MONTH OF CYCLONES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18467, 8 January 1930, Page 7

MONTH OF CYCLONES

DECEMBER WET AND STORMY. METEOROLOGIST’S SUMMARY. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, January 7. The following notes on the weather for December, 1929, are supplied bv the Director of the Meteorological Office: — December was a wet and stormy j month. Although eastern districts ex- , perienced some hot, sultry days, there was less than the average amount of sunshine, and temperatures were considerably below normal. The only considerable areas where the rainfall was beiow the December average were in the northern half of Auckland Peninsula, and in eastern portions of the North Island, from Hawke’s Bay to East Cape. Over all western distiicts, and-in the high country of the interior, - the precipitation was heavily in excess of normal. Most of the stormy weather was associated with the passage of cyclone centres across the South Island. Gales from between north and west were experienced to the north of the cyclone centres, while to the south of them easterly or south-easterly winds prevailed. It was these latter which accounted to a large extent for the high rainfalls in Canterbury and Otago. Thunderstorms have been rather frequent, and in many cases severe. A large proportion of these were accompanied by showers of hail. A considerable amount of fog was reported from-both northern and southern extremities of the Dominion. Influence on Crops. Although rather late for some crops, especially oats, the rains were of very great benefit to farmers in Canterbury and Otago, and the prospects, especially for wheat and root crops,, have improved very much. Feed is pl°ntiful'. The abnormal number of wet days and heavy rain proved adverse to hay-making over a large part of the country, and shearing has been retarded. The weather has been too humid also for fodder to be in its most nourishing condition, but on the whole, stock and crops are in a satisfactory state, and the season is a good one. A spell of fine and dry weather would now be advantageous. Cyclones Frequent. As indicated above, the unusual frequency of cyclonic depressions which has characterised the past two years was fully maintained in December. Their movement was very rapid, and this was, on the whole, fortunate, since, although there were numbers of rases of rivers reaching the flood stage, they usually receded just when serious floods appeared to be imminent, and the actual damage was slight. The first of the cyclones referred to crossed the south-western extremity of the Dominion on the evening of the 4th. to the sth., and caused boisterous weather. Rain was widespread, with many heavy falls, especially from Tar- j anaki and Wellington southwards. On I the sth. there were many thunderstorms, and at Edendale (in Southland) damage was done by a severe hailstorm. From the 6th. to the 9th. j weather of a westerly type prevailed. | Squally winds blew from some westerly i quarters, frequently reaching gale l force, and western districts especially experienced showery weather. Tornado on Coast. On the 6th. a tornado moving from the sea visited Greymouth. Houses were unroofed and much other damage done/ In Cowper Street and Blaketown whirling columns of vapour and debris were very clearly seen. The finest spell of weather during the month followed the westerly weather, and persisted till the 15th. Dining this period a severe tropical cyclone developed in the Fiji group, and moved slowly away. On the night of the 11th. and the morning of the 12th. heavy fog in Cook Strait caused delays to shipping. On the 17th. a second cyclone crossed southern Otago, and again northerly gales and almost general rain accompanied its passage. Thunderstorms were a marked feature of this cyclone. During the whole time that it was moving over the Tasman Sea and New Zealand, the accompanying “atmospherics” were particularly frequent and violent, and wireless communication with shipping was at times greatly interfered w : th. Cloudburst Causes Flood. On 16th. a cloudburst at Norris Mill, six miles from Westport, raised a flooo in the Waimea Creek, and several bridges were damaged. Another cloudburst was reported from Pukemirn. in the Thames Valley, on the 18th A third cyclone traversed the Dominion on the 22nd., the centre this time crossing South Canterbury. Precipitation was again general, and southerly winds in the rear of the depression brought particularly heavy rain to eastern districts of the South Island. Had the cyclone not moved away so quickly, severe flooding would nave been inevitable. As it was, the Leith Stream again threatened to inundate Dunedin, and parts of Christchurch were under water. At Kaikoura, a phenomenal fall of 3 inches in 65 minutes was registered. Thunder and hail storms were very violent and widespread. In connection with this storm, especially on the 23rd., wireless operators again experienced trouble from “atmospherics.” The last of the month’s cyclones moved over southern Otago on the 29th. Boisterous wea her and almost general rain accompanied its passage. At Wellington over 70 miles per hour was registered in a northerly gale on the 29th. Each of the cyclonic storms described was responsible for falls of snow on the ranges in the South Island, an*., a number of frosts occurred.