WEATHER IN AUGUST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22356, 1 September 1934, Page 26

WEATHER IN AUGUST

HEAVY RAINFALL RECORDED INCREASE IN SUNSHINE FIGURES In the month of August weather conditions varied from bright sunny days, after fairly severe frosts, to wintry conditions, with heavy rainfall and strong winds. The most notable features of the weather were the increase in the rainfall and sunshine. Rain fell on 14 days, the total amount recorded being 3.34 inches —an increase of 1.84 inches over the amount recorded in August last year and July of this year. In was the second heaviest fall for the month of August during the past six years, the only occasion on which a greater fall was experienced being in 1931. More than half the months rain fell on one day (August 17), when the rain gauge showed a record of 1.82 inches. This fall was preceded by a squally southwesterly which, on the following day, developed into a gale. Again on August 24 the wind reached gale force, typical south-westerly conditions being experienced. For the remainder of the month, the winds varied between light north-easterlies and light south-wester-lies, with a short period of calm towards the end of the month. The severest frost of the period occurred on August 0, when the temperature fell to 27 degrees. On several occasions the minimum temperature was only one degree higher, and there were frosts of less severity from time to time throughout the month. Compared with August of last year, th? sunshine figures indicate an earlier spring. In 1933 the total for the month was loߣ hours, and for the month just concluded the total was 120 hours 15 minutes. The following tables shows the days on which rain fell during August;— August 1— ,04In August 18 — .251 n August 6 .21fn August 20— .03ln August 7 .031 n August 2.07 in3 —.07in August 8— .04In August 24 .49!n August 11— .021 n August 25 .301 n August 16— .OTfn August 26 .O.lln August 17—l.S2in August 29 .011 ti The following table gives the monthly rainfall for the past five years;—

Annual .. 27.30 31.11 26.83 29.04 In 1924 the total rainfall was- 24.25 inches, in 1925 29.87 inches, in 1920 35.34 inches, in 1927 38.03 inches, in 1928 24.43 inches, and in 1929 32.32 inches. BAROMETER READINGS. The month commenced with very high barometer readings, the pressure being 30.57 on the night of August 1. The barometer fell rapidly during the next four days, the reading on the morning of August 4 being 30.09, and 29.64 on the- night of August 5. An increase in the pressure was recorded on August 6, the' barometer rising 31 points in 24 hours. The barometer continued to rise, and between August 8 and August 13 the readings varied from 30.10 to 30.29. A lower pressure was recorded between August 14 and August 17, 'when the readings were from 29.50 to 29.95. The lowest reading was 29.30, registered on, August 16. The pressure increased again on the night of August 17, and during the next six days the readings varied considerably, but the barometer fell to 29.70 on the night of August 23. A rising barometer was recorded on August 24, and it to rise until it registered 30.60 at midday on August 27. This was the highest reading for the month. With the spell of fine weather, high readings were registered until the end of the month. TEMPERATURE.

The temperatures throughout the month were, on the average, several degrees above those recorded for the previous month. There were several fairly warm days. The highest temperature was 68 degrees, registered on August 15 and 80, this being 10 degrees more than the highest temperature registered in July. On August 29 the thermometer registered 64 degrees, 62 degrees on August 5, 58 degrees on August 4, 14, and 16, and 57 degrees on August 12. The last week of the month was notable for fairly high temperatures, the average maximum temperature being between 47 and 64 degrees. Several keen frosts were experienced during the month, and the temperature was from two to five degrees below freezing point on five occasions. The coldest morning was on August 9, when the thermometer registered 27 degrees. Readings of 28 degrees were recorded on the mornings of August 7. 11, and 27, 30 degrees, on August 12, 34 degrees on the mornings of August 10 and 25, and 36 degrees on the mornings of August 3,8, 24, and 26. The average daily maximum temperature for the month was 53 degrees, and the average minimum temperature 38 degrees. SUNSHINE RECORDED.

The total amount of sunshine recorded on the sundial on the roof of the Daily Times building in August was 120 hours 15 minutes —an increase of 17 hours 15 minutes on the amount recorded in the previous mouth, and an increase of 11 hours 45 minutes over that of the mouth of August last year. The longest periods of daily sunshine were 10 hours 25 minutes on August 28, 9 hours 30 minutes on August 27, 9 hours 25 minutes on August 21, 9 hours 5 minutes on August 12, 8 hours 50 minutes on August 22, 8 hours 5 minutes ou August 9. and 7 hours 5 minutes on August 4. The shortest periods of sunshine were 15 minutes ou August 29, 35 minutes on August 25, 40 minutes ou August 30, 1 hour on August 20, 1 hour 5 minutes on August 1, 1 hour 35 minutes on August 6,2 hours 5 minutes on August 10, and 2 hours 15 minutes on August 8. No sunshine was recorded on six days.

1930. 1931. 1032. 1933. 1034 January 4.96 5.40 2.95 2.18 3.49 February .. 1.67 4'.90 4.0 1.80 2.37 March . .. .65 1.58 3.25 .67 2.13 April .. .. 1.37 1.47 3.10 3.33 1.S6 May .. .. 1.38 1.43 1.82 2.84 5.46 June .. >< 1.76 1.89 2.11 2.06 1.64 July .. .. 1.54 1.24 1.90 1.94 2.0 August 2.0 3.62 1.65 2.0 3.34 September 3,03 1.78 .90 1.53 October 3.70 2.78 2.14 3.41 November 3.20 2.30 1.36 5.38 December 2.04 2.08 1.64 1.90