WEATHER FOR MAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19598, 10 June 1935, Page 9

WEATHER FOR MAY.

/ COLD AND UNSETTLED. GOVERNMENT REPORT. WELLINGTON, Monday. The Dominion Meteorologist provides the following notes on the weather for May:— During May there were two periods when line and mild weather prevailed generally —namely, between the 11th and 15th and from the 25th to the 27th —but the remainder of the month was mostly cold and unsettled, with a predominance of southerly winds. Owing, however, to a particularly favourable autumn and also to the two mild periods above referred to, there was a good growth of pasture and generally a plentiful supply of winter feed appears available. Consequently stock kept in good condition, although the cold spells experienced detrimentally affected the milk yield and there were also some small losses of sheep. Whereas in the preceding six months temperatures were above normal over the greater part of the Dominion, during May there was a dellnite change to wintry conditions and, except in the far North, temperatures were everywhere below normal, the largest difference being in eastern areas where they ranged between 1 and 2 degrees Mow. Tho Rainfall. The rainfall was below the average in parts of the Auckland province and in die East Coast areas between East Capo and Otago, but over the remainder of the Dominion it was above, tho excess being greatest on the west coast of the South Island and in the Wairarapa. On tlie other hand, sunshine was generally below normal in eastern districts and above In western, although totals did not differ greatly from May averages. Tauranga registcicd 183 hours bright sunshine, Nelson JC9, Blenheim 103, and New Plymouth Jo'J hours Storm Systems. i, n the list an unusually deep depression mown on to the Dominion, its centre crossing tho southern districts during the night. Pressure remniimd low to the eastward, however, out it t tie nth, while an intense anticyclone was moving very slowly across

the Tasman Sea. Consequently, throughout this period cold southerly winds persisted, reaohing sale force in many places. Between the 4th and oth conditions were particularly boisterous, a southerly gale being accompanied at times by heavy hail and sleet showers. On the sth there were heavy snowfalls on the ranges of both islands and a considerable amount also occurred on the low country. In | Taranaki as much as two Indies fell j on the flat In places, where snow so | early in the winter is almost unprece- , dented. By the ,9th the front of an anti-cyclone had moved on to Now Zealand and then followed several j days' fine weather. From the 10th to 21st a series of intense westerly depressions crossed the Domniion and strong and squally north to west winds prevailed. Rainfall at this time was confined chiefly to western districts, where some heavy falls caused Hoods In the rivers, particularly in Westland on the 18th and i 19th. On Hie morning of the 20th a violent north-westerly gale which swept Canterbury caused widespread damage to fences and trees and in places even telegraph poles ware blown over. During the night of the 21st the last of this series of depressions crossed the Dominion and another southerly storm swept the country, accompanied by bitterly cold weather. Severe thunderstorms occurred in tho Taranaki and Wellington districts on the 21st, and heavy rain and floods were experienced in many parts of these areas. The southerly continued to he strong in the central districts during the 22nd and 23rd. The Wanganui district experienced a severe gale on the morning of the latter day, which caused much damage to trees, fences, power lines, etc. Struck by Lightning. At ltaglan on the evening of the 21st a man was struck by lightning and received serious injuries. From the 24th until the 28th tho weather was fine and quiet, with high pressure ruling. A cyclonic depression was, however, moving from the North down the west coast, and from the latter dale Until the end of the month dull, misty weather prevailed. Fairly general rain fell during the night of the 28th and on tho 29th some heavy downpours occurred in the Nelson district, Motweka having as much as 5.50 inches at this time.