THE WEATHER

Southland Times, Issue 25309, 12 June 1935, Page 7

THE WEATHER

MONTH OF MAY.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. The Government Meteorologist reports as follows for the month of May:— During May there were two periods when fine and mild weather prevailed generally, namely, between May 11 and May 15 and from May 25 to May 27, but tlie remainder of the month was mostly cold and unsettled, with a predominance of southerly winds. Owing, however, to a particularly favourable autumn and also to the two mild periods referred to, there was a good growth of pasture and generally a plentiful supply of winter feed appears available. Consequently stock kept in good condition, although the ’cold spells experienced detrimentally affected the milk yield and there were also some small losses of sheep. Whereas in the preceding six months temperatures were above normal over the greater part of the Dominion, during May there y, r as a definite change to wintry conditions and, except in the far north, temperatures were everywhere below normal, the largest difference being in eastern areas where they ranged between 1 and 2 degrees below. Rainfall was below the average in parts of the Auckland province and in the east coast areas between East Cape and Otago but over the remainder of the Dominion it was above, the excess being greatest on the west coast of the South Island and in the Wairarapa. On the other hand, sunshine was generally below normal in eastern districts and above in western, although totals did not differ greatly from May averages. Tauranga registered 183 hours bright sunshine. Nelson 169, Blenheim 163, and New Plymouth 159. On May 1 an unusually deep depression moved on to New Zealand . its centre crossing the southern districts during the night. Pressure remained low to the eastward, however, until May 9 while an intense anticyclone was moving very slowly across the Tasman Sea. Consequently, throughout this period cold southerly winds persisted reaching. gale force in many places. Between May 4 and . May 6 conditions were particularly boisterous, a southerly gale being accompanied at times by heavy hail and sleet showers. On May 5 there were heavy snowfalls on the ranges of both Islands and a‘ considerable amount also occurred on the low country. In Taranaki as much as two inches fell on the flat in places where snow so early in the winter is almost unprecedented. By May 9 the front of an anticyclone had moved on to New Zealand and then followed several days fine weather. From May 16 to May 21 a series of intense westerly depressions crossed the Dominion and strong and squally north to west winds prevailed. Rainfall at this time was confined chiefly to western districts where some heavy falls caused floods in the rivers, particularly in Westland. Severe thunderstorms occurred in Taranaki and Wellington districts on May 21 and heavy rain and floods were experienced in many parts of these areas. The Wanganui district experienced a severe gale on the morning of May 23. From May 24 until May _2B the weather was fine and quiet, with high pressure ruling. A cyclonic depression was, however, moving from the north down the west coast, and from the latter date until the end of the month dull, misty weather prevailed.