BAD SEPTEMBER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 9, 6 October 1943, Page 8

BAD SEPTEMBER

Abnormal Rain And Little Sun

, September was an abnormal month with persistently unsettled conditions, reports the Director of Meteorological Services. Many well developed cyclonic depressions passed over the New Zealand region and each one gave fairly general rain. With only transient fair periods the mouth was most unpleasant, and following a poor August it proved most severe for young stock. Lambing losses are very high. The lack of sunshine was detrimental to growth which though appreciable in places was rank.. Water-i logged ' ground has been unsuitable for tillage and spring sowings were hindered. On the whole, the season is very backward.

With minor exceptions rain was heavy and frequent and few wetter Septembers have been experienced in New Zealand. The most marked surpluses occurred between Oamarti and East Cape, where nearly every place exceeded double the average fall and in not a few instances treble the average. Among I hose places receiving over 10in. may be mentioned the southern AVairarapa. Hutt, Valley (the wettest month for several decades). Motueka. parts of Marlborough and North Canterbury. In the far south, totals rapidly decreased and in Stewart Island only about half the usual ruin fell. Mean temperatures were about normal over the North Island ,‘ind Nelson Province. but over the remainder of the country were cooler than usual, departures increasing in Canterbury and Otago to two degrees or more.

For most of the country September was a very dull month with sunshine totals far below normal. Many now low records were established throughout Canterbury. in Nelson and Wanganui.. At Invercargill /here was a slight surplus.