FEBRUARY’S WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1931, Page 6

FEBRUARY’S WEATHER

DOMINION SUMMARY. WELLINGTON, March 8. The principal characteristics of tin* weather over New Zealand in I’ebrttary were low and an unusual amount ol wind. There were several periods of strong northerly winds, which were iollowed by spells of southerlies. The latter, though not so severe, were unsually persistent lor this time of the year. Nevertheless, a number of beautifully fine days wen l experienced, and in some respects the month was more summerlike than its predecessors. Raiidail was generally below normal in the North Island and Nelson, and above it over the remainder of the South island. The cold weather and some very dry spells at critical periods have had an adverse effect on wheat crops, and the growth of vegetation generally has been retarded. Except ill the Hawse’s Bay and Gisborne' districts, however, pastures are in fair condition and stock are doing well. The total falls of rain were much below average in the northern and eastern parts of the North Island. In Taranaki the deficits were less marked, and a few places had more than the norma?. In the South Island the Nelson province l generally had letes than the average, but heavy rains on the oO||d considerably relieved the situation. Hokitika and parts of North Canterbury also had rather less than the average. Elsewhere there was an excess, and the southern hall ol the South Island experienced a very wetmonth.

As already stated, til* month was imsnally cool. Temperatures were much below normal in all parts of tlie Dominion. In some places it was the coldest February mi record. Number-, of places experienced one or more frosts. PRESSURE SYSTEMS. F rom the Ist to the 3rd a series of westerly depressions passed. Northerly gales blew in places on the 2ml. In Cook Strait some hijili velocities were reached. Heavy rain fell oil the West Coast of the South Island. Hari hlari experiencing a very heavy flood. A southerly spell followed, and an auli-oyelnne moved slowly across the Dominion. From the (jth to the lOtii the weather was mostly line, though still rather cool. Another westerly depression passed rapidly during the night of the 11th, and was followed by strong southerlies and very cold and showery weather. Heavy rain fell in eastern district* of the South Island on the 12th, and the ranges received a fall of snow. On the liltli there were widespread thunder and hailstorms, which were particularly severe in the southern hall ol the Auckland province. STORMY WEATHER.

On the loth a dying cyclone crossed the Auckland peninsula causing thunderstorms and heavy rain, though ■southern districts were unaffected. Otherwise anti-cyclone conditions ami fair weather were the rule until the llltli. Thereafter a further serieis of westerly depressions were responsible for a period.of very stormy weather. On the 22nd northerly gales were widespread, and heavy rain was almost general. A cyclonic centre developed west of Greymouth, and exceptionally heavy rain occurred as it moved eastward ; 12.50 inches fell at Greymouth in about 12 hours, constituting the heaviest fall ever recorded there. Arthur's 'Pass had 11.32 indies. During the 23rd and 24th the winds hacked again to cold, strong southerlies. Hail and thunderstorms were reported from many places on the 23rd. and on the 24tli there wan a heavy snowfall on the ranges of the South Island. From the 2otli onward the weather improved under the influence of another intense anti-cyclone.