WEATHER RECORDS: NOVEMBER, 1923.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVII, Issue 6, 20 December 1923, Page 414

WEATHER RECORDS: NOVEMBER, 1923.

Dominion Meteorological Office.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

The weather of November was this year in striking contrast to what was experienced in the same month last year. This November will not be remembered, as it is usually regarded by the meteorologist, as the last month of spring, but as a summer month, and that of a very decided character.

The general report of the observers is that it was warm and dry in nearly all parts of the country ; as a matter of fact, it was a record dry November month in many districts. Parts of Canterbury had small falls of rain on only one or two days. Maraekakaho Station, near Hastings, in Hawke’s Bay, and Highfield, Waiau, Canterbury, were both exactly 91 per cent, below the mean November rainfalls. Striking the average of the stations in the North Island shown in our table, we find they were 36 per cent, below the average ; while the South Island stations were 46 per cent, below the mean. There were exceptions in both Islands : Kaitaia and Russell, in the far North, were above their respective averages for the month ; and in the South Island Arthur’s Pass and Okuru were also well above their usual November quantity; Nelson was also 0-30 in. above its November mean. A good fall of rain about the 16th was experienced in the Nelson and Blenheim districts, and accounted for this condition.

' There were a number of changes during the month, and one or two stormy times, but generally the changes which made rain probable passed without precipitation. Dull and threatening skies were frequently experienced, with warm and humid conditions, and light northerly winds were much in evidence. The weather in the latter part of the month may almost be described as a heat wave,” there having been some record temperatures for this time of the year. In Christchurch 90° F. was recorded ; at Rakaia 91 0 ; and in the Wairarapa over 85°. There was at times great evaporation, especially on the Canterbury Plains, from strong dry north-westerly winds.

— D. C. Bates,

Director.

Station. Total Fall. Number of Wet Days. Maximum Fall. Average November Rainfall. North Island. Inches. Inches. Inches. Kaitaia 4‘44 5 . 2-04 3-27 Russell ' .. .: • . ■ 3N8 8 ' 1-43 i-6i Whangarei . . 2-90 10 I-IO. 3-4 1 Auckland 2-46 11 1-41 3-26 Hamilton 3-22 15 o-8i 4-05 Kawhia . . ... 2-12 10 0-98 4'49 New Plymouth J . . 3'43 12 0-79 4-58 Inglewood 5'93 13 1-05 8-93 Whangamomona 4'4 2 12 i-68 7-40 Tairua, Thames 72 - 11 i-34 3'55 Tauranga 3-17 12 o-8o 3-21 Maraehako Station, Opotiki 2-76 8 0-84' 2-78 Gisborne . . ... 0-72 8 0-21 3-i5 Taupo 2-66 8 0-78 3-4i Napier - . . 0-23 2-60 Maraekakaho Station, Hastings . . 0-14 6 0-04 2-12 Taihape . . . . . . 2*02 15 1-03 3-67 Masterton 0-38 4 0-18 2-87 Patea .. . . 1-30 9 , o-53 3-72 Wanganui . . . . . . 0-83 4 o-57 3*31 Foxton . . 1-02 7 0-42 3-63 Wellington . . o-75 8 0-25 3'47

Station. Total Fall. Number of Wet Days. Maximum Fall. • j Average November Rainfall. 5 South Island. Inches. Inches. Inches. Westport ... . . . . 2-66 13 o-74 7-08 Greymouth . . . . 4’72 15 I-IO 9-46 Hokitika . . 5-06 13 1-14 io-68 Arthur’s Pass . . ,16-78 14 4’30 - 15-00 Okuru, Westland •. 18-14 IO 3-84 12-96 Collingwood . . • • . 5’90 9 2-02 , 7-68 Nelson . . . . . . 3’14 7 1-84 2-84 ; Spring Creek, Blenheim. . 1-06 - - 6 0-58 2-41 Tophouse .'. .. 2-87 13 o-66 7-07 Hanmer Springs 0-56 4 0-40 2-91 Highfield, Waiau 0-20 I. 0-20 2-39 Gore Bay ... . . 0-31 5 0-20 1-98 Christchurch . . . . 0-52 2 0-49 1-84 Timaru . . - 0-76 3 0-42 1-97 Lambrook Station, Fairlie 0-40 3 0*20 2-00 Benmore Station, Omarama I-2I 6 0-62 2-05 Oamaru . . . . . . 0-72 5 0-30 i-94 Queenstown 2-31 6 ■ o-86 2-77 Clyde . . . . . . 0-71 6 0-23 1-36 Dunedin . . . . i-94 10 0-72 3’27' Gore . . . . - . . 1-27 11 0-41 3-08 Invercargill . . 2-72 14 0-62 4-56

RAINFALL FOR NOVEMBER, I923, AT REPRESENTATIVE STATIONS.