Past summers much hotter: residents

Long, hot summers and "damn cold" cold winters used to be a given — but the days of being able to rely on Central Otago’s hot, dry summers may be over.

Summer in Central this year has mooched around like a lethargic teenager, mostly absent but occasionally showing up late afternoon with a burst of warmth.

It was not the same as the summers in the past, Teviot Valley residents have said.

In the past the area was known for hot and sunny months between December and February with low humidity and dry conditions.

However, two long-standing residents told the Otago Daily Times in the past decade there had been fewer strings of hot, sunny days, and more overcast conditions and wind.

Weather that has spoiled holiday plans for some.

Former farmer Ken Bain, 84, grew up at Dumbarton before farming at Moa Flat, then Millers Flat, then retiring to the Millers Flat township about 21 years ago.

When he started farming in 1965, he began keeping rainfall records and had continued to do so since.

Summers were definitely hotter in decades past, Mr Bain said.

"The summers were far hotter for longer and the winters were damn colder," he said.

"There seemed to be four seasons — the spring, the summer and the autumn and the winter. Today they’re all blending in a bit."

Looking out at green grass this summer Mr Bain recalled waiting for rain to ensure his autumn crops would be enough to see him through.

"I would say this year, it’s starting to get dry now but [in the past] it would be dry before Christmas and it would stay dry.

"And then we were hoping that it rained for the autumn feed, that we’d get rain before Roxburgh show day in mid-February.

"If you didn’t, St Patrick’s Day was the cut-off, if you didn’t get it by St Patrick’s Day, you weren’t going to get much autumn feed."

In those days, he kept two years of hay in case of drought.

Conversely, winters were harder.

Snow could keep the family homebound, especially when living at Moa Flat.

Root vegetables would be dug and put in a pit before the frosts.

"In March, April [carrots and parsnips] would have to be out, spuds would have to be out by May anyway or you wouldn’t get them out."

Roxburgh resident John McElroy, 100, recalled hot, dry summers and extreme winter weather when he was farming at the Mt Teviot property, between Roxburgh and Millers Flat in the 1970s.

"The summer of 1973 was the driest with weeks of no rain."

That year, as usual, the sheep were brought back down to the Mt Teviot property and had to be shorn pre-lambing as they were in light condition because of the feed shortage on the run.

"I bought covers to put on the sheep as soon as they were shorn.

"I only used them twice in the 10 years I farmed there.

"In 1972 there was a huge snowfall at the run near Lake Onslow. It was the worst I know of since living in the area for 56 years."

A neighbour who did not bring stock down from Lake Onslow in 1972 lost hundreds of sheep and cattle, Mr McElroy said.

"He spent a lot of time plucking wool from dead sheep.

"Contractors made tracks in the snow and farmers snow-raked to get the cattle to walk out.

"Helicopters took men and dogs to the area to clear the way.

"There were a heap of stories to be told after that event," he said.

Mr McElroy’s wife, June, recalled endless days of hot sunny weather in those years.

"The children would help me get everything done around the house so we could go down to Pinders Pond and spend the day there."