THE WEATHER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 162, 20 May 1940, Page 6

THE WEATHER

CONDITIONS DURING APRIL AN UNSEASONABLE MONTH General Notes.—April was unseasonable throughout the Dominion, with unusually colcl temperatures prevailing. Frequent southerly winds made conditions very unpleasant at times particularly on the east coast. Rains sustained reasonable growth in the North Island, but cold night temperatures tended to counterbalance the full value of the showers. In the south the position is rather varied, but about mid-Canterbury it seems to be worst, with many jof the root crops too badly affected previously by drought and insect pests to make much recovery. In other districts, however, grass is still making fair growth, and the turnip and other crops are very satisfactory. Cultivation has proceeded well and the rains have helped on the germination and early growth of autumn sown oats and wheat. There is an absence of disease and stock are in good tion to face the winter. Rainfall.—There were many rain iays throughout the month, but totals were generally not excessive. Most of the rain came as showers and these were mainly light. This showery type of weather made the month's rainfall distribution very patchy, but for the major portion af the North Island as well as Westland and Otago the tendency was to be drier than normal. Most ol the excesses occurred between Canterbury and East Cape. Temperatures.—Were below normal in all districts, the departures averaging 3to 4 degrees Fah. A,J several stations the average temperature reached record low values, so that for the whole country thenonth was comparable with the coldest of Aprils. Frosts were frequent, some being quite sharp and lamaging vegetable crops.