OCTOBER WEATHER

Southland Times, Issue 19395, 8 November 1924, Page 8

OCTOBER WEATHER

A WARM, MILD MONTH. GOVERNMENT METEOROLOGISTS REVIEW. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 6. The Government Meteorologist, Mr D. C. Bates, has issued the following weather summary for October:— The weather was on the whole dull, warm, and mild. It was remarkable for the end of the dry period which had been experienced, particularly on the East coast of the South Island. Warm rains occurred several times during the month, but snow fell on the higher levels on more than one occasion, but particularly in the rear of the storm which was experienced about the 20th, when the barometric pressure was very low, especially in the East Coast of the North Island. Another storm was experienced at the end of the month in the same parts, when, however, the barometer was over an inch higher. Atmospheric conditions were very unsettled throughout the month, and the barometer was unsteady. There were six areas of westerly low "pressure, and at least four ex-tropical disturbances, bringing changes in the weather. On only one or two days during the month was it fine throughout the whole Dominion, one part or another being subject to unsettled and showery weather. Satisfaction is expressed in the change by Canterbury observers as follows: Waimate: A good wet month—just what the country wanted. Geraldine: The month has been remarkable for the steady warm rains experienced. No heavy downpour occurred, so that the moisture penetrated the thirsty soil and there was no run off into dams or rivers. Pleasant Point: The drought is quite broken and there is a wonderful growth of vegetation. . The rainfall was above the average in most parts of the Dominion, the exceptions being chiefly in Otago and the Bay of Plenty. Northerly to westerly winds predominated, and an observer at Christchurch remarks: “Rainfall was 100 per cent, in excess of the October average, with wet week-ends for the first three weeks. It was a warm month on the average, because of the nor’westers, one on the 16th particularly, when 83.4 degrees Fahrenheit was reached at 3.15 p.m. The mean temperatures so far reported appear to be from 1 to 3 degrees above the average of the same month in former years.