Brief Review of 1950.The annual rainfall was below average, except on the east coast from the Waitaki River to East Cape, in eastern Coromandel, and the coastal strip from Wanganui to Cape Egmont. The deficiency was not large, although in a few scattered areas totals were slightly less than 75 per cent. of the average. These included parts of Nelson, Marlborough, Otago, and Waikato. The only substantial surplus occurred in the northern Hawke's Bay - Gisborne district. Mean temperatures for the year were close to average in the South Island, with a general tendency towards a positive departure. However, in Southland and Westland the tendency was more pronounced, and values there were about 1° F, above normal, as they were also over the greater part of the North Island. Sunshine was above average, except in eastern districts of the North Island from Cook Strait to East Cape, where there was a deficiency of 100–200 hours. New Plymouth's sunshine total was also a little below the average. There was a good surplus on the West Coast, and in Marlborough.
Seasonal Notes.—The first three months showed no marked abnormalities except north of the Waikato, where a prolonged dry spell resulted in a substantial reduction in dairy producton. Crops generally gave good yields and were harvested in favourable conditions, though in Southland changeable weather during March caused some delay. Stone-fruits, however, were in short supply due to hail and frost damage to orchards in Hawke's Bay and Central Otago in the preceding spring.
Winds from the south-easterly quarter replaced the normal westerlies in April, and the weather was dull and wet in the north and east, but sunny in the west and south. Abnormal weather continued for the following month, which was the mildest May ever recorded. The fourth week was very stormy, and heavy rains in and west of the Southern Alps damaged road and rail communications in Westland, as well as causing some flooding on the Canterbury Plains.
The winter season was generally favourable, though there was little settled weather. A storm at the beginning of July caused severe flooding in the Waipaoa River, Gisborne, and minor floods also occurred in South Canterbury on two separate occasions during August. Snowfalls were much lighter than usual, but some early lambs were lost in Canterbury during cold rains at the end of August.
Mild temperatures together with an absence of strong westerly winds combined to provide exceptionally favourable conditions for spring growth, resulting in a high level of production in the dairy industry. The persistence of easterly winds brought much rain to eastern districts of the North Island, where shearing operations suffered frequent interruptions. A brief spell of changeable westerly weather did eventuate at the end of November and continued until the middle of December. Unfortunately for many thousands of holiday-makers, the fine summer weather which followed lasted only a week, and cool wet conditions prevailed for the final week.
THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEAR-BOOK, 1951-52.
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September 02, 2015, 08:18:56 AM