WEATHER IN MAY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1927, Page 4

WEATHER IN MAY

WELLINGTON, June 8

Air D. C. Bates, Director of the Aleteorlogical Ollice, reports on the weather summary for the month of Alay as follows: Alay may he regarded as the last month of autumn and was. this year, rather cooler and more changeable than usual. In fact, last week may he described as the commencement of the winter. While the first part of the mouth was dry and Hie days were sunny, yet the earth radiated its herb at night, so that there were several severe Irosts. On Alay 12th. 20 degrees of frost were registered at Maiimer Springs, and earth temperatures were generally lower than the average. These frosts did nut occur in the cold and wet weather at the

close of the month, when clouds blanketed tho earth, and the rainfall was distributing a certain amount of latent, heat. There was. however, on the morning: of May 31st. a frost of 14 degrees at Ciii'istcbureh, which is tlic lowest temperature on the grass over recorded there in Alay. The rainfall was below the average in Otago and South Canterbury, and between Farewell Suit and Westport, in the South Island, and in Hawke’s Day and Poverty Bay in the North, lmi was considerably above the average in most of the other parts of the countvv. The rainfall was particularly heavy about Al'av 26th., 27t1i.. and 28th., when a westerly storm area combined with a disturbance from tho north.

The total rainfalls at some ol the stations were: Arthur’s Pass 17.86 inches, Otira 20.5)2 inches. Greymouih 10.5!) inches, Boss 15.33 inches. In the far north Puhipuhi Plantation had an unusually heavy total of 12.58 inches, and Waihi registered a total of 10.89 inches for the month. On the other hand. Christchurch was 80 percent, below the mean for the month, and Waiau 85 per cent, below.

There were several windy periods but the month on the whole was fairly calm, and except m dry areas, tlicie was good growth of autumn feed.