HEAVY FALLS OF RAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21142, 9 July 1943, Page 5

HEAVY FALLS OF RAIN

VERY WET JUNE RECORDINGS ON COAST Last month parts of the East Coast, notably Te Araroa, received veryheavy falls of rain. The number of days on which rain was recorded for Gisborne and the surrounding districts averaged 21 days, which indicated thai he month was a very wet one. While ;ome parts of the Coast received heavy rain, others recorded moderate falls. This also applies to the surrounding country districts. The highest rainfall for June of nine to hand was recorded at Tokata, Te Araroa, where the total for the month was 21.62 in., of which 18.22 in. fell during the last 15 days of the month. The wettest period was from June 17 to 19, during which Kl.OSin. was recorded, the heaviest fall being on June 17. when 7.35 in. fell in (J.\ hours. In all. there were 24 wet days at Te Araroa. 22 Wet Days at Matarau Twenty-two wet days in June were reported by Matarau station, Matakaoa County, which had a total of 20.(>9in. of rain compared with the fall of 9.69 in. at Bwkuhanga station, only a few' miles away at Cape Runaway. The great difference in rainfall is caused by a range of hills which separated the two stations. The total fall in June, 1942, at Matarau was only 3.12ih. in six days and Rukuhanga was even less with only 1.34 in., which fell in three days. The total fall for the first six months of this year at Matarau is now 48.13 in., compared with 25.70 in. last year, and Rukuhanga has recorded 26.27 in., as against 14.6 Gin. for the same period last year. Matarau station also reports that the month was wet and stormy, with violent gales from all quarters, but surprisingly little damage was done to roads and riverbanlcs. From June 16 to June 30 there was not one day without rain. A further report from Rukuhanga states that from June 16 on it was a wild, stormy period with thunder and lightning on six- occasions. There were also five' frosts, and on June 28 a heavy fall of snow on the back ranges. A total of 15.72 in. was recorded at Pakihiroa station, Ruatoria, on 23 wet days last month. The total from January 1 to June 30 was 43.07 in. Rainfall recorded last month at Owhena station, at the back of Tokomaru Bay, totalled 14.62 in. for 22 days. The heaviest 24-hour fall was 2.64 in. on June 24. The rainfall at til's station for May slightly exceeded that for June, the May fall being 14.91 in. Ruangarehu station, inland from Tokomaru Bay, recorded 6.70 in. last month, compared with G.sin. for the corresponding month last year. There were 18 wet days last month and the heaviest fall, 1.37 in., was on June 18. A total of 35.68 in. was recorded at Ruangarehu since the beginning of the year, while 24.68 in. was recorded for the same period in 1942. Heaviest Rainfall Since 1920 In the Motu district, Marumoko station reports the heaviest rainfall in one month since 1920, when records were first kept. The previous record was-17.47in. on 22 days in May, 1928. The total last month was 17.71 in. of rain on 20 days, the heaviest 24hour fall being 2.31 in. on June 18. Last year the June total was 3.71 in. in 13 days. The total from January 1 to the end of last month was 39.47 in., Compared with 32.67 in last year. Matawai also reported the heaviest fall last month since recordings were first taken. Previously the highest total was 11.29 in., recorded in July, 1942. For the 23 days on which rain fell last month 12.16 in. was recorded, the heaviest fall in one day, 1.85 in., being on June 18. Last year the June rainfall totalled 3.91 in., which fell on 14 days. The recording last month at Eastwoodhill station totalled 5.20 in. for the 26 days on which rain was recorded. The fall at this station throughout the month was comparatively light for the number of days on which rain fell, there being only four days on which rain was not recorded. The heaviest 24-hour fall, l.SOin., was recorded on June 17. The total up to the end- of last month was 21.00 in., compared with lG.7Bin. recorded last year. The 5.71 in. recorded at Hangaroa fell on 18 days last month. A fall of 1.12 in. on June 18 was the heaviest recorded in one day.