COOL AND WET

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22063, 9 September 1941, Page 8

COOL AND WET

Conditions In August

Losses Of Stock

August was a month of cool, unsettled weather with frequent rain, says the Dominion Meteorologist in his notes on the weather for the month. Young stock suffered from wet conditions ar.d the lack of sunshine, losses of ewes and lambs occurring in Wellington and Canterbury where the rainfall was heaviest, and in parts of South Canterbury stock were snowbound for some days. Poor weather and sodden ground caused a general delay in planting and sowing, but crops already in are making some progress. Pastures made little growth except in the northern portion of the North Island where temperatures were milder and the rainfall more moderate. Rainfall totals were mainly in excess. For Wellington and Christchurch ties it was the wettest August for which records are available, and the same ’s true of many stations in the Sc “h Wellington and Canterbury Provinces. The percentages surpluses reached their greatest value in Canterbury where, in many cases, fails were at least treble the average, while they exceeded four times the average between Ashburton and Cheviot. Flooding on the plains reached its peak on the 18th and 19th. On the other side of the Alps and in Southland, rainfall was deficient being below half the normal in much of Westland. Most of the North Island received a moderate surplus, but there were slight deficiencies in a few scattered areas, chiefly in the Auckland Province. Mean temperatures were below normal, departures being mainly two or three degrees in Wellington and in eastern arid southern districts of the South Island, but only about one degree elsewhere. Frosts were frequent, especially in the southern areas which escaped the incessant rainfall. " aw fell on several occasions, some especially heavy falls occurring in the Mackenzie Country and South Canterbury. Except in Auckland, Westland and Southland Provinces, sunshine figures were poor and several stations, includir • Wellington, Blenheim and Dunedin, established new minimum records for August.

Cold southerly winds prevailed at the opening of the month with shovery periods in eastern and northern districts and some snow in the I’tn country. By the 4th, when an anticyclone was over New Zealand, "’••e conditions became almost general, but the approach of an extensive depre.- : on from the Tasman Sea caused northerlies to freshen on the 6th and rain developed. Within the next two days the far north, as well as the ranges and districts to the westward, received heavy falls. The final active centre passed over the North Island on the 10th but moved only slowly eastwe i while southerlies predominated. A small anti-cyclone became centred to the south-east of New Zealand on the 11th w’hlle pressure was low to the west,, so that north-easterly winds gradually prevailed and rain slowly extended southwards over most of the country. The rain depression passed on the 14th but a secondary centre developed near Cook Strait the next day. There were widespread showers, including a considerable amount of snow over the South Island and scattered snow in the ranges of the north. The centre moved to a position east if New Zealand and further rain was experienced, especially in central districts and in Canterbury, but the weather was more changeable in type. On the 19th conditions became ery stormy again in all eastern districts of the South Island. In other parts the weather had become mainly fine, although temperatures were cold generally. Pressure continued low to the east but rose in the south id north. By the 23rd the weather was fine over the South Island and, after a few showers between C. 3 Palliser and Gisborne, it became fine gene~ally. An extensive depression from the Central Tasman Sea mo- ’ towards New Zealand on the 26th with ♦ 3 rec that widespread rain occurred over the North Island and extended o most of the South. South-westerly depress’ons on and after the 28th kept the weather cold and changeable :.h occasional showers as well as snow on higher levels of the South Island, ut conditions gradually improved as an anti-cyclone advanced on to New rialand at the close of the month.