WEATHER IN 1955

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27859, 6 January 1956, Page 13

WEATHER IN 1955

RAINFALL BELOW AVERAGE

SUNNIEST DECEMBER ON RECORD

The rainfall for 1955 of 22.3 in was 3.91 in lower than the Christchurch average for the last 54 years, says the report of the Magnetic Observatory in Christchurch. February, May, June, and July were the only months with above-average rainfall. The wettest month was June, with 4.76 in. The heaviest rainfall for 24 hours was recorded on May 4. when 2.23 in fell. The mean temperature for the year was 54.3 deg, which was 2deg above average. It was only Ideg below the record mean annual temperature of 54.4 deg which occurred in 1916. July was the only month with below-aver-age temperature. The year’s sunshine, of 2122.3 hours, was 128.2 hours more than the average for the last 28 years. Seven months had sunshine totals above average, >and January, with a total of 254.2 hours, was the sunniest month of 1955. The mean grass minimum temperature for the year was 3.3 deg above normal and a record. During the year 76 frosts were recorded, compared with the average 110. Sunniest December Sunny, dry conditions continued during December, and there was a record sunshine total of 244.2 hours—44.l hours above average. The previous sunniest December occurred in 1935, when 242 hours were recorded. The mean temperature of 60.9 deg was I.6deg above normal, and on five days in the first half o’f the month temperatures exceeding 80deg were recorded. There was a return to cooler conditions in the second half of the month. Rainfall on five days, compared with the average of 11. brought the December total to 0.51 in, or 2.03 in below normal. The mean grass minimum temperature for the month was 4.6 deg above average. The following are details of readings taken during December, 1955: Barometer.—Mean for month, 1018,2 mil!non r o S: n l ? hest readin K (December 21), ci ,owest reading (December 6). 1006.2 millibars. Temperature in Shade.—Mean for month. 60.9 deg; highest reading (Decernbe? 28)’.' 37deg. g ' lO "’ eSt reading ,Decem - Temperature Exposed.—Mean minimum bCT g 23h’32deg eg: IOWESt reading (Decemdai,y amollnl »f cloud (0-8 ooserved at 9 a.m.j. 4.9; total amount of rain, 0.51 m; number of rainy davs 5heaviest fall (Dec. 25), 0.17 in ' r.. E >n' ri Tcmperatures.-Mean at a depth 68Bdeg: mean at a depth of 3ft, 66 Ideg mean at. a depth of sft, 62.4 deg Sunshine (recorded at Harewood r—--7.9 hiurs UrS; mean daily am ™h'--