FINE FEBRUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 13

FINE FEBRUARY

SUNSHINE EVERY DAY LESS THAN INCH OF RAIN COOL NIGHTS A FEATURE Little more than half an inch of rain fell during February, and of the total of .67in., 58 points fell on a single day, February 5. The total fall was less than one-quarter of the average. Rain fell on only four days, and there were periods of 12 and nine days without rain. The average rainfall for the month is 3.27 in. February in Auckland has the record of being both the wettest and the driest month of the year. The rainfall for February, 1869, was 14.15 in. That record was nearly reached in 1917, when the total mouth's rainfall was 12.67 in., and of that amount 5.45 in. fell in 24 hours on February 3. Downpours in 1938 As a contrast, February, 1909, was an absolutely dry month, no rain falling that year between January 30 aud March 11. However, February, 1938, was a very wet month. Due to four heavy falls of almost tropical intensity, the rainfall for that month was 11.44 in. This fell over 12 days, the maximum being 4.84 in. on February 16. There was no day during the whole of last month on which the sun did not shine, according to the report furnished by Mr. S. M. Yallop, the Government meteorological observer in Auckland. The month's total sunshine was 202 hours 6 minutes, or more than 38 hours greater than that of February of last year, when the total was regarded as being fairly low. Most sunshine was recorded on February 17 last —l2 hours 24 minutes. Very Little Humidity Fairly moderate temperatures accompanied the sunshine of the month, due largely to the moderate south and south-westerly winds which prevailed. There was also very little humidity. The mean temperature in the shade was 64.42 degrees, comparnig very favourably with last year's figure of 70.94 degrees. The highest reading was on February 2 at 77.80 degrees, and the lowest, 54 degrees, occurred on February 18 and 24. February was principally remarkable for the many cool nights, as contrasted with the sarno month last year, when temperatures were higher and there was extensive humidity. The lowest grass reading was 47 degrees on February 20 and 24. Barometric pressure was moderate until toward the end of the month, when it was high for seven days in succession. The average was 30.035 in. The lowest reading was 29.615 in. on February 6, but it rose to 30.295 in. on February 23. which remained the highest for the month. Dew was recorded on 11 days. "

HAMILTON STATISTICS RECORDING BELOW AVERAGE [FKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON, Tuesday Nearly one and a-half inches of rain fell in Hamilton this month. The total fall recorded was 1.47 in. The average rainfall in Hamilton for February is 3.10 in.' . v Of the total registered during the past 28 days, 1.42 in. had fallen by February 7, the remaining .Ooin. falling on February 12. The weather since that date has been brilliantly fine, with fairly high temperatures. Several slight frosts liave been recorded at Ihiakura during the month, and a number of light fogs have been experienced.