UNUSUAL NOVEMBER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19719, 9 December 1926, Page 7

UNUSUAL NOVEMBER

WET AND COLD THE WEATHER SUMMARY. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. The following weather summary fof November is supplied by the Government Meteorological Officer, Rev. D. C« Bates:— x November is regarded as the last spring month, and as such may be characterised as more than z usually wet, windy and cold. The outstanding feature of the month to record wag the great floods in the Buller, Waihakaka, and Wairau Rivers in the first week of the month. Heavy rains at the end of the preceding month had soaked the land and swollen streams, as well as leaving snow on the uplands, and when on November 3 the extensive westerly low pressure laden with vapour made its appearance, many things combined to account for record floods.

It was raining every day from October 27 to November 6 in many places on the West Coast, and the falls were excessive in high country. Arthur’s Pass registered 4.9 in. on the 3rd, 12.70 on the 4th, and 0.80 on the sth. In Greymouth, 1.34, 2.26, 0.49; Reefton, 1.96, 2.28, 0.50; Westport 1.40, 1.91, 0.31. The rainfall was in excess in all parts of the country, except in Hawke’s Bay and some districts in Otago. Thunderstorms with hail were reported in many places, and one in Hawke’s Bay on the 12th did much damage to orchards. Several light frosts occurred, particularly in the South Island, and a cold southerly wind which brought snow on the uplands on 27th and 28th caused loss in newly-shorn sheep. Shearing and haymaking wore gr /tly retarded, and the growth in vegetation was backward for the time of the year in many parts of the Dominion.