CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21199, 3 December 1930, Page 4

CENTRAL OTAGO.

OPHIR NOTES.

(From Otjb Own Correspondent.) OPHIR, December 2. WEATHER SUMMARY, The following is the report of the Oplur meteorological station for the month of November, 1930, standard time being observed:— Average reading of barometer at 9 a.m. 29,68 in; highest (28th), 30.45 in; lowest (15th), 29.19ih; extreme range, 1.26 in. Average shade temperature at 9 a.m., 53.0dcg; highest (sth), GB.9deg; lowest (23rd), 42.8 deg. (Average for October, 48.8 deg; for November, 1929, 57.2 deg). Shade temperature; Average maximum, 62.8 deg (October, 59.5 deg; November, 1929, Cs.7deg); average minimum, 38.7 deg (October, 35.1 deg; November, 1929, 42.5 deg). The highest maximum was 76.1 deg on November 5; the lowest minimum, 29,2 deg on November 25. The corresponding figures for November, 1929, were: Highest maximum, 74.0 deg on November 20; the lowest minimum, 28.4 deg on November 16.

Minimum grass temperature: Average, 30.9 deg (October, 27.4 deg; November, 1929, 36.9 deg). The temperature fell to 32.0 deg and lower on 17 mornings; to 30.4 deg (frost), and lower on 16 mornings. (October, 23 and 21 mornings; November, 1929, 10 and 5 mornings respectively). The highest was 47.6 deg on November 5j the lowest,

19.2 deg on November 25. The lowest reading in November, 1929, was 20.1degj November, 1928, 20.2 deg; November, 1927, 19.0 deg.

Maximum solar radiation: Average, 93.8 deg; highest (28th), 111.9degj lowest (26th), 54.0 deg. The temperature exceeded HOdeg on three days; ranged from lOldeg to HOdeg on five days; and from 91deg to lOOdeg on 12 days. Average dry-hulb and wet-bulb: 9 a.m., dry 53.0 deg, wet 45.9 deg; 3 p.m., dry 60.1 deg, wet 49.5 deg. Mean relative humidity: 9 a.m., 54 per cent.; 3 p.m., 41 per cent, of saturation. Average clearness of sky: 7 a.m., 39 per cent.; 9 a.m., 43 per cent,; 7 p.m., 43 per cent.; 10 p.m., 53 per cent. Number of observations (9 a.m.) of clear sky (cloud 0 to 2) 8; of overcast sky (cloud 8 to 10) 13. Wind, recorded at 9 a.m.: Calm, 14 days; N., 3 days; N.E., 1 day; E,, nil; S.E., nil; S., nil; S.W., 4i days; W., 3|days; N.W., 4 days. Daily average of force. .9.

Rainfall: November 2, 5 points; sth, 42 points; 12th, 10 points; 15th, 9 points; 21st, 9 points; 22nd, 10 points; 23rd, 7 points; 25th, 5 points; 26th, 45 points; 30th, 14 points;—total, 156 points on 10 days. Average in November of preceding six years, 186 points on 10 days. Total rainfall for 1930 to date, 9.60 inches on 80 days. Other phenomena (9 a.m.) : Hoar frost, nil; dew, nil; fog, nil; mist, nil. Falls of enow occurred on Dunstan, St. Bathans, and Hawkdun Ranges as follow:—November 6 (morning), very light; November 15 (day), very light; November 22 (morning), light; November 23 (a.m.), fairly heavy; November 2G (day), moderate.

The disadvantage of an under average precipitation (following a very dry October) was increased by an unusual frequency of dry north to north-west lyinds, which blew throughout the day on nine days, and for half the- day on eight other days. In addition, the abnormal number of 16 nights of frost (compared with five last year) consequent upon five falls of snow on the neighbouring mountain ranges, very seriously retarded the growth of grass, so that the pastures have been poorer this November than for years past.