THE WEATHER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 274, 1 September 1939, Page 4

THE WEATHER.

FINE CONDITIONS TO-DAY Fine, sunny weather prevailed in Ashburton to-day. The maximum temperature yesterday was 52.8 degrees and the minimum was 32.9 degrees. TII9 barometer stood at 29.33 inches this morning. CONDITIONS AT METHVEN. The following are the meteorological observations for August recorded by Mr James Carr, “Rudstone,” Methven. Mr Carr lias- been keeping records for 31 years. Rain fell on 11 days, the maximum on any one' day being 97 points on the 29th. The total for the month was 3.30 inches compared with 2.48 inches for August last year. The average for August during the last 31 years is 2.54 inches. Tho wettest August in that period was in 1925, when 7.43 inches fell, and the dryest was in 1922, when only 39 points were recorded. The rainfall for this year to date has been 19.02 inches, against 37.65 last'year. The highest barometer reading was 30.32 on the Ist and the lowest 29.17 on the 12th. The highest maximum thermometer was 60-4 degrees on the 29th and the lowest minimum was 24.8 on the 2nd. The lowest reading on the' grass was 11.3 degrees on the 13th. The average mean temperature was ‘ 40.2 degrees. The wind mileage was 2337, and the sunshine recorded was 154.4 hours. The evaporation was 1.380 ins. On 12 days snow was on the ground and frosts were recorded on 22 nights. CONDITIONS IN AUGUST. Although there were some spells of boisterous weather in Ashburton’ last month, conditions for the most part were fairly favourable and a few beautiful spring days were enjoyed. The temperatures showed a marked rise and there were frosts on only 17 days. Most of these- were light, but the most severe, 12.5 degrees, on August 14 was tho second • hardest this year. Only two other frosts exceeded 'lo degrees. There were 20 frosts in August, 1938, tho most severe being 15.1 degrees on the. third and 15 degrees on the fourth. Six exceeded 10 degrees. The total rainfall last month was 3.94 inches, compared with only 1.32 inches in August last year. Rain fell on nine' days, the heaviest falls being S 4 points on the- 2th, 54 points on the 10th and 52 points on the 29th. On August 10, there was a fairly heavy fall of snow. This storm was most severe in the higher levels and districts near the hills were covered with snow to a depth of seven inches. There was a thunderstorm in the early hours ot last Wednesday morning, and vivid lightning was experienced. There was a number of morning mists and on some days drizzling rain fell: Winds were generally light, northerlies and westerlies predominating. The maximum temperature was 64.1 degrees on Tuesday and the minimum day reading was 31 degrees on August 1. Tho minimum reading at the inside thermometer at night was 22.9 degrees on. August 3.

TO-DAY'S FORECAST. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government Meteorologist, at noon to-day, issued the following statement regarding the, weather: — Pressure is rising over New Zealand with the advance of an anti-cyclone firom Eastern Australia on the northern Tasman Sea. The forecast for the east coast of the South Island from Blenheim to Oamaru is as follows:

Light to moderate* and variable winds. Weather fair to fine. Cool temperatures with frosts to-night. Seas slight to moderate.