WEATHER IN FEBRUARY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28529, 7 March 1958, Page 24

WEATHER IN FEBRUARY

Least Sunshine Since 1936The lowest figure for sunshine hours for February since 1936 135.1—was recorded at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, according to its summary of meteorological observations for the month. In 1956 222.5 hours were recorded. Rainfall for the month wa£ 2.12 inches, 31 points more than the station mean. Evaporation was lower than usual as were earth temperatures, but air temperatures were about 4 degrees higher. In other respects the weather for the month was close to normal. Pasture growth was abnormal and lucerne growth good, and fodder crops continued steadily. Harvesting was broken and difficult as a result of wet or overcast weather. Almost no harvesting was done from mid-month until February 26, after which time long hours were worked in an attempt to harvest over-ripe crops before the weather broke again. There were losses in white clover and pea crops because of sprouting. All cultivation, pasture and greenfeed sowings were “up-to-date as the month closed. Stock health remained satisfactory and dairy production, which had been substantial, was affected by the cold, dull weather. In home gardens, lawns continued to grow, crops ripened slowly and aphids and white butterfly damage'appeared on cruciferous crops.

Mean humidity, 76 per cent. (87.4 per cent.); mean maximum temperature, '72.2 degrees (76.3 degrees); highest maximum temperature, February 7, 89.8 degrees (93.2 degrees); mean minimum temperature, 52.4 degrees (51.8 degrees); lowest minimum temperature, February 26 (33.2 degrees (37.9 degrees); mean grass minimum temperature, 50.0 degress (46.6 degrees); lowest grass minimum temperature, 31.1 degrees (31.8 degrees); mean temperature for month, 62.3 degrees (64.1 degrees); mean range of temperature for month, 19.8 degrees (24.5 degrees); mean earth temperature, 61.6 degrees (65.1 degrees); days of frost, nil (nil); rainfall, 2.12 inches (1.12 inches); rainfall to date, 4.85 inches (3.06 inches); sunshine, 135.1 hours (222.5 hours); mean amount of cloud in eighths, 6.1 (4.8); miles of wind, 6978 (7123); mean force of wind, 3.9 (3.1); evaporation for month, 4.649 (5.503).