THE WEATHER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 578, 8 July 1933, Page 6

THE WEATHER

DOMINION METEOROLOGIST'S REPORT FOR MONTH OF JUNE. - A VERY COLD PERIOD. The following report upon the weather for the month of June. has been submitted by the Government Meteorologist (Dr. E. Kidson.) The month was a very cold one, with a prevalence of southerly or southeasterly winds. In eastern and northern districts it was very dull and damp with frequent showers of misty rain. The total rainfall was, nevertheless- almost everywhere much below normal. The cold weather checked the growth of vegetation, but during the last week mild and humid conditions permitted a resumption. The low rainfall and the absence of wind, especially in the South Island, enabled stock to get the full benefit of such green feed as was available and they are reported to be in fair to good condition. The cold reduced the activities of pests and in Canterbury, for instance, saved the remains of the turnip crops from further depredations. Rainfall : Few, if any, drier Junes can have been experienced in New Zealand than the one just past. The only localities where more than the average rain was recorded were a few places on the east coast between Timaru and Dunedin and a place or two in the Wairarapa and in South Westland. The average deficit in the South Island was about a third, while in the Noifth Island it was more. Even places on the east .coast which had frequent rains had only a small total. The case of Napier, where the rainfall was the lowest on record for June, was especially interesting. Rain was recorded on 11 days but the maximum fall was 0.05 inch and the total only 0.24 inch. In addition, there were traces of rain on 8 days. Temperatures were much below normal but there were no very severe days. The atmosphere was too humid at most places for frosts to be exeeptionally hard although inland, especially in the South Island, they wero numerous. In the interior of Canterbury. however, some very low temperatures were recorded. In many places, as for instance in Central Otago and the coastal districts of Canterbury, the development of fogs checked the fall of temperature at night but some cold and dismal days resulted. Sunshine: Districts exposed to the eastward had much less than the average sunshine, Wellington with 77.4 hours, faring the worst. In the interior and on the west coast, conditions were much better. Tauranga had the splendid record of 199.4 hours, and New Plymouth, Nelson, Blenheim, and Hokitika all had above the average. Pressure Systems: Pressure was generally high during the month, especially in the South. There. was very little storm activity over the Dominion itself. The most important depressions were of cyclonic form but in only one case did the track of the centre cross our coasts and that was on the night of the 1st. This particular storm was a deep one and its course lay across southern Otago. The rain associated with it was more general and heavier than at any other time during the month. Two other cyclones formed on the Australian coast and moved slowly eastward, passing New Zealand to the northward. The. fix*st passed on the 9th and the second on the 21st. Still another moved southwards from the region of the Kermadec Islands between the 16th and the 19th. The principal effect of these storms was to produce southerly or south-easterly winds and cold weather over the Dominion. Skies were cloudy on the east coast. and over much of the North Island. Misty rain was of frequent occurrence but there were comparatively few heavy falls. From the 5th to the 8th, southerly gales were experienced at many places. The 6th and 7th were very cold days, and snow fell on the high levels in both Islands. many places receiving a deep coating. There were also numerous hailstorms. Conditions were somewhat similar between the 15th and 17th, although on this occasion there was little snow in the South Island. In the interior and western and southern portions of the South Island, fine weather with very light winds and hard frosts predominated. Many fogs, also, were reported. On the 25th, a fairly deep cyclone advanced from the New South Wales coast across the Tasman Sea, and there seemed a prospect of general and heavy rains. But at this stage., the storm suddenly began to move southwards and fill up, and though rain was almost general, the heavy falls were confined principally to the western districts of the South Island. The continued spell of cold weather had, however, been broken and mild conditions prevailed until the end of the month, while a series of shallow westerly depressions passed in succession. During this period gome dense fogs occurred on the east coast, Christchurch being the worst sufferer. On the 26th and 27 traffic of all kinds was seriously interfered with in that city. On the 30th, a dense fog occurred on Manukau Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf, causing some disorganisation amongst shipping.