JANUARY WEATHER.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1924, Page 4

JANUARY WEATHER.

DOMINION SUMMARY. WEI.LIXCTOX, February 8. The A'eteorologieal Office reports: January weather, though warm and dry on the whole, was marked with distinctive changes. Troughs of at least five low pressure areas passed in the south from the Ist to the loth, and until the ldtli. the weather was very warm, muggy and wet in West Coast districts, but hot and dry in East Coast districts. There was a cold snap tor a lew days about the middle of the month, but a more easterly and siimliiei type of weather followed. Ibis prevailed until toward the close of the month, when a moderate westerly di~turbanco made its appearance in the South. The rainfall "a, above the average most stations along the western censt ami cm the higher levels of the Smith. Kaitaia, in the far north, had percentages of 125. Arthur’s Pass 225, and Queenstown 152 above the mean Janui'vy rainfall, and Lake Wnkitipu was miidi above flood level for several days. R, Rio East Const districts the dry conditions which have boon pietalcnt most! v -duce the middle of Octobo:. caused considerable trouble until the ! mid,li,. of tlie month, when a bountUul I niiufail was reported in most parts of i tt„_. past Coast. The total rainfall how- ; ever was from ,‘lO to 50 per cent, below I the mean January fall. ! High westerly winds were experienced. especially about t lie 18th., llth. and 15th.. wlien considerable damage Vas done to orchards. The weather was suitable, on the whole, to shearing . and the harvesting of grass seed, hut ! generally too dry for fanning, stock, i and horticulture.