WEATHER SUMMARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21659, 1 June 1932, Page 5

WEATHER SUMMARY

THE FIGURES FOR MAY Records taken on the self-recording instrument on the roof of the Daily Times and Witness building show that the rainfall in Dunedin for the montu of May was considerably lighter than that registered for April, but much heavier than the fall recorded for May last year. The rainfall last month, in fact, was the heaviest recorded for May during the past six or seven years. The total fall was 1.82 inches, and was spread over 12 days, as compared with 12 days in April, nine days in March, 15 days in February, and 19 days in January. The heaviest fall was on May 9, when the instrument registered .61 inches, while .39 inches (mostly snow) fell on May 25, and nearly a quarter of an inch of rain was recorded on May 24. The other falls wore very light, and were widely separated. The past month was notable for a cold atmospliere, the temperature at times being several degrees _ below freezing point. The coldest period was between May 23 and 26. Light to fresh winds, mostly from the south-west, were experienced during the month, but there were several calm days. The following table shows the days on which rain fell during the month of

Annual .. 24.43 32.32 27.30 31.11 In 1924 the total rainfall was 24.25 inches, in 1925 29.87 inches, in 1926 35.34 inches, and in 1027 38.52 inches. MAY 'TEMPERATURES. The average daily temperature for May was about four degrees below that for April. The highest temperature during the past month was 04 degrees, on May 20 —six degrees less than the highest temperature for April. The temperature was 61 degrees on May 28, and 60 de--1 grees on May 5. Temperatures from 50 to 55 degrees were frequently registered. The lowest maximum temperature for May was 28 degrees, registered on May 25. and the second lowest 32 degrees, on May 24 and 26. The extremely low temperature on May 25 was due to a snow storm and the freezing conditions

which followed. The temperature was frequently as low as 34, 38, 40, 41, 42, and 44 degrees during the month. 4he average maximum temperature for May was 52 degrees, and the average minimum temperature was 40 decrees. ' The barometer readings were high tor the greater part of the month. -Readings ranging from 30.07 to 30.38 were recorded between May 1 and 6. The barometer fell to 29.62 on the latter date, and then to 29.15 on the morning of May 9, this being the lowest reading during May. The pressure increased from May 10 to May 16, the readings ranging from 29.75 to 30.48. The barometer was fairly steady until the morning of May 20, when it registered 30.10. The pressure then decreased during the next five davs, the readings being between 29.90 and 29.70 A sharp fall was recorded on May 24, when the barometer registered 29.55 at 8 a.m. and 29.42 at midnight. The pressure increased again on May 25, and on the evening of that day the reading was 29.95. Continuing to rise, the barometer was well over the 30.10 mark for the remainder of the month. It registered 30.48 on the night of May 28 and the morning of May 29. These ‘were the highest readings for the month. , The total amount of sunshine for the month, as recorded by the sundial on the roof of the Daily Times building, was 124 hours for 27 days, as compared with 1024 hours for 25 days in April, 1684 hours for 28 days in March. 1434 hours for 24 days in February, and 1874 hours for 27 days in January. The longest periods of daily sunshine in May were 8 hours 35 minutes on May 5, 8 hours 20 minutes on May 23, 8 hours 5 minutes on May 3, 7 hours <45 minutes on May 21, 7 hours 25 minutes on May 12, and 6 hours 55 minutes on May 30. The shortest periods were 20 minutes on May 24, 1 hour 30 minutes on May 2 and 13. 1 hour 35 minutes on May 19, and 2 hours 10 minutes on May 27.

May:May I . .. .OOin May 22 ,03in May 9 . .. .01 in May 23 .02 in May 11 .. ,22iu May 24 ,231u May 13 .. .01 n Mav 2o .39m May 14 .. ,13m May 20 .02 in May 18 .. .OOin May 28 .Olin The followin'? table gives the monthly rainfall for the past five years;— 1928. 1929. 1939. 1031. 11132. January .. .. 1.27 4.57 4.90 5.40 2.95 February .. 2.45 1.40 1.(17 4,99 4.0 March •• .. 1.80 0.80 .05 1.58 3.20 April • .. .. 3.77 1.33 1.37 1.47 3.10 May .. .. .24 1.38 1.43 1.S2 June . .. .. 1.80 1.05 1.70 1.89 July .. .. .. .91 4.02 1.51 1,24 August .. .73 .58 2.0 3.02 September .. 1.52 1.33 3.03 1.78 October .. .. 4.79 .23 3.70 2.73 November . .. 1.25 3.10 3.20 2. HO December . .. 3.25 1.38 2.04 2.08 • — "