GENERALLY MILD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21136, 8 September 1938, Page 3

GENERALLY MILD

Weather Conditions in August Setback at End of Month By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, September 7. The following is the report by the Dominion Meteorologist for August:— General.—August was a much better month than June or July. After the first ten days conditions were mild for winter and some dry and sunny weather improved the outlook generally. Unfortunately, at the end of the month there was some setback with a renewal of dul 1 and wet weather. The condition of stock and pastures varies considerably from district to district but, on the whole, it is less favourable than usual. Though vegetation is showing signs of growth it has not completely recovered from the cold and wet of the earlier months, and the season is somewhat backward. In most of Otago and Southland there is still a shortage of moisture. In other districts'Tthe soil is generally saturated and farm work is being interfered with. This state of affairs is particularly marked in the Auckland Province. The lambing season appears unlikely to be so good as last year's. Rainfall. —Rainfall was much above normal over the northern half of the North Island, numbers of places recording double the average or more. In the southern half of the North Island the average was exceeded only about Wellington. In the South Island it was a wet month in and west of the ranges, but dry in eastern districts, especially from Canterbury southwards. There were places in Central Otago which had no rain at all. Temperature.—Cold weather continued from July over the first few days of August, but after August 4 there was a warmer spell. Another cold snap followed but from August 10 it was mild for the time of year. The mean temperature for the month was everywhere above the average, though the departures were generally quite small. Frosts were moderately frequent, but confined generally to the surface layers and there was no really severe cold. The amount of snow on the ranges decreased considerably. Sunshine. —The amount of bright sunshine was above average in the extreme north and south and considerably so, also, in Canterbury and Otago. Elsewhere it was well below average. Nelson had 179.2 hours and Alexandra 178.3.

Pressure Systems.—At the beginning of the month a shallow depression was centred west of Auckland. This moved eastward, but was followed by a similar and rather deeper one on August 4. These were responsible for winds from an easterly or south-easter-ly quarter and dull, cold weather. There was widespread heavy rain over the North Island, and snow oi| the

high levels. On the early morning of August 4 a light fall of snow wa’s experienced at Rotorua. Some flooding occurred in the Auckland and Hawke’s Bay Provinces. There followed a change in the type of weather. Previously, a long series of cyclonic depressions had formed off the west coast producing conditions similar to those described above. Now, however, the anti-cyclonic centres began to take a more northerly path and the depressions which developed were of the westerly type. Of these, a deep one passed on August 9 and 10. It was accompanied by a severe northerly gale which did much damage from Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay southward to Westland and Canterbury. Telephone, telegraph and power lines were interrupted and trees and fences suffered considerably. Rain was general with many heavy falls, especially in western districts. From August 14 to 19 further westerly depressions passed. One on August 18 developed a centre of low pressure over the Cook Strait area and was responsible for some heavy rain. Wellington had a torrential downpour with much hail. A very fine speSJ followed with anti-cyclonic conditions ruling over the Dominion. A series of depressions was, however, crossing the north Tasman Sea. These gradually became more intense and extended further southward. On August 27 the sky was generally overcast. Thick weather, with rain, spread gradually over the North Island and easterly gales blew in the far north. By August 28 a rather deep depression was centred west of Auckland. There were widespread north-easterly gales and rain became general. The depression moved southward and changing into one of the westerly type covered the Dominion on August 29. Westerly weather, with unsettled conditions and Intermittent rain, continued until the end of the month. On August 17 a small tornado occurred at Opotikf, wrecking a house and doing other damage.