FEBRUARY WEATHER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19883, 9 March 1939, Page 8

FEBRUARY WEATHER

DRY CONDITIONS SHORTAOE OF FKKO (I’»*r Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. “During the first week of February there were widespread rains with some heavy falls in the northern half of the North Island but, thereafter, until the end of the month, except in the far south, extremely dry conditions prevailed,” stated the Dominion Meteorologist in his notes on the weather of February. “Numbers of places, indeed, had no rain at all during this period. The drought was accentuated by the ellects of the strong winds which occurred on several occasions.

“Warm weather was experienced foa few days at both the beginning and the end of the month, but the remainder was very cold for the time of the year. The growth of grass has now ceased almost everywhere and in some districts feed is 'beginning to be short “Stock are feeling the pinch in a few areas, especially where drinking water is scarce, but generally are still in good condition. The milk yield is declining rather rapidly. Turnip, rape, and other small crops have suffered very severely in much of the South Island. Many wheat crops in Canterbury also arc turning out light. Stone fruits have done well. “White butterflies arc seen everywhere but seldom in great number.-. Most other pests are less prevalent than usual. Some damage has been done by bush fires, and considerable anxiety is felt regarding the danger from them. Rainfall anil Temperatures “The only part of the Dominion which recorded more than the averagerainfall for February was the southern portion of the South Island. Genet ally the South Island fared relatively bettc'than the North, but. except in the area mentioned, the month was everywhere exceptionally dry. A large proportion of the country received less than -0 per cent of the average. Nelson. Taupo, and a few other places had only 2 per cent In Stewart Island, on Hie other hand, more than twice the normal for February was experienced. “The warm spell in the last ween brought up the average temperatures considerably, but they were still below normal at most places. It was particularly cold on the west coast During the second and third weeks co a weather was almost continuous In the interior, especially of the South Islam where there was more sunshine than on the coast, warmer 'conditions prevailed and at numbers of places the mean temperature was above nornrr. “Most districts had considerab.y -bove the average bright sunshine. Rotorua. Tauranga, Timaru and Queenstown, for example, haying ove. 40 hours more. Most of the - Coast, however, had less, and Mi - tika the deficit was o 7 hours. Queens own had 2G0.7. Nelson 250 J Tauran 246.2, Alexandra 246. and Napiei 246.4 hours." -