Less Wind Than Usual Last Month

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32220, 12 February 1970, Page 17

Less Wind Than Usual Last Month

:, I v January was an exception-I e ally pleasant summer month for Canterbury, mainly be cause of the unusual absence . of wind, which was more i- than 30 per cent below avere a.ge and the lowest since 1947, ® according to the monthly e weather summary at Lincoln 1! College. s- As a consequence, temperaglares were well above average, particularly at night,

mean temperatures being 4.9 degrees above average. The monthly mean of 63.7 degrees was also well above average, [ compared with those in the same month in 1962 and 1965.1 Extreme temperatures fell: well within the average range' to be expected and just ; failed to reach 90 degrees on ; January 26. In January last year and in 1968, maximum temperatures of 90.5 degrees were recorded at the college. However, the mean maximum temperature of 72.6 degrees was a degree or so above that for January during the previous three years. Sunshine and rainfall during the month were both close to average. There was. 205 hours of sunshine and the month was notable for fine j week-ends. Each day during ; the four week-ends averaged [ j eight hours of bright sun--shine, compared with the 6.6 ' hour average, and the tern- ' perature averaged more than; ' 75 degrees, compared with a !72.6 degree average. There were 11 days on ' which the temperature rose above 70 degrees and six days : when it exceeded 80 degrees. Rainfall totalled 2.29 in, ' compared with 2.50 in and ■ 4.38 in in January of the pre- ■ ceding years. Ninety-six j 1 points of rain on January 6! ■ relieved the dry conditions, 1 but With evaporation exceeding 7jin this relief was only I temporary, and no real 'pasture growth occurred. The - other nine rainy days produced only small amounts of ■ rain which were soon lost by ; evaporation and served only ' to delay the harvest, which ' progressed reasonably well. Irrigation continued to ba ■ used throughout the month, ' and heat-loving crops such as i cucurbits, field tomatoes and • corn were in advance of nor i mal growth.