WEATHER FOR JULY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 211, 6 August 1937, Page 2

WEATHER FOR JULY.

METEOROLOGIST’S REPORT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 5. The cold weather with a prevalence of southerly winds which had characterised June persisted through the first eight days of July, but thereafter weather of a more westerly type prevailed and conditions were definitely milder. Towards the end of the month some beautiful days were experienced in most places, says Dr. E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, in his summary of the weather in July as it affected the Dominion as a whole. Rainfall was generally much below and sunshine abofe average, but nevertheless the weather during the month was rather unsettled and, except in eastern districts, more specially in the South Island, rain, though often light, was rather frequent. Over western and central districts of the North Island the soil was continually damp and muddy and conditions on the farms were unpleasant. There was little growth of vegetation. Ip Canterbury and Marlborough, on the other hand, it was possible for some arrears in agricultural operations to be made up in numbers of places. The area under crop is, however, likely to be considerably less than during last year. Stock, except hoggets, are reported as doing well, but a. sj>ell of drv and sunny weather would be welcomed. Early lambs have appeared in numbers of districts and so far the losses have been light. In regard 'to trees, shrubs and flowers, there are curious anomalies. In many cases, in spite of the low temperatures in June, they are unusually far advanced for Ihe-time of year, while in others they are backward.

NORMAL RAINFALL. Except in comparatively small and isolated areas the rainfall was much below normal. In Marlborough and Canterbury the totals were particularly low, some places having only a quarter of their average fall. In the west coast of the South Island and in the lar south, a number of places had more than normal.

Temperatures were almost everywhere l>elow normal, though the departures nowhere amounted to 2 degrees Fah. At New Plymouth the mean was just a little above, and at Palmerston North and Pahiatua it was equal to the normal. A'ery severe frosts were again recorded during the first eight days of the month, but thereafter conditions were milder. Though below it at a few places, more especially on the AVest Coast, sunshine was generally considerably above average. Nelson had 180.2 and Tauranga .175.7 hours. PRESSURE SYSTEMS.

On the Ist a cyclonic depression was centred over North Auckland. Easteily gales blew in the far north and south-easterlies in Taranaki. There were some heavy rains in northern districts. By the 3rd the depression had moved away, and an anti cyclone had enveloped the Dominion. The centre was however, far to the south, and cold southerly winds persisted On the sth a. depression with a considerable extension in the .south to •north direction advanced from the Tasman Sea and crossed the country during the night. On the 6th strong southwesterly winds were blowing. This storm caused general rains. Snow was widespread in the South Island, and reached low levels on the mountains in the north. Some very severe frostsfollowed.

UNSETTLED SPELL. From the 9th to the 17th there was another unsettled spell. This began with a series of westerly depressions, and from the 14th an intense anticyclone covered Australia and extended over the Tasman Sea, while

several depressions followed each other on a southerly course off the east coast of New Zealand. .Southerly gales blew on the 16th to 17th. Snow again fell to low levels on the ranges, while thero was hail and thunder in many, places. The improvement which followed was only brief, and between the 18th and the 22nd another series of depressions passed. Some heavy rains fell in western districts. There was considerable thunder and hail on the 22nd, and two men were struck by lightning near Otorohanga. An anti-cyclone covered the Dominion on the 23rd and 24th, hut westerly depressions were soon again following each other across the South Island. There was heavy snow on some of the ranges on the 27th, and hail and thunder were reported for the third time during the month. The last three days saw a considerable improvement. RIVER GAUGE AT PALMERSTON NORTH. Noon. —3ft. 3in.