THE WEATHER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19667, 8 December 1933, Page 10

THE WEATHER

DOMINION SUMMARY NOVEMBER CONDITIONS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, December 7. Prom the meteorological point of view November was a quiet month. Southerly or south-easterly winds were unusually prevalent and were responsible for temperatures being rather on the cold side. There was a better distribution of rainfall than in October, but*Nelson and Marlborough again experienced a serious shortage, and are suffering drought conditions. Elsewhere, though supplies are not so abundant in the V/aikato and Taranaki districts as last year, there is generally an abundance of pasture. Stocks are in good condition; milk yields are above normal; and in most districts lambs are fattening well. The heavy rains in Canterbury in the early part of the month saved the situat*—*. particularly as regards wheat crops. On the whole, however, crops do not seem to be doing quite, so well as last year. The late frosts of November 22 and 23 caused serious losses of potatoes, tomatoes, spring vegetables, and sma' 1 fruits.

The rainfall was above the average north of Auckland, in the Bay of Plenty, and eastern districts of the North Island, and in most of Canterbury and Otago. In the Waikato, Taranaki, the Manawatu, the Wairarapa, Westland, Southland, and particularly Nelson and Marlborough, it was considerably below average. There was an absence of warm north-westerly rains. Temperatures were above normal from Auckland northwards and west of the ranges in the North Island, but east of the main range they were below. The Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay areas h\d very cold weather fof the time of year. In the South Island, Central Otago had a warm month, but the remainder a cold one. The frosts of November 22 and 23 w’ere unusually severe for so late in the season. In South Canterbury and Otago that of November 22 was the more severe, but thence northwards it was cn November 23 that the damage was cone. There was less sunshine than usual over the greater part of the North Island, and especially the east coast, owing to the dull weather brought by the persistent southerly and south-easterly winds. From Wellington southwards, however, the normal was exceeded at most places bv large amounts. Lake Tekapo recorded 285.5, Nelson 271.0, and Blenheim 254.0 hours. ,

Pressure Systems. During the first three days pressure was high and the weather fine. On November 2, ho./ever, during a heat thunderstorm at Omata, nc • New Plymouth, a Maori was struck by lightning and killed, a r~re occurrence in New Zealand. Between November 3 and 6 a cyclone moved down from the north on to New Zealand, becoming more extensive in the 'process. This storm produced general rains which were of very great value to the country. The heaviest fall was on Nov. 5, when the storm was in the form of an irregular cyclone covering the central portion of the Dominion. The principal wheatgrowing areas of Canterbury received between 2$ and 5 inches. Large amounts were recorded also in eastern Otago and in Hawke’s Bay. In the latter district th :re were heavy thunderstorms. Though cold weather followed it, and there was snow on the high levels, especially in Canterbury, the rain was a fairly mild one. North Auckland had heavy rain in the early part of this storm. About a week later, on November 11 to 12, another depression caused widespread rain, Canterbury again having h.r. falls. This depression was of the westerly type, but a cyclone developed in i s northern portion. The third storm system occurred between November 20 and 24. Following the passage of a westerly depression on the night of November 20, a series of cyclones developed over the northern part of thj Tasman Sea and passed to th; north of the Dominion. Rains were again fairly general, but the parts p icipally affected were the northern and eastern i ortions of the North Island. From the morning of November 22 cold southerly or south-easterly winds prevailed over 'he greater part of the country. A somewhat similr type of weather was experienced f-om November 27 30. but on this occasion there was very little rain in the South Island, and the cold was much less severe.