WEATHER IN APRIL

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 10

WEATHER IN APRIL

Temperatures Unusually Cold April was unseasonable throughout the Dominion with unumjaliy cold temperatures,, states the Director of the Meteorological Services, Wellington, Dr. M. A. F. Barnett, in his survey of last month’s weather. Frequent southerly winds, he adds, 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 counter-balance the full value of the showers. In the south the position ,is rather varied, but about midCanterbury it seems to be worst, with many of the root crops too badlj’ affected previously bj- drought and insect pests to make much recovery. In other districts 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 autumnsown oats and wheat. There is an absence of disease and stock arc in good condition to face the winter. There were manj' rain days 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 of the North Island as well.as Westland and Otago the tendency was to be drier than normal. Most, of the excesses occurred between Canterbury and East Cape. Temperatures were below normal in all districts, the .departures averaging three to four degrees Fah. At several slations the average temperature reached record low values, so that for the whole conntrj’ the month was comparable with the coldest of Aprils. Frosts were frequent, some being quite sharp and damaging vegetable crops. While sunshine figures were good in Auckland ami Westland, they were close to the average in Canterburj- and below average elsewhere, with the _ greatest deficits occurring in Hawke's Bay.