WEATHER IN MAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19511, 9 June 1933, Page 5

WEATHER IN MAY

METEOROLOGIST’S SUMMARY. The Dominion Meteorologist has issued the following notes on the weather for May:— General.—May is a month whose characteristics vary widely from year to year but. on the whole, it is a rather -tormy period in wlvch a rapid transition from the autumn to the winter type of weather takes place. This year the month was dull and wet. The first part was cold and rather stormy, while in the last ten or eleven days almost continuously overcast weather prevailed with fairly mild temperatures and frequent rains. The cloudy skies prevented the occurrence- of many frosts so that pastures everywhere showed some growth. This will be particularly welcome in Canterbury, although it- Is too late in the year for substantial quantities of winter feed to be produced. The soaking of the gTound will also facilitate farming operations. In portions of South Canterbury, however, the soil Is still very dry. Stock are reported generally to be in good condition, particularly sheep. For cattle, the rather raw and sunless conditions were not quite so favourable. Feed is abundant almost everywhere in the North Island Rainfall.—The average rainfall for May was much exceeded over almost the whole of the North Island Taranaki had at least half as much again as the average, while Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay had almost double. A few places in the eastern portion of the Bay of Plenty and the extreme north of the Auckland Peninsula recorded less than the average. In the South Island, conditions were more variable, totals in excess of the normal predominated considerably, but about Tasman and Golden Bays, in the interior of Marlborough, in South Canterbury and North Otago, many places reported a shortage. In most of Southern Otago and Southland, the excesses were large. Temperatures.—ln the Auckland Province west of the main range and in the interior of Otago temperatures were somewhat above normal, but elsewhere they were below. Most of the first half of the month was cold, owing to the persistent south-westerly winds. In the later half, also, owing to the absence of sunshine, the mean temperature was on the cool side. There were no extremes, however, and conditions were mild enough to allow of some growth of vegetation. The mountains received heavy coatings of snow In the early part of the month but much of It had disappeared by the end. Comparatively few frosts occurred Sunshine.—Owing to the very dull conditions prevailing from the 20th onwards. there were very few places which recorded the average amount of sunshine for May. New Plymouth with a May average of 159.8 hours, for example, recorded only 99.8, while Timaru w'th an average of 148.9 hours, recorded only 93.1 Blenheim with 157.1 hours, had the highest total. Pressure Systems.—As regards the type of weather experienced, the month may be divided into three distinct periods. During the first, conditions were similar to those which prevailed during the greater part of April, pressure being continuously high over Australia From the 3rd to the 6th the weather was unsettled while a complex westerly depression moved across the Tasman Sea and southern New Zealand The main portion passed on the sth, and from then on south-westerly winds predominated in most districts. By the 7th, barometers had become very high in eastern Australia, and the south-westerlies thoroughly established in New Zealand. They continued without intermission until the 12th. Throughout this period cold, squally and showery weather was experienced, especially in districts with a westerly aspect. The Bth was a particularly unpleasant day. South-westerly or southerly gales and hailstorms occurred at many places, while snow fell on the high levels of the South Island On the 6th and 7th also, there were heavy snowfalls on the ranges. Eastern districts did not fare so badly during this first part of the month, being protected by the ranges from much of the bad weather On the 13th an anticyclone passed over Australia on to the North Tasman Sea, and a fresh type of weather was introduced. From the 14th till the 18th westerlies prevailed Western and far southern districts again recorded heavy rains. In Southland. rivers were high for much of the first half of the month and som“ local flooding occurred The third type of weather Degan to set in on the 19th, and still held at the end of the month. Winds at most places developed an easterly component A series of cyclones developed in the Tasman Sea and passed slowly across the Dominion. From the 20th onwards dull and misty weather was practically continuous. Rain was widespread on most days, and the dry spell experienced for so long In many eastern districts was finally broken A deep cyclone which passed by the northern extremity of the Dominion on the 25th caused very heavy rain east of the main range in the North Island between the 25th and the 28th. Severe floods occurred In the Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay districts, and the Manawatu river also overflowed Its banks. At Gisborne. 5.63 inches of rain fell on the 26th, the heaviest fall in 24 hours yet recorded there. From the 28th onward the heaviest rains occurred further southward and the situation in Hawke’s Bay, whicn had become alarming, was gradually relieved.