Summary of the WEATHER FOR 1940.
A Brief Review.—The summer of 1939-40 continued wet and the following autumn months were cool. The winter was unusually pleasant, with very little severe weather, and the ranges received much less snow than usual. Spring was well advanced and, in spite of a windy October and a cool November, most crops had an admirable season. Bumper hay harvests were brought in early, and before the year closed dairy production had reached a high level, while stock and crops continued in excellent condition.

For the year as a whole windy weather was rather less prevalent than usual, although orchards suffered from occasional gales. Mean temperatures, except in the south-eastern portion of the South Island, were slightly below normal. Rainfall tended to be deficient over most of the Auckland, Nelson, and Marlborough Provinces, as well as over an area including the Manawatu and Wanganui. Appreciable excesses were restricted to several small areas, chief of which were those located near Portland Island, Otira, and Southland.

Seasonal Features.—The chief characteristics of the seasons are now described in more detail.

At the beginning of the year conditions were warm and humid. Stormy weather between the 12th and 15th January gave some heavy downpours, especially in the far north. Although in February the Auckland Peninsula and districts between Banks Peninsula and East Cape were dry, elsewhere the month was wet. Persistent westerly winds carried frequent rains to western and far southern districts, which experienced a record wet February. In the case of Southland this was the wettest of any month ever experienced. The registration of 72.74 in (1847.5 mm). at Homer Tunnel gauge was the greatest monthly total yet to be measured in New Zealand. On the 23rd and 24th February a cyclonic disturbance gave heavy falls in King-country and Taranaki, where severe floods and slips damaged and blocked roads and railways. In Central Otago and Westland it was a record February for coldness. March, however, was a fine month with sunny days and frosty nights. Rainfall was well below normal, but this was no drawback, except in Mid-Canterbury.

In April unseasonable conditions returned, the month being, on the whole, as cold as any previous April. Southerly winds accompanied by showers were frequent throughout, but the totals were not excessive, except between Canterbury and East Cape. May likewise was cool with frequent rain, totals being well over normal in Otago and Canterbury, chiefly as a result of the continuous southerly rains between the 4th and 8th, which produced extensive flooding and traffic dislocation, particularly in the Taieri Valley.

The winter season was remarkably good with only light rainfalls.

Spring commenced with a mild September, during which frequent scattered rains and warm soil temperatures accelerated an early season characterized by prolific blooms. Canterbury had substantial rainfall, and excesses occurred thence northward to Hawke's Bay, while deficiencies were most marked over the Auckland Peninsula. October was rather cool and windy, gales being widespread on the 27tb and 28th. It was dry from Canterbury southward, but heavy precipitation occurred in Westland on the 18th and in the Southern Lakes district on the 28th, followed by serious floods.

During November sufficient showers fell in the South Island cereal-growing districts to bring relief at a critical time. There was considerable thunderstorm activity during this period. December was warm, sunny, and dry, except for areas in Central Hawke's Bay and between Taupo and Tauranga, which were most affected by torrential rain on the 14th.

NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEARBOOK, 1942.