Exceed Average Rain In 7 Months

Northern Advocate, 10 August 1946, Page 6

Exceed Average Rain In 7 Months

With only just over seven months of the year passed, the average annual rainfall in Whangarei has been exceeded.

Heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, last night continued through the early morning hours to make the fall for the 24-hour period to 8 a.m. today total 1.06 in.

Added to thg 62.55 in. registered for the seven months to date, this makes the total 63.81 in.. exceeding the average annual rainfall of 63.58 in. by .03in. The rainfall to date this year has been phenomenal Following a record drought with negligible rain during the first two months of the year, rain has fallen consistently during the winter months, particularly during July with a new all-time month's record of 20.10 in. NEW ANNUAL RECORD? This meant that nearly a third of the year's annual rainfall was recorded in one month. For the nine days of August the fall has been 1.91 in. against an average for the month of G.35in., although there is every likelihood that the average will be exceeded. Nearly five months of the year remain and it also is possible that a new record annual rainfall will be recorded. The heaviest annual fall on record was in 1937 when 84.08 in. of rain were recorded, while the lightest annual rainfall was in 1913 with 40in. KAIKOHE STORM An electrical thunderstorm lasting two hours was centred near Kaikohe after midnight. Preceded by high winds without rain the storm burst in a series of loud thunder claps. The lightning appeared to be of the ball type resembling a giant magnesium bulb. Rainfall to 19 o’clock this morning for the previous 124 hours was .71 in.