WEATHER SUMMARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 28

WEATHER SUMMARY.

THE MONTH OF AUGUST. FAIRLY HEAVY RAINFALL. August of this year was a fairly wet month, the rainfall being much heavier than that recorded during the same month last year. Rain fell on 16 days during the period under review, but there were only three heavy falls. Light rain fell at intervals on the other 13 days. The remaining 15 days were fine. The spell of fine days, with very light winds, was remarkable for this time of the year. The only rainfall of any consequence occurred on August 7, when 1.28 in were recorded. Other falls were on 5 and August 22. On the former date .44in fell, and 33in on the latter date. There were light falls between August 8 and 18. and between August 21 and 30. The total rainfall for the past month, as shown by the records compiled at the Musselburgh primping station, was 3.06 i nore than the fall recorded for July, and )he second heaviest fall registered for /he month of August since 1922. The fall for August last year was 4.66 in—the heaviest recorded for the past five years. The following table shows the total daily rainfall for the past month:—

The records show that the sun shone on 11 days from a cloudless sky. There were several davs which came under the heading "cloudy and fine," while most of the l 8 w< X e « “overcast and •howery. and three days as “overcast and unsettled." The last two days of August Were particularly pleasant, with bright sunshine. There was a cold north-east wind on Monday and a noticeable tang

of frost in the atmosphere yesterday morning.

Several frosts were recorded during the past month, these being the forerunners of the bright, sunny days. The month of August was noted for the sunshine recorded, which was fairly consistent. except in the early part of the month. The temperatures varied con siderablv. and some very cold periods were experienced. The lowest temperature was 26 degrees, recorded on August 10. This was the lowest temperature shown during the past two years. The previous lowest readings this year were on August 9 and on two occasions in June and July, when 29 degrees were registered. The thermometer reading on August 10 was equal to 6deg. of frost. The cold morning was the herald of a bright, sunny day, but the north-east wind carried a distinct tang of piercing cold. The temperatures were also low on August 8,. 11, and 12, when the minimum reading was 31 degrees. The next lowest reading was on August 30. when 32deg. were registered. The highest reading during the month was on August 28, when the thermometer registered 55 degrees (maximum) and 45 degrees (minimum). The next highest was recorded on August 2, the figures being 44 degrees and 57 degrees (minimum and maximum respectively. The average thermometer readings during August were 34 degrees minimum and 44 degrees (maximum). The barometer readings also varied considerably throughout the past month. The lowest reading was on August 6, the mercury showing 29.21 at 8 a.m., and 29.42 at 5 p.m. The barometer then rose steadily until August 14, when the reading was 29.86. The mercury fell again during the next four days, the reading on August 18 being 29.73. From then onwards the barometer showed a rising tendency, and hovered in the vicinity of 30.00 up to the end of the month. The highest readings I were recorded on August 24, the mercury being on the 30.15 mark at 8 a.m., and 30.22 at 5 p.m. SEACLIFF REPORT. The month of August has given samples of weather from heavy rain and severe frosts to touches of mild spring at the close. The fact that the days are longer now by over t®o and a-quarter hours from the shortest day is making itself apparent both in the mornings and in the evenings and also by the greater heat given by the •un throughout the day. The lowest temperature. 25 degrees, was recorded on the morning of Aqguet 10. The rainfall for the month, twice that of the preceding month, was spread over 15 days, making a total of 2.63 indies. The heaviest fall waa .98 inches recorded on August 7. The following is the monthly rainfall:—

DROUGHT IN HAWKE’S BAY. NAPIER, September 1.

An indication of a drought being experienced in Hawke’s Bay is contained in the fact that during the 12 months preceding August 21 the rainfall registered in Napier totalled 15.66 in, whereas the average over a number of years is over 35in. Back from the coast there has been more rain than in Napier, but everywhere the fail registered has been proportionately less than the average. The rainfall recorded at Trotter’s Creek for the month of August was 2.12 in. It has, on the whole, been a fine month, with the temperature rather below the average.

Inches lAug. 1 ... .02 Aug 17 .13 Aur. 3 ... .01 Aug 18 .01 Aug. 5 ... .44 21 .05 Auk. 6 ... .2 22 3,4 Aug. 7 ... 1.28 2.4 .04 Aug. 8 ... .12 Aug 24 .02 Auk. 9 ... .27 Aug 29 .08 Aug. 16 ... .05 Aug 30 .01 Total for 16 days 3.06in 'The following tablo give* the figures for the past four years and the past eight months of this year — 1922. 1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. January ... 3.40 2.24 1.83 .76 2.08 February ... 1.06 4.20 1.22 1.71 6.7 March ... 6.6!» 2.88 .92 3.96 .78 April ... 1.04 11.68 1.82 2.01 1.04 May ... 1.66 3.02 2.96 1.48 June ... 4.42 3.96 2.72 2.06 1.24 July ... 1.78 2.00 2.08 8.84 1.3 August ... 1.70 .86 .32 4.66 3.06 fcptomber ... 1.17 1.20 .27 2.16 October ... 1.39 1.99 1.68 November ... 4.14 1.68 1.22 Ocoember ... 3.44 1.60 2.76 2.00 Annual ... 31.68 37.21 24.26 29.87

Inches Inches Auk. 2 ... .02 Aug. 16 ... .01 Auk. 5 ... .52 Aug. 17 ... .05 Auk. 6 ... .30 Aug. 19 ... .30 Auk. T w .06 Aug. 21 ... ,0S

Aug. 8 ... .02 Aug. 22 ... .23 Aug. 9 ... .06 Aug. 23 ... .04 Aug. 11 .. .08 Aug. 29 .. .08 Aug. 12 ... .01 Total fall for 15 days,'2.63in.