

On the 28th occurred what was perhaps the most extensive fall of snow ever recorded in the Dominion. The amount was, however, in most places only small. Coastal shipping was disorganised and some damage was done on the shores of Wellington Harbour on the 28th.

RAINFALLS FOR JULY.

NORTH ISLAND.

SOUTH ISLAND,

Z X3 I i a? eS —j oi£?S •4 Station. c 'S r. o n<3 ► 5 CJ in. in. in. 1—Kaitaia 2.45 8.86 5.96 2—-Russell 4.97 3—Auckland 3.49 4.29 4.98 4—Tauranga S.53 7.87 4.86 5—Tairua 3.54 6.15 5.25 G—Kawhfa 4.17 5.06 G.16 7—Maraehako Station. Opotiki 1.76 5.40 4.09 8—-Hamilton 5.62 3.56 5.02 9—Taupo . . - - — - 2 ot > 3.83 10—Gisborne . . 4.07 2.38 5.14 11—New Plymouth 6.00 3.42 6.29 12—Whangamomona 4.73 2.83 7.35 13—Taihape 3.21 2.37 3.15 14—Napier 4.31 2.02 3.90 15—Patea 2.01 3.57 4.20 16—Wanganui 2.01 2.90 3.52 17—Master ton 4.29 2.49 4.31 IS—Poxton 2.02 2.17 3.09 10—Wellington (K a r ori Reservoir) ,. • • 4.16 3.30 5.22

o Station. ’S —<* o « H & QD 3 2-5 £ = X SJ “J > S <•“9 32 in. in. 20 —Collingwood 9.65 21—Nelson 0.17 0.63 3.49 22—Spring Creek, Blenheim 0.59 0.S8 3.40 23 —Westport 4.91 5.76 8.30 24—Tophouse 2.02 2.60 4.79 25—Greymouth 4.48 4.70 7.84 2G—Hokitika 4.90 4.81 9.OS 27—Gor<* Bay 2.90 1.53 2.84 28—Arthur’s Pass 4.48 11.55 29—Christchurch 2.93 1.31 30 —Lambrook Stn., Fairlie 1.14 0.59 2.61 31—Okuru South Westland 8.61 6.82 12.03 32—Timaru 0.64 0.64 1.93 33 —Oamaru 0.52 0.40 1.74 34—Benmore Stn., Clear- , burn 0.61 0.20 1.73 35—Queenstown 1.03 1.13 2.04 36—Clyde 0.19 0.51 0.94 37—Dunedin 2.07 1.64 3.01 38—Invercargill 2.76 4.92 3.28