WEATHER DURING FEBRUARY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21418, 9 March 1935, Page 23

WEATHER DURING FEBRUARY

TEMPERATURES ABOVE NORMAL BREAKING OF THE DROUGHT (PRKSS ASSOCUTIOH TELSOHiIIf.} WELLINGTON, March 8. Following is a report by the Dominion Meteorologist (Dr. E. Kidson) on the weather for February:— In February there was a continuance of the abnormally warm weather which had been experienced during the preceding three months; but also the break of the drought which had accompanied it in most districts. The beginning of the month was very dry; but after the first week humid weather prevailed. Rain became more frequent and widespread and drought conditions were gradually dissipated. Northern districts were the first to be relieved but the rain gradually extended southwards and culminated in the heavy and general rains which fell between the 19th and the 24th. Further rain is still needed in North Canterbury and especially on the Wairau Plains in Marlborough. In most districts the grass is coming away well again and in the North Island there has been luxuriant growth. Stock are in good condition and the milk yield is recovering somewhat. The rain was too late to give a good wheat yield or te save some of the fodder crops. All crops and fruits are maturing early. Rainfall and Temperatures There was a large excess of rainfall over the whole of the North Island, many places having more than double the average fall. In the South island most of Nelson and Westland, the Alps, and the eastern foothills had more than the average, but elsewhere there was still a deficit. This was large in parts of Marlborough and Southern Otago and Southland. Temperatures were much above normal, the departures ranging approximately between 2.5 degrees and 5 degrees F„ those on the West Coast being the greatest. There were continuously high temperatures until the 23rd, when a cold spell set in and lasted till the 27th. The four months from November to February have been by far the hottest in the history of the Dominion and this is true of all parts. Other occasions when the same months were very warm were the 1894-95, 1909-10, 1916-17, and 1923-24 seasons. On the present occasion, however, the average excess above normal is almost double the next hottest. Very few places have, however, experienced their hottest individual temperature. Auckland is one of the few that has. Sunshine was considerably below normal in most eastern districts, but ;

above it in the west. Hokitika had th® remarkable record of 270.2 hours. New Plymouth had 247.9 hours, and Alexandra 237.2. Storm Systems From the meteorologist's point of view the breaking of the drought was a rather tame affair. As regards pressure and wind there was no storm of note during the month. There is no doubt, however, that in the continued hot weather great quantities of moisture had been taken up into the atmosphere and it required only a slight disturbance to cause heavy precipitation. In the early part of the month the unstable conditions were shown by the frequency of thunderstorms and heavy local downpours. These continued until the last week, but in the later stages were associated with more general rains. Severe local flooding resulted in a number of places. Several small tornadoes and waterspouts were recorded. Some heavy rains occurred in North Auckland at the end of the first week of the month in association with several shallow depressions which were unproductive over most of the remainder of the Dominion. . A second and rather similar series of depressions in the middle of the month caused heavy rains over most of the North Island, especially on the 15th. On this day a very sudden and severe flood occurred in Auckland city. The wettest period in the month commenced in a similar way on the 19th and continued till the 24th. On the 22nd the rains were general and the greater part of the country recorded very heavy falls. Portions of the eastern districts of the South Island, however, again escaped lightly. On the 19th Hokitika had the worst flood it had ever recorded. The same fate was by Taranaki and parts of North Auckland on the 22nd. The heavy rains during this period were associated with a strong invasion of cold air from the south which forced up the warm and damp air over the Dominion, causing it to drop a large part of its moisture. High pressures again ruled to the east of the Dominion throughout most of the month, but there was a considerable fall on the 15th, and again on the 23rd in association with the disturbances which produced the most rainfall. From the Bth to the 12th the Cook Islands experienced continuous gales which frequently rose to hurricane force. These were associated with two tropical cyclones o£ which the second was the more violent. The storms were unusually extensive and this accounted for the persistence of tiie gales. Very serious damage resulted. ,