WEATHER IN AUGUST

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 60, 8 September 1931, Page 3

WEATHER IN AUGUST

DOMINION SURVEY

Theve -were several brief periods of stormy weather during August, but on the whole there was a considerable improvement in the conditions over those of the two preceding winter months, remarks the summary of the Dominion's weather issued by the Meteorological Office Temperatures were agaiu below normal over the greater part of the Dominion. Cold, frosty nights wore frequent, but, on the other hand, many mild, springlike days were experienced, and as a result there was a moderate growth of pasture. Stock have kept in fair condition, although a considerable amount of supplementary feeding had to be resorted to in parts of the East Coast districts, where the growth of. grass had been retarded through a deficiency of rain combined with belownormal winter temperatures. The total rain for the month was below the average over the greater portion of the North Island, a slight excess only being recorded in parts of the Taranaki district. In the South Island, Marlborough and North Canterbury experienced less than the normal, while the remaining districts near]}- all had above-normal aggregates, the- excess in many cases being considerable. The storms rccordcddurhig the, month wore in very few cases responsible for any particularly heavy rains except at a few isolated places, chiefly in western districts, the falls generally being more of a showery nature. During the first four days a very intense and extensive westerly depression was situated over and to the east of New Zealand, and stormy west to south-west winds prevailed which, in some districts, developed almost hurricane force at times. They were accompanied by occasional heavy showers and, in places, hail. Snow also fell during this period on much of the high country, and on the 4th there was quite a heavy fall of snow in Central Hnwkes Bay. Much damage resulted from this storm in various parts of the country. At Ohai, in Southland, the root's of,several houses were lifted, some chimneys were blown down and trees were uprooted. .from the sth to the 11th, except for some scattered showers, the weather was mainly fine under he influence of an anti-cyclone which moved gradually across the Dominion. On tho 11th, however, barometers commenced to fall with the approach of a steep westerly depression, and on the 12th a widespread north-west gale blew and heavy rain fell in the western districts. The nor'-wester was an extremely fierce one in Canterbury, causing damage to telegraph wires through falling trees. In Christchurch many sheds were unroofed and fences blown down. The next important disturbance was again one of the westerly type, but it developed a centre in its southern portion. The centre crossed the southern districts during the night of the 16th. Beneficial rain set in with the southerly change on the night of the 16th in Canterbury and Otago, and continued throughout the 17th. Although the tails were not heavy, they relieved the situation in-those districts where the land was showing the detrimental effect of the continued dry weather and strong westerly winds. Another dcpressioTi, but of moderate intensity, which crossed over tho country between the 23rd and 26th, brought ram of a scattered nature. Some heavy tails, however, occurred in Westlan'd about this time, but very little fell in Canterbury and practically none in Ilawke.s Bay. On the afternoon of the -ith, while the low centre connected with this disurbance was situated off the west coast of Otago. a waterspout passed in the vicinity of Westport During the last three days of the month the weather was affected by an extensive double-centred cyclone. 'The first centre passed in the south on the night of the 29th, while the following one moved up the west coast and eventually crossed the northern districts during the night of the 31st. Unsettled, dull, misty weather was associated with this depression, and rain fell at times in nearly all parts of the Dominion. In addition to the depressions already mentioned, there were throe occasions when cyclones moved down from the north-east and passed to the east of hast Cape. Their nearest approach to tho latter point occurred on the loth, --ml, and 2Sth respectively, and their effects were confined chiefly to-the East Cape and Gisborne areas. " Aboh-fc. these dates strong southerly winds bftjw iv thosp districts, but unfortunate!^ the accompanying rains were only liglif and scattered along tho cast coastal; the North Tslnml. whore relatively conditions Resisted throughout thcSttQjithJ