Gloomy month for Chch

Press, 2 August 1977, Page 3

Gloomy month for Chch

Last month was the gloomiest in the history of weather recordings in Christchurch, which span more than a century. According to the Meteorological Office’s statistics, only 63 hours of sunshine were recorded for July, easily the lowest since figures were first kept in 1864. A record, almost sunless period, was noted between

July 15 and 31, and a total of 17 days were without sun at all. The previous lowest July figure was 87 hours in 1944. and the all-time low as 72 hours in June 1935. July also had a total of 207 mm of rain — the second highest since 1864. The record, set in July 1939 —generally regarded as the wettest, coldest month in New’ Zealand’s

history — was only 14mm higher. Rain fell on the city on 18 days, and 12 of the last 14. A storm on the third and fourth of the month produced gales and the city was flooded with 115 mm of rain. Flooding was widespread, and as the weather stayed damp there was little chance of drying out. Fog was persistent from July 13 io 19, and humid-

ity was at a record level. However, it was not unrelievedly depressing — the amount of cloud meant the number of frosts was much less than usual. Daytime temperatures were lower than average and night temperatures were higher, giving an over-all temperature slightly above the July average.