WEATHER IN JULY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1931, Page 5

WEATHER IN JULY

RECORD FALLS OF SNOW

WELLINGTON, August 6

In a statement on the weather inr July, Dr. E. Kidson, Government Meteorologist, says July will be remembered for several severe storms which were responsible for boisterous and prolonged westerly or south-westerly gales, and for heavy and widespread snowfalls. Heavier snow has been experienced in the North Island, hut in the South it is many years since similar conditions have been reported.

New Zealand is liable to an occasional series of cold years, and it is generally in them that the most noteworthy snowfalls occur. Temperatures were below normal from 1877 to 1879, from 1901 to 1906. and have been so also since the middle 7 *" of 1929. The years 1877 and 1888 were years of record snowfall in some districts, and it is to these years that local residents on the West Coast of the South Island and in Southland respectively have to look hack for falls comparable with those of July 19th. and 20th. of this year. The years 1902 and 1904 also were ones of very heavy snow, especially in tlie interior of Canterbury and Otago, and the falls of last month were about equal to the heaviest in those vears.

The rainfall continues to he deficient in South Canterbury and Northern Otago, hut in most other parts July was a very wet month. Stock and pas. turo-s are general I v in fair order, especially in the North Tsnncl, some growth of grass having taken place in most localities.'