EARLY AND LATE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 6

EARLY AND LATE

WHEN MOST RAIN FALLS

■ The ' diurnal variation in Wellington's rainfall during tho years 1928 and 1939 is the subject of an interesting paper contributed by Dr. E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, to the recent number of the "Journal of Science and Technology." From the records of these two years it is clear that the amount of precipitation falls off towards the midday ;■■ hours. There is-an apparent mqrning peak, .when most rain falls, about the dawn hours, between 3 a.in. and 7 a.m., the cause of which is not clear. Another peak in the afternoon', hours Dr. Kidson suggests? would bo . du<? to convection, and' rainfalls- of the thunderstorm -type, or instability showers in general, would contribute to it. The total rainfalls in 1928 and 1929 were 55.08iu and 47.61 in, falling on 161 and 165 days .respectively. ' The greatest, fall, from'one exact hour to another was o.63iriy between 13 and 14 hours on the 16th April in 1928, and o.Blin between 17 and 18 hours on the 6thl March in 1929. On the 16th April, 1928, o;7lin fell between 12.45. ,and 1345,ji'pnrs,, and Q.2oin.- between,'l3.42 anfr 1&.48 'hours.-; '.Tlie last is perhaps the "highest rate of, fall, we have. had in,.Wellington'since 1912./' On the' 6th March, . 1929, lin fell ,between 17.00 and. 18;20 ; hojirs.^The ■greatest amounts registered .on any day were 2.43 in on the Ist No.vemW, 1928; .and 2.64 in.,.011 the-2pth-June, 1929; '■■'■'■ -