THE WEATHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5371, 3 February 1879, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

U) Wind at W Direction of Wind. N. N.E. E. S. B. 9. S.W. W. N.W. No or days ..17 11G92 1 Mostly fine, and occasionally hot; wind generally fresh to Btrong, with high barometer and very little rain. Averago of temperature, nearly one degree below tho general average of January, being above it onlyin thefirßt week (January 5-11); maximum heat on 10th exceeding that of any day since 13th January, 1577, but nearly two degrees lower than the maximum ot the previous year (12th January, 1870). The general range of temperature has been less than tho extreme above given might be thought to imply; on three days only did it exceed 80 degrees. On one only it foil below 70*. Of tho remaining 24 days, 21 range within the five degrees from 73* to 78*. Nineteen nights in like manner lie between 55* and GO*, two being below and seven above these limits. So far the summer, though generally warmer than the two preceding, and with a few very warm days, has been cooler than most previous seasons. Tho maximum sunheats, shade-heats, and radiation did not coincide, being respectively recorded on the Bth, 10th, and 2Gth, tho last-named being 143'G ; though ono of tho highest readings of this series (141*9), was noted on the 9th, intermediate to tho other two.

Wind light and very variable from January 5 to January 11 ; brisk and occasionally strong during tho remaiuder of the month. On the 12th, strong from N.E. (23£ miles per hour for the 24 hours, veering to W. and S.W. (30miles per hour at 9.30 a.m.) on tho 13th, and averaging 10£ tuiles per hour for the eight days following ; then lighter (12£ miles), from N.E., and again fresher (14£ miles) from S.W.,witha maximum (observed) velocity of 32 miles at 9.30 a.m. of 30th, and again rising and veering to tho N.

Rain very scanty—little more than one-third of tho average fall, although on about the same number of days. More than half recorded for tho two days, 13th and 14th, coming on with tho shift of wind from N.E. to W. abovc-men-tioned, threatening a much heavier fall on tho morning of tho Ist. [N.B. —Sinco close of observations, heavy rain in afternoon, and wind rising rapidly after sunset,] Most cloud generally in the morning and forenoon, between S and 11 a.m., with little or none till the same hour next day.

Range of barometer greater than any recorded for some months previous, but fluctuations not of long continuance. The general average nearly one-tenth above that of the month for the past 15 years, and the upper extreme higher than any reading since that of 24th March, 1878. Short but heavy fall with the rain thu afternoon, rising after sunset with the freshing wind. Elwin B. Dickson, Government Observer.

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