MAY WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1928, Page 4

MAY WEATHER

A frequent disturbance. WELLINGTON, June 6. The following notes on the weather for the month of May are supplied by the Government Meteorological Officor: The month has been on the who.e a wet and rather stonily one. T lie season is still characterised by a relative absence of westerly winds, and when strong winds have blown they have frequently been along the length of the islands, so that many parts, notably the Cook Strait region, have escaped their severity. They were felt mainly in the northern parts of the Auckland Province, the Foveaux Strait Ircigion and the swibuiiding cfcemi waters. The rainfall was above the average over almost the whole of the North Island. In the South Island more varied conditions prevailed, most of the w-C'tcinv districts having more and most of the eastern districts less than the average. Temperatures have remained rather mild, scarcely any frost being, experienc: d over the greatei part' of the North Island, where grass has continued to grow luxuriantly. In the Sou'll Island, however, winter weather was experienced after the first week. and frosts were fairly frequent. •| lies were compensated for by many bright and sunny days. Feed is abundant almost everywhere. The month opened with an intense

anti-cyclone centred to the west ol Westport. The weather was stormy, with gales in many places, and very heavy rain was recorded in the central ru-ovinces. The unsettled conditions continued over the whole of the first week. The westerly gales, due to depressions of a westerly type, blew on iho -Ith. and oth. On the 6th. a evelone appeared to the south of Norfolk Island, and subsequently developed in two centres, one of which passed through Conk Strait and the other north of Cape Maria Van Diemen. This was an active disturbance, and strong northerly gates were experienced during its approach, and south mcs - orlies after its passage. It was followed. also by :t decided fall of temperature, which practically marked the commencement of winter for the South Island. Frosts were frequent in Canterbury and Otago from then onwards, and the mountain tops were covered with snow.

Another vigorous cyclone crossed the South Island tin the 14tli. and brought heavy rain, especially to the North Island, where high floods caused damage in Kaitaia and the surrounding districts. A fourth cyclone passed the North Island on the ,18th. and was followed by southerly calcs which covered an extensive area over and on all sides of the Dominion. Seas were rough for several days in the surrounding ocean waters. During the nassage of an anti-cyclone over the southern portion of the Dominion on the. 21th. and Both, the barometers rose as high as 80.7' inches. The only other anti-cy-elone of ally intensity was one which covered New Zealand on the 10th. The tendency for disturbances to assume cyclonic form was maintained until the end of the month. Further examples of this type of storm controlled our weather on the 20th. and 20th.