ABUNDANCE OF RAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21911, 21 September 1934, Page 14

ABUNDANCE OF RAIN

SYDNEY PEOPLE'S PLIGHT TOO MANY CYCLONES [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Sept. 13 The slogan, "Sunny New South Wales," has lost all its meaning as far as the people of Sydney are concerned. They wonder if ever there could have been a time when Australia suffered from a drought, if ever there could have been a time when the use of water was restricted, if ever there could have been a time when the sun shone the whole day through. For a whole year extraordinary weather conditions have prevailed.

The people find little comfort in the official statement this week that, even if no more rain falls for two and a-half years, there will be ample water in the reservoirs for the requirements of the city. The old nursery rhyme, "Rain, Rain, Go Away," has been given new significance, but no matter how often the plea has been uttered the rain stays on, ruining the gardens and fraying the nerves of the populace. Only twice in the last 20 years has the rainfall in Sydney for the first eight months of the year—ssin.—been exceedod. The wettest years on record were 1860—82 in., with 180 wet days, and 1890—81 in., and 184 wot days. So far this year in Sydney rain has fallen on 125 days, and of 35 week-ends 22 have been unsettled. There are still four months of the year to run, ami as the summer advances Sydney may expect the usual thunderstorms. It is easily within the bounds of possibility that a now rain record will be reached, for the general conditions favour still more rain. Every day last week there was rain, and some of the downpours were particularly heavy, greatly interfering with traffic. Every day of the 18-day period from August 20 to September 6 was wet. It is felt that that in itself must constitute, a record.

Hero is the record of spoiled weekends in Sydney so far this year:— January, three out of four; February, two out of four; March, three out of four; April, three out of fivo; May, two out of four; June, threo out of four; July, two out of five; August, three out of four; September (to date), two out of two. The State meteorologist says that New South Wales has been under the influence of a remarkable series of cyclonic disturbances, which have hit the coast at the rate of ono a week.