DECEMBER WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1924, Page 4

DECEMBER WEATHER

WELLINGTON. Jan. G The director of the meteorological Office, reporting on the weather for December, says: Summer wettllior c-ondtt ion- set in very early ibis year, and December has been, cm the whole, hot and dry. Westerly winds ns in November have again jr re vailed and no ex-tropical disturbances were experienced; the opposite of la-t summer, when easterly winds and ex-tropical disturbances ruled. The rainfall. therefore, has been deficient. In cast coast districts the weather was most favourable for shearing ami haymaking, although crops oi the latter were scanty on account of the dryness of the soil and pasture.

Since the middle of October 0.111! cyclonic conditions with an almost general drought ruled in tin? north (luring the first half of the month: while there were; three westerly dcirrossicin.s of moderate intensity passing in the south, affording a scattered hut much appreciated rainfall. During the latter part of the month four of these more intense westerly low pressures pas.-ed in the south and also accounted for a scattered rainfall in the north. They were, however, more notable for the high westerly winds and boisterous conditions which ruled particularly in and southward of Cook Strait. The north-westerly storm width occurred on the L’Slli was of great force and caused a good deal of damage in the Canterbury Plains. Hot and dry weather was expeicneed in the east coast districts and warm, humid conditions generally. During the mouth the rainfall was

again deficient in the cast coast, especially of the North Island, hardly any rain falling between East Cape atul Castlepoint. Only five points (.(Gin) were recorded at Napier and 11 points at Maraekakaho station, ne.tr Hastings. As only fourteen jioints were recorded at this station during the previous month this is a record dry two-monthly period thereat tor thirty years. The best and most general rains occurred about ffr-ccmber 19 and 20. Some stations on the west coast of the North Island, as Inglewood and Fox ton. -bowed total rainfalls of slightly over the average, and rainfalls above the average were also experienc'd in Westland and parts of Otago. Elsewhere falls were from 30 to 98 per cent below the average of the same month in former years.