WEATHER IN FEBRUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24236, 1 March 1940, Page 3

WEATHER IN FEBRUARY

RECORDINGS OF THE MONTH LOW SUNSHINE TOTAL Although there were only two days on which the sun did not shine during the month ended yesterday, the general conditions which prevailed during that period compared unfavourably with those of the same month last year. Rain fell on no fewer than 16 days, the total rainfall of 3.10 inches being just double that recorded in February, 1939, This total, however, was approximately half the rainfall for February. 1937, which Was an exceptionally wet month. The heaviest rainfall on any one day was recorded on February 6, when .98in fell. February’s total of 158 hours 55 minutes of sunshine was considerably below the figure for the same month of last year, namely 198 hours 40 minutes, and was the lowest recording since 1937, when only 119 hours 30 minutes of sunshine were registered There were very few days on which the sky was not overcast at some period. The greatest period of daily sunshine was 13 hours 30 minutes on February, other days on which the sunshine recordings reached double figures being February 5, 20, 24 and 25 Temperatures for the month reflected the broken weather which was experienced, the average maximum of 66 degrees, being well below, the average of 69 degrees which was recorded in February of last year. At no time did the temperature pass 76 degrees and on , several days the highest recording was below 60 degrees. The lowest temperature. 44 degrees, was recorded on four occasions, but the average minimum of 49 degrees was higher than that of February of last year, which was 42 degrees. RAINFALL RECORDS The following are the rainfall records for February:—

Total sunshine for month, 158 hr 55min. Number of days without sunshine, 2. Greatest period of daily sunshine, 13hr 30min. TEMPERATURES Average maximum temperature, 66deg. Average minimum temperature. 49deg. Highest ' temperature for month. 76deg: Lowest temperature for month, 44deg. The following table gives a comparison between the temperatures for February, January, and February of last year:— Feb. Jan. Feb.

Feb. 3 .. ,03in Feb. 17 ,. ,03in Feb. 4 , .. .04ih Feb. 18 .... -371n Feb. 6 .. .98in Feb. 20 .. ,04in u Feb. 8 .. .Olin Feb. 23 .. ,26in Feb. 10 .. ,07in Feb. 26 .. .08in Feb. 11 .. .18in ,. Feb. 27 .. Olin Feb. 15 .. .25in Feb. 28 ., ,10in Feb. 16 ,. .Olin Feb. 29 .. ,66in Total rainfall for month. 3.10in. Number of rainy days, 16. Greatest fall for one day, .98in. The following table gives the monthly rainfall totals for the past five years:1936. 1937. 1938. 1939. 1940. in. in. in. in. in. January ' . . 1.33 3.18 3.45 2.00 5.17 •February . . 5.77 6.19 0.67 1.55 3.10 March ' . . 5.77 3.18 1.30 0.93 April .. . . 1.40 4.64 2.90 1.17 May .. . . 1.79 3.35 1.66 0.86 June .. . , 0.77 2.56 3.18 2.18 July .. . . 3.83 1.38 2.01 5.88 August . 2.44 1.61 0.70 2.29 September 2.88 1.96 1.70 1.44 October , 2.28 0.53 1.91 0.98 November 2.82 1.05 3.26 1.44 December' 5.29 2.57 8.59 0.85 Totals .. 36.37 32.10 31.33 21.57 8.27 In 1924 the total was 24.25in; in 1925, 29.87in: in 1926, 25.341n; in 1927, 38.03in: in 1923, 24.43in; in 1929, 32.75in: in 1930, 27.30in: in 1931, Sl.llin: in 1932,. 36.82in: in 1933. 29.04in; in 1934, 29.28in; in 1935, 21.57in. SUNSHINE RECORDS The following are the sunshine records for January:— h. m. h. mFeb. 1 ,. 4 15 Feb. 16 .. 1 40 Feb. 2 .. 7 45 Feb. 17 .. 3 55 Feb. 3 .. 0 40 Feb. 18 .. 6 35 Feb. 4 .. 8 15 Feb, 19 .. 1 40 Feb. 5 .. 10 40 Feb. 20 ..12 0 Feb. 6 .. 0 35 Feb. 21 .. 1 40 Feb. 7 .. 13 30 Feb. 22 .. 8 20 Feb. 8 .. Nil Feb. 23 .. 1 40 Feb. 9 .. 5 35 Feb. 24 ..12 5 Feb. 10 .. 6 20 Feb. 25 .. 12 15 Feb. 11 .. 1 55 Feb. 26 .. 3 30 Feb. 12 .. 6 40 Feb. 27 .. 8 43 Feb. 13 .. 5 15 Feb. 28 .. 6 15 Feb. 14 .. 4 15 Feb. 29 .. 2 55 Feb. 15 - ;. Nil

1940. 1940. 1939 Average maximum . . 66 71 69 Average minimum . . 49 51 51 Highest .. .. . 76 85 83 Lowest . 44 45 42