SEPTEMBER WEATHER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 October 1926, Page 10

SEPTEMBER WEATHER.

OFFICIAL SUMMARY.

AN UNUSUAL SNOWSTORM. By Telecruph—Press A»sncl»t!«n. WELLINGTON, October 7. The following is the weather summary for September, as recorded by tho Government Meteorologist:— September, the first month of spring in New Zealand, presented samples of all seasons. Tho outstanding feature, however, was one of the most extensive snowstorms within memory. The falls were not heavy, but were fairly general over the Dominion. Southward of : Raglan and Taiminga, one observer I states that it was the heaviest known [ on the East Coast of the North Island i for -J6 years. Four inches fell at ; 'Havelock North, and two and a half j inches at Masterton. Our observer at ; Ilokitika says that an inch measured ; there was the only fall of snow remeirii berod in the town itself for thirty i years. The storm on the 16th was i accounted for by westerly, or , “Antarctic low,” and was followed by : a very sharp frost oil the morning of ' September 17. Heavy west to soutlii west gales were recorded at this time, I and the middle part of tho month was , remarkable for rough, wintry weather. ‘ The first week was showery, and the last fine and warm, with a beneficial rainfall at the close, i The rainfall for the mouth was ' below the average for September, especially on the east coasts of both. Islands, but it was considerably above the average on the West Coast, southward of Ross and over Otago and Southland. Changeable weather during the first three weeks of the mouth greatly retarded agricultural operations, but growth during the. latter part was very remarkable. Bright sunny days alternated with frosty nights along the East Coast during the greater, , part ’of the month.