PLENTY OF SUNSHINE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3766, 8 June 1936, Page 4

PLENTY OF SUNSHINE

BUT MAY WAS ONE OF COLDEST MONTHS ON RECORD.

DIRECTOR’S OBSERVATIONS ON WEATHER.

Though the majority of places had much more than the average amount of sunshine, last month was one of the coldest Mays on record, states the Director of Meteorological Services, Dr E. Kidson, in his observations on the weather for the month. In most districts, too, the month was extraordinarily dry. The other remarkable feature was the south-westerly storm of May 2—this was one of the most notable storms of its type in the history of the country.

After this storm the weather remained wet and rather stormy until after the close of the first week. Thereafter occurred a spell of settled weather, unprecedented for the time of year. From May 8 until the end of the month no considerable disturbance affected the Dominion. There' was very little wind, but what there was came mainly from a southerly direction. Temperatures were, consequently, much below normal. Frosts and morning fogs were numerous, but there were many fine days and conditions were never really severe. “ On the whole,” continues Dr Kidson, “ little growth occurred in vegetation and in certain districts pastures have been depleted. On the other hand, feed has in some cases been hardened and its nourishing properties consequently increased In the principal dairying districts the milk yield has fallen away, but stocks are reported everywhere to be doing well. The yield of winter crops has beer, very variable without any pronounced general tendency. “In parts of Central Otago and much of Southland, where there was a good deal of showery weather, the rainfall was above the average. Elsewhere the month was an extraordinary dry one. The North Island had only about 60 per cent of the normal fall, many places recording only about a quarter. Similar conditions’prevailed in Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury. Temperatures were, in general, between two and three degrees below normal, making the month one of the coldest Mays on record. In parts of the interior of Canterbury and in the far south, however, the normal temperature was exceeded. Some hard frosts were experienced, especially in th P north-central portions of the North Island.

“ Much cloud occurred in eastern areas in what was otherwise fine weather, but the great majority of places had considerably more than the average amount of bright sunshine. Tauranga reports 208." hours, while Nelson and Lake Tekapo also had fine records. PRESSURE SYSTEMS. At the beginning of the month a d P ep cyclone was centred near Chatham Islands. Several secondary depressions moved into this from the west, each bringing lower pressure to the Dominion. The culmination came with the last of these, on May 2. Pressure was extraordinarily low over the whole New Zealand area and severe southwesterly gales were responsible for damage from one end to the other of the country. The weather was very cold with frequent heavy showers and, in many places, hail. Snow fell on the high levels, and a number of violent thunderstorms were experienced. A storm of such violence av P r so great an area has probably not previously been recorded in the Dominion.

“ On May 3, pressure rose and the weather improved. The westerly type of weather continued to prevail, however, until May 7. * Conditions remained unsettled, with intermittent tain. A rather vigorous depression passed on May 6 and 7, causing practically general rain, with heavy falls in the ranges and western districts from Taranaki southward. A certain amount of flooding occurred in the South Island. On May 6 there was a northerly gale in Cook Strait, May 7 brought a southerly change and snow, again on tjie high country. “ From May 8 until the end of the month anticyclonic weather prevailed. Depressions advancing from the west rapidly lost intensity nearing New Zealand, and none produced more than a slight disturbance. The one causing the greatest fall of pressure passed on May 29. This was followed by rather colder weather and a little snow again fell on some of the ranges. Generally speaking, however, the amount of snow on the mountains decreased during the month, and at the end there was less than usual at this time of year.

“ Between May 22 and May 28 a series of disturbances followed each other on an easterly course far to the north of the Dominion. The last of these developed into a deep cyclone- During this period scattered rains were recorded on most days in North Auckland, but the effect of the storms was much less than might have been expected. Such rain as did occur after May 8 was v P ry erratic in its incidence and frequently of a very local character.”