WEATHER SUMMARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22329, 1 August 1934, Page 13

WEATHER SUMMARY

RAINFALL ABOUT AVERAGE INCREASE IN SUNSHINE The most noticeable features of the weather during the month of July were the increase in the amount of sunshine recorded, compared with that of the corresponding month last year, and the absence of prolonged cold spells. On only six days did the thermometer reading go below freezing point, and these occasions were spread throughout the month. In July of jast year there was a period of about 10 clays when heavy frosts were recorded each day. The rainfall for the month was about the average for July, the total being 2 inches, 6 points above that recorded in July, 1933. Three fairly heavy falls were recorded, the heaviest being on July 21, when rain and snow brought the total for the 24 hours up to .53 inches. Two days later there was another heavy fall, .30 inches being recorded. Apart from July 15, when .27 inches fell, there were no other falls of consequence. In all, rain fell on 14 clays, compared with 15 days in June and 12 days in July of last year. The final week of the period was characterised by cold mornings and bright, sunny days,' but the growing warmth of the sun was tempered by a light southwesterly breeze, which prevailed throughout the period. Indeed, the whole of the month was notable for the south-wester-lies, only occasional breezes from the east and north-east varying the monotony of the other wind. There were several calm days. The following table shows the days on which rain fell during July:—

Annual .. 21".30 31,11 26.83 29.01 In 1924 the total rainfall was 24.25 inches, in 1925 20.87 inches, in 1926 35.34 inches, in 1927 38.03 inches, in 1928 24.43 inches, and in 1929 32.32 inches. BAROMETER READINGS. The month opened with a falUng barometer, the pressure being 29.75 on the night of July 1, and 29.65 at 8 a.m. on July 2. The barometer rose 20 points on the same day and continued to rise until it registered 30.25 on the morning of July 6, when the pressure again decreased temporarily, the barometer again rising to register 30.10 on the night of July 10. A falling barometer was recorded between July 10 and 12, the readings being 29.55 and 29.77 on the latter date. The readings varied considerably during the next 11 days, the barometer rising to 30.20 on July 18 and falling to 29.52 on the night of July 21. This was the lowest reading for the month. The pressure increased on the morning of July 22, and from then on the barometer rose steadily until it registered 30.19 on the night of July 26. With the spell of fine weather the pressure again increased, and from July 27 to the last day of the month the readings were between 30.26 and 30.46. temperatures.

The temperatures throughout the month were, on the average, about two degrees above those recorded for the previous month. There were several fairly warm days. The highest temperature was 58 degrees, registered on July 14, this being two degrees more than the highest temperature registered in June. On July 30 the thermometer registered 55 degrees, 54 degrees on July 25, 53 degrees on July--15, and 62 degrees on July 5. The last two weeks of the month were notable for fairly low temperatures, the average maximum temperature being between 44 and 47 degrees. Several keen frosts were experienced during the month, and the temperature was from two to six degrees below freezing point on two or three occasions. The coldest morning was on July 7, when the thermometer registered 26 degrees. A reading of 27 degrees was recorded on the morning of July 6. 28 degrees on July 28, 30 degrees on July 26, 31 degrees on July 1 and 16, and 32 degrees on July 2,3, 4, and 31. The average daily maximum temperature for the month was 47 degrees, and the average minimum temperature 34 degrees. SUNSHINE RECORDED.

The total amount of sunshine recorded on the sundial on the roof of the Daily Times building in July was 102 hours 55 minutes—an increase of 22 hours 45 minutes on the amount recorded in the previous month and an increase of three hours 45 minutes over that of the month of July last year. The longest periods of daily sunshine were eight hours 35 minutes'ou July 30, eight hours 15 minutes on July 27, eight hours 10 minutes on July 25, seven hours 55 minutes on July 19, six hours 45 minutes on July 10, six hours 25 minutes on July 5, six hours 20 minutes on July 31, and six hours 10 minutes on July 24. The shortest periods of sunshine were 15 minutes on July 3, one hour 10 minutes on July 12, one hour 15 minutes on July 22, one hour 40 minutes on July 8, and one hour 55 minutes on July 7 and 26. No sunshine was recorded on seven days.

July 1 .11 in. July lo .27in. July 2 .. .06in. July 16 ,06in. July 3 .. ,15in. July 17 ,04in. July 10 .. .01 in. July 21 •53iu. July 11 .. .02in. July 22 ,14in. July 12 .. .19in. July 23 ,30in. July 13 .. ,04in. July 2(5 ,08in. The following table gives the monthly rainfall for the past five years:— 1030. 1031. 1033. 1933. 1934. January .. .. 4.96 5.10 2.05 2.18 3.49 February .. . . LOT 4.00 4.0 1.80 2.37 March .. .. .05 1.58 3.25 .07 2.13 April i.sr 1.47 3.10 3.33 J-M 1.3S 1.43 1.83 2.84 5.40 June 1.76 1.80 2.U 2.00 1.04 1.51 1.24 1.80 1.04 2.0 August *. .. 2.0 3.03 1.05 2.0 September 3.03 1.78 .00 1.33 October .. .. 3.70 2.78 2.14 3.41 Xorember 3.20 2.30 1.30 5.38 December 2.01 2.08 1.04 1.90