A COLD MONTH

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 133, 2 December 1935, Page 12

A COLD MONTH

NOVEMBER'S WEATHER

RECORDINGS AT KELBURN

Contrasted with November 'last year which in Wellington was phenomenally hot 'and sunny, the November just finished was a failure, being the third coldest November on record. Low temperatures and frequent rain characterised Wellington's weather throughout the month and, although winds were seldom strong, there was more than the usual proportion of southerlies. There was an exceptionally cold snap for the time of year from the 25th to the 27th, when frequent hail showers fell'together with snow to low levels on the surrounding ranges. But in spite of all the unpleasant weather, there were some very beautiful days, and there was good growth in the gardens with plenty of colour in the flowers and grass has grown vigorously.

The month's mean maximum temperature as recorded at Kelburn was 60.2 degrees, November's previous average being 62.3 degrees. The mean minimum temperature was 46.2 degrees, which- was well below the previous average of 49.5 degrees. The month's approximate mean temperature was therefore, 53.2 degrees, compared with the average of 55.9 degrees for previous Novembers. November in 1930 was colder still, the approximate mean temperature (recorded at a lower station) for that month being 52.9 degrees. November in 1888 was also colder than the one just over, but last month's mean minimum temperature (46.2) is the lowest mean minimum temperature for November ever recorded in Wellington.

The month's highest maximum temperature, 70.6 degrees, was recorded on the 23rd," which figure does not compare at all favourably with the record of 80.5 degrees reached in November last year. The lowest minimum temperature was 37.0 degrees on the 26th. The grass mean minimum temperature averaged 42.9 degrees, as against a normal figure of 44.4 degrees, the lowest grass minimum being 33.0 degrees on the 28th. The temperature at 9 a.m. averaged 54.9 degrees, or about two degrees below normal.

In the matter of sunshine, too, the month failed dismally, both as compared with the November average and more especially when compared with November of last year. The total number of hours of bright sunshine recorded were 185.9. The November average is 205.5 hours, and in November last year the total was the phenomenally high one of 274.9 hours. November this year had an average of a little over six hours of bright sunshne per day, whereas in November last year the average was over nine hours per day.

The rainfall, which totalled 2.84 inches, was very close to the average, but rain fell on 18 days compared with the normal number of 13. The rain was perpetual rather than heavy, a fall of 0.58 inches on the 25th being the month's heaviest fall. There were hailstorms on the 26th and 27th, the stones in some of the suburbs being large.

The daily run of wind averaged 231 miles, whereas from previous records in November one of 278 miles might have been expected. The windiest 24----hour period was that ending at 9 a.m. on the 19th, when a strong northerly accounted for a run of 514 miles.

Cloud at 9 a.m. averaged 5.9 tenths of the sky covered. Humidity at that hour averaged 70 per cent., which is less than usual, some of the southerly days being very dry.

The mean barometric pressure averaged 29.753 inches, as against a normal figure of 29.872 inches.

Other meteorological phenomena during the month were brilliant lightning on the night of the 24th and a fog during the early hours on the morning of the 23rd.