Even Rainfall Throughout September

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 236, 5 October 1937, Page 3

Even Rainfall Throughout September

WEATHER STATISTICS FOR PALMERSTON NORTH

Commenting on the weather in Palmerston North during September, Mr E. J. Werry of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School, s'tates that the rainfall for the month was 3.23 inches. There was nothing exceptional about this; it was only slightly above the average of 2.93 inches for September during the past 30 years; but it was over half an inch less than that for September last year. The exceptional featuro was that rain fell on 24 days, that is, there were only six days in September on which no rain fell. For a fortnight, in the middle of the month, rain fell every day. The ground was very much drier at the beginning of the month than at the end. Temperatures on the average were from one to two and a-half degrees higher than those for September last year, and also higher than the average temperatures for the last 30 years. The extreme temperatures, both maximum and minimum, are lower by four or five degrees than those for last September. There was only one heavy frost—of 6 degrees on the 29th. Last year there were four fairly heavy frosts during September. This year tho frost did serious damage to early potato crops and to bean, marrow and pumpkin plants. As is usual during September, there was a preponderenee of westerly winds. Details of the records arc:— Rainfall. Inches. September 2 08 „ 3 09 „ 4 06 „ 5 01 „ 6 13 „ 7 16 „ 11 02 12 49 „ 13 02 „ 14 .36 „ 15 01 „ 16 09 17 (fl IS 05 „ 19 .... 01 „ 20 29 „ 21 . .. .20 „ 22 24 „ 23 01 „ 24 01 „ 26 04 » 27 03 „ 29 01 „ 30 7S Total 3.23 Rain fell on 24 daj-s. In September last year 3.86 inches fell on 13 days. The total fall till the end of September was 29.67 inches. The total fall till tho end of September last year was 33.31 inches. Barometric Pressure Average for month, 29.92 inches. Highest reading, 30.29 inches on the 17th. Lowes? reading, 29.38 inches on the 23rd. Extremes. Highest maximum reading in the shade, 66 degrees on the 4th (71deg). Lowest minimum reading in the shade 28 degrees on the 29th (28deg.). Lowest minimum reading on grass, 26 degrees on the 29th (22deg). Temperatures. (Last year’s figures in parenthesis.) —Averages.— Mean air temperature, 51.5 degrees (50.7 deg). Mean maximum in the shade, 59deg (sS.7deg). Mean minimum in the shade, 43.9 deg (42.7 deg). Mean minimum on the grass, 41deg (38.5 deg). Frosts. Thero was one heavy frost of 6deg on the 29th and two very slight ones on the 24th and 26th. In September last year there were four frosts, the most severe being one of lOdeg. Winds. (Observations at 9 hrs, standard time.) Force.—Calm, —; light to gentle breeze, 18 days; moderate to fresh wind, 12 days. Direction.—North, 0; north-east, 0; east, 3 days; south-east, 5 days; south, 0; south-west, 0; west, 6 days; northwest, 16 da^s.