A MILD MONTH

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 37, 7 November 1942, Page 10

A MILD MONTH

October Weather Report October was a mild month with fairly favourable weather, states Dr. M. A. I'. Barnett. Director of Meteorological Services, in reporting upon last month s W< Rainfall over much of the South Island gave the ground a thorough soaking to the great benefit of crops and pastures. In the North growth is barely up to normal, especially in the Hawke s Bay area, where winds have accentuated the dry conditions persisting during the last two months. Young stock is thriving well, There were, however, some lamb losses in Central Otago during the snowfall during the 23rd. Ou the whole, the North Island was drier and the South Island wetter than usual. There were, however, a few excesses in the Auckland Peninsula, appreciable onlv in the Opotiki district. Deficiencies south of a line extending from Ilawera to Gisborne were considerable, with many totals in central and southern Hawke’s Bay well under an inch, lhe lower country from Banks Peninsma northward received less ramfall than usual, but in the central areas of the South Island there were many heavy falls. There was some flooding in South Canterbury and Westland resulting from the rains on the 23rd. In the Foveaux Strait region the totals were slightly below aver,loFor the fourth successive month mean temperatures were above normal, this feature being most marked in the centre of the North Island. There were very few frosts. Snow showers occurred in the ranges about the 12th, and a steady fall of snow was experienced in Central Otago on the 23rd. There was ample sunshine. .totals ■were locally under normal near Christchurch. Tlie largest surplus values occurred in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough.