Weather warmer than usual

Press, 10 March 1984, Page 9

Weather warmer than usual

Christchurch’s warm weather has been slow in coming but, for those who like the heat, the last three weeks have made the wait worth while. The last 17 days had been unseasonably warm in Christchurch said the Meteorological Service yesterday. During that period temperatures reached 20deg. or more every day, and the daily maximums averaged more than 24deg. This warm spell was not matched at all last summer when the warmest 17-day period was January 3 to 19, with an average daily maximum of 23.5 deg.. Long-term average daily maximums over at least 30 years are 21.5 deg. for February and 19.5 deg. for March. However, before the start of this warm spell on February 22 the summer had notably lacked warmth, the service said. Last summer the four months from November to February 22 had temperatures higher than 25deg. on 26 days, 12 more than this summer offered. The next few days are unlikely to offer a continiuation of the high temperatures. The service has predicted a maximum today of only 19deg. and the weather is expected to remain cool tom|-rrow.