JANUARY RAINFALL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 95, 1 February 1934, Page 6

JANUARY RAINFALL

PHENOMENALLY HEAVY. 7.15 INCHES IN ASHBURTON. CONDITIONS DURING THE MONTH Greater than any monthly total since, the beginning of 1926 at least, and over twice as great as that for tho same month last year, the rainfall in Ashburton last month was phenomenally; heavy. The gauge at the Domain weather station recorded 7.15 inches for -the month, compared with 3.08 inches in January, 1933. Records of daily meteorological observations tabulated at the ' 'Guardian'' office do not go back any further than the beginning of 1926,. and in no case during the past eight years does a monthly Rainfall corns anywhere near that registered hi January this year. The nearest approach in this period is 6.22 inches, the fall for December, 1928. Particulars of the rainfall in January for the past nine years are as follow: Inches. 1926 2.03 1927 1-47 : 1928 1-00 '. 1929 1930 5.38 1931 1-37 1932 LOO 1933 3.08 i 1934 ...: 7.15 Rain fell on 16 separate days and there was not one week-end absolutely without rain. The heaviest single' fall was 2.07 inches for the 24-hour period ended at 9 a.m. on January 7, while the heaviest fall in one period in January, 1933, was 63 points'on January 22.

There were no .frosts in January this year or in January, 1933. The highest barometric pressure last month was 30.25 inches on January 30, and the lowest 29.36 inches on January 21. A reading of 86.7 degrees was the greatest maximum shade temperature recorded during the month, the thermometer rising to this figure on January 19. The lowest maximum during the month was 52.2 degrees on January 6. Minimum inside readings varied from 65.2 degrees on January 11 to 36.1 degrees on January 22. There were 158 hours 7 minutes of sunshine in Ashburton during January. BRIGHT SUNSHINE TO-DAY. 7 . Although the sky was overcast this morning, the clouds cleared by 10 o'clock and the sun shone brilliantly in a clear blue sky for the remainder of the day. A cool breeze from the north-east tempered the heat .of the sun a little and conditions were ideal. The reading of the barometer .at 9 o'clock this morning was 30.12 inches compared with 30.20 inches yesterday morning. The maximum shade temperature yesterday was 71 degrees, and the minimum reading Of the thermometer last, -night was 48.7 degrees, while extremes on Tuesday were 63.8 and 48.6 degrees? ■" TO-DAY'S FORECAST. (Per Presß. Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government Meteorologist, . at noon to-day, issued the following statement regarding the weather: — General Inference: Except for a slight fall of"pressure, there lias been very little change in the situation. An intense anti-cyclone still covers New Zealand and tlie area to the east of it. On this the depressions from the west are at present unable to make much impression and disturbed conditions prevail 'over tropipal Australia. The forecast for the east coast of the South Island from Blenheim to Oamaru is as follows: Light to fresh east to north winds'; weather fair to fine; seas smooth to moderate.