WEATHER IN MAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 2 June 1937, Page 8

WEATHER IN MAY

HEAVY RAINFALL;, HUMID CONDITIONS. May was a wet and comparatively warm month, observes Mr E.J. of the Palmerston North Boys High School, in his notes on the weather lor the month just ended. The rainfall of 5.97 in was nearly twice as heavy as i*ie normal lail ot 3.‘2l)in for May during the last 25 years and over four times that for May last year, which, however, was exceptionally light. Almost two-thirds of the total rainfall lor the month fell on the first five days, causing Hoods in the surrounding districts. Another exceptional feature was the very high relative humidity or moistness of the air, quite apart lrom the days when rain actually fell. As the housewives can probably testily fully, there were very lew days when the air was really dry and clothes dried quicKly. During the last fortnight in particular, although there was Very little rain, on many days the air was practically saturated with moisture during the whole day. This position was accentuated by the comparative absence of wind during this period. Temperatures on the average were about three degrees above the corresponding figures lor May last year, and also about two degrees above the u\erages for the last 25 years. 1 here nas only one frost—a inild one of one degree—as compared with seven frosts during last May, the severest being one of six degrees. Details of the records are : RAINFALL.

Total 5-97 Rain fell on 15 days. In May last year 1.32 in fell on 7 days. The total rainfall tins year to- the end of May is 21.22 in. The total last year to the end of May was 19.51 in. ' BAROMETRIC HEIGHT. Average height, 29.87 in. Highest reading, 30.25 in, on the 13th. Lowest reading, 29.40 in, on the 2nd and Itli. TEMPERATURES. (Last year’s figures in parentheses.) Averages. Mean air temperature, 52.2 deg. (49.2). Mean maximum in shade, 60.3 deg minimum in shade, 44.0 deg (40.9). • - ~ r i Mean minimum on grass, 41.0 de o (36.4). Extremes. 'Highest, maximum in shade, G9deg on the loth (64deg). i Lowest minimum in shade, 33deg on the 7tli (29deg). Lowest minimum on grass, 31deg on the 7tli (26deg). WINDS. (Observations taken at 9 a.m.) Force.—Calm, 1 day; slight to gentle breeze, 26 days ; moderate to strong breeze, 4 days. Direction. —From north, 0; northeast, 2 days; east, 10 days; south-east, 3 days; south, 0; south-west, 0; west, 2 days; nortli-west 13 days; calm,’ 1 day. -

Inches. May 1st' ... 2nd ... .34 .53 3rd ... 1.85 4th ... .58 1 * 5th .04 7tli ... .05 8th ... .04 9th ... .01 13th ... .13 14th ... .50 loth ... .01 16th ... .04 19th ... ■ .42 " 23rd ... .01 5 * 24 th ... .22