THE WEATHER

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 8

THE WEATHER

MONTH OF OCTOBER. MILD AND EQUABLE. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, November 8. The following notes on the weather for October have -been issued by the Dominion Meteorologist:— With the exception of the first two days, October was very mild and equable. There was much less westerly wind than usual at this time of year. Conditions are rather dry in the eastern portions of the North Island, but in Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury the subsoil is thoroughly soaked for the first time during the last four to five years. Over the rest of the country, though rainfall has been on the light side so far this year, there is no acute shortage. On the whole, October was one of the best Spring months we have had. There has been a wonderful flush of growth in grass and vegetation generally and the countryside has never looked greener. Stock are in good condition, although in some districts lambs have not thriven as well as might be expected. The prospects for fruit and other crops are very good Some trouble has been experienced in parts of Canterbury and Marlborough from excessive moisture.

In Taranaki, Western Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury rains were, in general, much above the average, though there were a few exceptions. Wellington city and much of Marlborough had double the normal total. In Westland the falls were for the most part about average. The remainder of the country received much less than is usual in October. After October 2 the month was a very mild one, with no prolonged or severe spell of cold southerly wind. Nevertheless, mean temperatures were almost everywhere below normal. The departures were fairly large on the east coast, but very small on the west. As regards sunshine, conditions were very irregular. Considerable departures from the average were recorded at numbers of places, but excesses and deficits appear to be about equally mixed. Lake Tekapo had 246.5 hours, Napier 226.1, Tauranga 215.5 and Blenheim 211.7. The only storm of note occurred at the beginning of the month. At this time a depression was crossing the Dominion, and on the morning of the 2nd a deep cyclone centre developed over the Cook Strait area. Rain was practically general and in the western and central districts there were many heavy falls. Flooding occurred in Taranaki, Southern Wellington, Marlborough and North Canterbury. On October 1 northerly gales raged at many places from Nelson and . Marlborough northwards, and the Wairarapa experienced the most destructive gale in its history. A moderate westerly depression which passed on the 9th was responsible for a fresh fall of snow on the ranees, but the precipitation caused by it was far from general. Several other depressions passed during the month, but none were very boisterous or productive of general rain. Associated with one of these, there was some severe thunder and hailstorms in western districts of the North Island on October 31.