Sunny, dry first month of spring

Wairarapa people may have thought the first month of spring brought plenty of moisture with it, but Niwa statistics show September was sunny with soil moisture levels below normal in some parts of the district, especially coastal Wairarapa.

Consistent rain kept the pastures watered but the month was notable for frequent west to northwest winds until the middle of the month, which helped negate some of the effect of rainfall on soils. Then came the arrival of anticyclones, bringing the sun.

Apart from sunshine and rain, the other notable features of the month were wind and a near-record low air temperature recorded at Castlepoint on September 12.

The reading of -1.3C was the third lowest for September since records started to be taken in 1972.

Strong winds forced the closure of the Rimutaka Hill Rd on September 8, a day that saw flights cancelled from Wellington airport.

But the highest wind gust for the month was recorded at Southwest Cape on September 6, where a gust of 169km/h hit.

A snow flurry on September 12 affected Wairarapa to a limited extent, closing the hill road for a few hours.

Farmers report a fairly good spring for lambing, with losses being light in most districts. The absence of a serious wind chill factor has meant most lambs born have thrived.

In some parts of Wairarapa, spring grass growth has been slow getting under way. But farmers' expectations are that growth will get a rattle on with recent sunshine and paddocks locked up for hay should be starting to make headway.