HEAVY RAINFALL IN CITY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22805, 2 September 1939, Page 9

HEAVY RAINFALL IN CITY

HIGH * TOTAL FOR LAST MONTH READINGS AT MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY -,/ # • “The total rainfall in Christchurch during August was‘the second highest pn .--record, the heaviest being ■ 5.97 inches in. 1935,”" statics the summary .of data supplied by-the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory, “The total rainfall to date this year is 19.68 inches which is well in excess of the normal of 17,27 inches for. that period.” The summary also mentions that the mean temperature of 42.64 inches for Oie njonth has seldom been'equalled. The hours of sunshine were also abnormally, low for. August. v^Thersuinma^i'ollpws:---' ™ eaa ' for month, 29.563 in; highest reading, 30.403 in on August 1; lowest reading, 281844 in on August 30. Temperatures in shade—Mean ‘ for ‘month. 42.64 degrees Fahrenheit; -highdegrees oa August 30* .lowest reading, 2S-.6 degrees oa^Urguet--13. ; Temperatures Exposed—Mean minimu r on grass, 31.09 'degrees Fahrenheit;' lowest reading, 17.8 degrees on August- 13. - - r-Tv’-;' Moisture—Mean daily amount of cloud (0-10), 6.6; total rainfall for month, 4.91 in; number of rainy days, 12; heaviest fall, 1.36iu on August 26. Sunshine—Total, amountof,sunshine; 117.0 hdlirs; mean daily amount, 3.77 hours. ‘ . Earth Temperature^—At - a depth of Ift. , 41.62 degrees . .Fahrenheit; '- at a depth of 3ft, 42.66 degrees; at a depth of sft, 4L61 deeyeca. > -r, EFFECTS ON FARMING IN CANTERBURY / OBSERVATIONS- 1 TAKEN AT . LINCOLN .The summary of meteorological observations made at 9 a.m. daily at the Canterbury, Agricultural College, Lincoln. is -ais- follows: Mean height .of • barometer, 1939, 29.547; 1938. 29.993. Mean -humidity, 79.8 per cent, 77.9 per cent. - ; • ,

Mean maximum teihperature, 50,4 degrees. 54.1' degrees. Highest maximum temperature, August 30, 62.3- degrees, 65.5 degrees. Mean, minimum temperature, 36.4 degrees, 36.0 degrees. Lowest/,* minimum' temperature, August 3 V 26J> degrees, 25.5 degrees. .Mean ' grass minimum temperature, 32.7 degrees.’29.2' degrees.

Lowest grass minimum temperature, 17.0 degrees.' 17.2 degrees. Mean temjp«rature for, month. 43.4 degrees. 45.0 degrees. Mean range of - temperature for month, 14.0 degrees, 18.1 degrees. . Mean earth temperature, 41.0 degrees, 42.0 degrees/ ■ / -

Days of frost. 9, 16. •• Rainfall, 4.44 in," .73in; Rainfall to date, 18.17 in,. 23.14 in. Hours of sunshine. 121.9. 158.4. Mean amount of cloud. 6.3. 5.3. . Miles of wind. 3076. 3701. Mean force of wind. 1.8, ,2.9. August has been a particularly wet month, • rain falling on 13 days, the summary states. A total pf 4.44 inches was registered, which is 2.41 • inches above the station average of 2.03 inches. A total of 121.9 hours of sunshine was recorded, this being 32 hours below the station average of 153 hour . . Temperatures have been fairly close tc the station average for the last 50 years. The weather for stock, although excellent during the first half of the month, was Unsatisfactory during the latter half. -Heavy rain during this period has held up culti-« vation for spring crops and made conditions for lambing difficult. Probably because of the exceptionally .severe' weather during July, many cases of pregnancy.- toxaemia or doniness jn ewes have been reported this, month. Winter feed supplies generally "have been depleted and farmers have been pleased to see the soring flush- in pastures which, has taken place during the last week. "Wheat arid " oat crops hav; also made good growth 'at this period >