YEAR'S RAINFALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 8

YEAR'S RAINFALL.

Total above the average. DRY EARLY SUMMER MONTHS, DECEMBER'S SMALL TOTAL, The rainfall for December this year has been well below the average—l.l4in., while the average is 2.s4in.—and in startling contrast to the exceptionally wet month which brought 1926 to a close. The rainfall then was 6.39 in., wi.fV« 2.20 in. of the wettest December, which was in 1916, when the rainfall for the month was 8.59 in. The total for the year has reached 53.28 in., which is 8.40 in. above the average rainfall for the year. Slight showers which fell in the city yesterday will not materially increase the total. The last three months have been exceptionally dry, especially when they are compared! with the abnormally wet winter months. There have been many who have been almost praying for rain during the past month, but the promise of something like good, heavy showers which was brought by the overcast skies of Wednesday and Thursday, has so far not been fulfilled. More rain is urgently needed by primary producers throughout the province. The following table gives the rainfall for the year, with a comparison with previous years:—

Although the' record for the last three months is exceptionally low, the total being 5.43 in., similar conditions obtained in the corresponding period oj" 1925, the rainfall then being only 5.46 in,

1927. 1926. 1926. 1924, 1923. January . 1.48 4.04 2.21 3.155 6.44 February . 5.58 2.56 3.37 4.77 3.85 March ,. 4.57 -2.42 1.30 3.34 1.76 April . 3.93 1.55 1.-33 11.29 5.73 May . . 5.48 13.70 5.25 10.63 4.12 June .. 7.09 4.87 7.85. <5.41 8.95 July .. .. 8.47 2.81 4.10 2.39 2.81 August . 6.9f» 6.68 3.S8 3.72 3.19 September .. 4.31 2.87 4.25 4,04 4.00 October ,. 2.66 7.55 2.03 4.92 3.73 November .. 1.63 7.64 2.31 4.68 2.46 December .. 1.14 6.39 1.12 4.41 2.01 Totals ,. *53.28 62.98 38.66 64.94 49.05