WEATHER SUMMARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 30

WEATHER SUMMARY.

THE MONTH OF JULY. EXCEPTIONALLY WBT PERIOD. Weather conditions varied considerably, during the montlr of July, the 31-day period being notable for the number of keen frosts and bright, sunny days in the early part, light rain for six successive days, then an intermittent period of sunny and bright days, followed by a long spell of wet weather. The rainfall for the month was exceptionally heavy. bein£ over more than the fall recordedin Juiy last year. Records compiled at the Muselburgh pumping station show that the total rainfall during the past month was 4.69 in, compared with I.3in in July, 1926, and 3.84 in in July, 1925. The fall was the heaviest for the month of July during the past six or seven years. There were fairly heavy falls on July 10 and 14, but the heaviest fall was recorded on July 27, when the gauge at the pumping station registered 1.26 in. The falls recorded on July 28 and 29 were also heavy. The records show that rain fell on 18 days during the past month. The winds were mostly light from, the south-west and north-east throughout the period under review. A number of days, especially during the sunny period, were calm. The last day of the month was fine, with a fresh north-east wind. The following tabic shows the days on which rain fell during the past month: —

The -following table gives the monthly rainfall figures for the past five years:—

Being mid-winter, the past month was notable for tho number of exceptionally cold days. The first seven days were bright and fine, the sun shining from a cloudless sky. Most of those seven days were heralded by keen frosts, and tho temperature was extremely cold. There was a spell of unsettled days until July 15, when another sunny day was recorded. Bright sunshine again flooded tho early on July 19, 21, 23, and 24. In tho early part of the month tho lowest thermomentcr readings were recorded. The coldest day was registered on July 1, whn the readings were 25 (minimum) and 33 (maximum). The next lowest reading was on July 2, when tho thermometer showed 29 and 37 degrees, minimum and maximum respectively. These readings show that several degrees of frost were registered on those days. There was a noticeable rise in the temperature on July 5, when the maximum reading was 48 degrees. Tho warmest day was on July

8, when tho readings were 33 degrees (minimum) and 54 degrees (maximum). Tho temperature was pleasant until July 14, when there was another cold spell, the minimum reading being as low as 30 degrees on several days until July 21. A slight rise in the temperature was recorded during tho last few days of the mgnth, when the thermometer hovered between 38 degrees (minimum), and 43 degrees (maximum). The barometer readings varied considerably during the month. The early reading on July 1 was 30.02, and on July 5 the mercury fell to 29.52. There was a distinct drop between July 8 and 13. The readings on July 12 were 29.07 and 29.09. which were the lowest registered during the 31day period. Tho barometer showed a distinct rise on July 15, the reading on that day being 29.82 and 29.87. The mercury commenced to fall on July 16, and a low reading was recorded two days later, the barometer showing 29.34 at 8 a.m., and 29.40 at 5 p.m. A steady rise thereafter took place until July 25, when the mercury stood at 30.20 in the morning, and 30.15 in the evening. The highest readings were .registered on July 24, the barometer remaining steady at 30.26 throughout the day. The barometer was fairly. steady during the last five’ days of tho month, when the average daily reading was 29.94.

July 8 .. .. .06 July 21 . .. .02 July 10 . . .. .58 July 23 . .. .04 July 11 .. .. .02 July 25 . .. .01 July 12 .. .. .02 July 26 . .. .55 July 13 .. .. .02 July 27 . .. 1.26 July 14 .. .. .49 July 28 . .. .01 July 15 .. .. .08 July 29 . .. .01 July 16 .. .. .03 July 30 . .. .04 July 19 .. .. .06 July 31 . .. .09

1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. January .. 2.24 1.83 .76 2.08 2.35 February . 4.20 1.22 1.71 6.7 3.43 March ... .. 2.83 .92 3.96 .78 4.04 April .. 11.58 1.82 2.10 1.28 2.76 May .. 3.02 2.96 1.48 5.44 2.86 Juno ... .. 3.9G "7*1 2.06 1.24 2.10 Julv .. 2.00 2.08 3.84 1.3 4.69 August ... .80 4.66 3.15 September .. 1.20 1.27 2.16 2.00 October ... .. 1.99 4.08 2.04 4.51 November .. 1.08 1.22 3.10 3.18 December .. 1.G0 2.76 2.09 4.68 Annual .. 37.21 24.25 29.87 35.34