NOVEMBER WEATHER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17957, 8 December 1932, Page 4

NOVEMBER WEATHER

OUTSTANDING FEATURES LOW RAINFALL IN MOST PARTS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In his summary of the weather experienced in November, the Dominion meteorologist states : “The outstanding feature of November’s weather was the very low rainfall experienced in most districts. It was a typical spring month in the prevalence of north-westerly winds, gales being recorded on several occasions in the South Island and the southern half of the North. During tho past few years these spring north-westers have been loss prominent than usual, so that hist month’s experience was rather in the nature of a return to normal. The amount of sunshine was almost everywhere much above the average. Temperatures were rather below normal over most of the North Island and especially in Hawke’s Bay, but in the Wellington province and all the South Island, except the West Coast, they were above normal.

“The dry weather and strong winds have caused the growth of pastures to be checked, but following 011 the October rains, feed for stock was perhaps more plentiful than it has ever been before in New Zealand, and in most places showers occurring at opportune times have been just sufficient to maintain good conditions. In a few districts there has been a slight falling off in the milk yield, hut otherwise stock are doing particularly well. Reports regarding crops are also, on the whole, favorable. Haymaking has been commenced unusually early and a great deal of ensilage already has been laid down. Except for the. prevalence of the grass grub beetle, there is less complaint than usual regarding pests. Good soaking rains within the next few days will he needed if the effects of the persistent dry weather are not to become sefious.

“The dearth of rainfall was especially marked in the North Island, most localities receiving less than half the average, while in many parts of the Auckland province, including North Auckland, the central interior, and the Gisborne districts, less than a quarter was the rule. Since most of the rain was associated with westerly depressions, the western districts from Kawhia southwards and the high levels fared rather better than the remainder of the country.

“Tn the South Island Nelson, Marlborough. North Canterbury and Central Otago had a- very dry month. Heavy mins occurred on several occasions on the West Coast, and the deficits there were generally small and unimportant. Similar remarks apply to most of Southland and Stewart Island. In South Canterbury heavy local downpours, often accompanied by thunder, occurred on two or three occasions when a sotitherly change followed a, warm north-wester. As a result, most of this area received more than the average fall.

“Some reference has already been made to temperature conditions. Tho mean was about 1 degree F. below normal in Hawke’s Bay and about the same amount above it in the South Taranaki Bight area- In other parts of the North Island the departures were small. In the South Island, conditions were about average on the West Coast, but east of the ranges the north-westers brought high temperatures, means being 1 degree F. to 2 degrees F. or even more above normal. “A few frosts were recorded but most of them light. Some damage was done to tender vegetation, many tomato plants being killed, for instance, in Hawke’s Bay by a frost on the morning of the 10th. “Most stations recorded .20 to 30 hours more than the average sunshine. “A series of westerly depressions, six in all, crossed the Dominion during the month. The same type of weather was maintained throughout until tho last two days, when disturbances in the Pacific Island region caused a break in the succession of westerlies.”