MAY WAS VERY MILD MONTH IN BAY OF PLENTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 61, 26 June 1950, Page 5

MAY WAS VERY MILD MONTH IN BAY OF PLENTY

Although May was cloudy and very mild in the Bay of Plenty and other parts of New Zealand, in fact the mildest on record, the northeasterly areas of the North Island, Coromandel-Bay of Plenty-Rotorua, had more rain than other northern districts, according to the Government meteorologist report on the weather for last month.

Because of the mildness pastures and winter fodder crops showed remarkable growth except in the interior of Otago and Southland, where rainfall has been low for several months. Many plants and shrubs flowered out of seasons.

In Westland, however, the last quarter was very stormy, high winds and flooded rivers causing considerable damage, and resulting in serious and prolonged dislocation of road and rail communications. Canterbury rivers were also unable to cope with the discharge arising from the phenomenal rainfall in the ranges, and some flooding occurred on the plains. In the North Island rainfall was well below normal with the notable exception of those districts with a horth-easterly aspect, especially :n the Coromandel-Bay of Plenty-Ro-torua area. A new record was established at Tairua where the month's total was 25.26 inches of which 14.00 inches fell in the 48 hours commencing at 9 a.m. on the 18th. About the same time a phenomenal local downpour was reported near Port Sharles at the head of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Above Normal Mean temperatures were well above normal throughout the whole country making this easily the warmest May for over 80 years. In Westland and most of the North Island the departure from the average was 5-6 deg. F. decreasing to about 2 deg. F. in Southland. There were several very warm days in Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay during the last week. At Christchurch a temperature of 81.2 deg. F. was recorded on the 26th. This was only the third occasion on which a temperature over 80 deg. F. has been officially recorded in New Zealand in May. There was a general lack of sunshine. Over the greater part of the country the deficiency was at least 30 hours. About .the Bay of Plenty and the northern part of the South Island some totals were more than 50 hours short of the average. Rotorua and Hanmer both register id the lowest May sunshine since records began some 40 years age.