A Brief Review of 1944.
The year started with sunny conditions, but during the late summer and autumn unsettled weather became fairly widespread. The winter, however, was mild, but cool temperatures in the spring, especially in the south, made the season late. Continued cool, unsettled conditions during December made farming operations difficult.
For most places the annual rainfall was heavier than usual, but slight deficiencies occurred in scattered parts of the east coast of Auckland, North Taranaki, Manawatu central Wairarapa, eastern Marlborough, and near Invercargill. Areas where rainfalls showed an excess of at least 25 per cent. included the Urewera, south-eastern Hawke'e Bay, Lower Hutt, Central Westland, and considerable portions of Canterbury and Otago. The excess amounted to 56 per cent. at Winchmore, near Ashburton. Over the year, mean temperatures were slightly warmer than normal for the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, and from Westport to Hokitika. In other districts it was cooler than normal, and by 1° iF in inland Canterbury. The sunshine total was above average throughout the Auckland Provincial District, at Blenheim, and from Ashburton to Oamaru. Elsewhere the total was below average, and from the McKenzie country southward to Gore there were deficiencies of over 200 hours.
Seasonal Notes.—During January the weather was, on the whole, sunny and settled, suitable for harvesting and shearing, but the dryness adversely affected the milk-yield. Except for the Wairoa - East Cape region, the rainfall at most places was well below half the normal. Heavy rains and high humidities made February conditions difficult for harvesting but dairy production benefited. The Taupo - Bay of Plenty region was twice as wet as usual, and much of Westland, Canterbury, and Central Otago had treble the average rainfall. Further heavy rains in March made the late harvests difficult to complete. On the whole, the period was dull, and towards the end of the month numerous frosts damaged garden growth. Some flooding occurred in the far north and between Waipukurau and East Cape. April was mild and rather cloudy, with frequent rain in most districts. Near Dunedin heavy rains occurred on the 5th and 6th. May was cool and fairly dry, with better sunshine than usual in northern and central districts. Frosts severely checked growth except in the far north. June was a month of cool south-westerly conditions, showery weather often being followed by clear, frosty conditions. Hail was fairly frequent, and the ranges, as well as some lower levels in the South Island, received snow on several occasions. Sunshine was above average. July was dull, but not excessively wet, and there was less snow than usual. August had no very severe weather, though there was more cloud than usual. Lambing commenced under favourable conditions, but, in places, wet ground hindered cultivation. Until the close of September cool temperatures and frosts retarded growth in most areas, but bad spells were too brief to affect lambing. October and November were cool and unsettled, with very changeable westerly conditions. In the main dairying districts, except around Auckland, which was dry, pasture growth was good. Elsewhere cultivation was backward, and in the south the season continued late. The final month of the year was the coldest December experienced for a number of years, being unsettled and dull. These unfavourable conditions delayed shearing and ruined much hay. Rainfall was heavy in most areas, and on two occasions thunder activity, with damaging hail, was very conspicuous.
THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEAR-BOOK, 1946.
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May 21, 2019, 04:56:24 PM