WEATHER SUMMARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 8

WEATHER SUMMARY.

RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE.

FIGURES FOR SEPTEMBER.

Records taken on the self-recording instrument on the roof of the Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers Company's building show that the rainfall in than usual for this season of the year. The total fall was 3.05 inches. The fall was the second heaviest for September during the past six years, and one inch more than the fall recorded for August this year, and nearly one inch and three-quarters more than the fall for September last year. Rain fell on 19 days last month, as compared with 12 days of rain in August and 16 days of rain in July. The heaviest fall was on September 7, when the instrument registered half an inch of rain. The other heavy falls of note were .45 inches on September 8 and 20, .34 inches on September 6, and .35 inches on September 27. The only other falls of any consequence were on September 3, 12, 16, and 21. The wettest period was between September 6 and 12, and also between September 20 and September 30. The dry periods were of short duration. There were some very pleasant periods of bright sunshine, and the temperatures were fairly even throughout the month. The rainfall in September was as follows:—

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

SEPTEMBER TEMPERATURES. The average daily temperature for September was about two degrees higher than those recorded for August, although there were cold periods. The highest maximum temperature registered was 66 degrees, on September 25—one degree less than the highest temperature for the previous month. On September 15 the maximum temperature was 64 degrees, and on September 24 the themometer reached 62- degrees, while 61 degrees was recorded on September 26, and 60 degrees on September 18 and 20. The average maximum temperature for the month was 57 degrees. The average minimum temperature was 42 degrees. The lowest maximum temperature was 42 degrees, registered on September 7, while 45 degrees were recorded on September 8, and 50 degrees on September 9 and 10. The lowest minimum temperature was 33 degrees, recorded on September 7, and the second lowest 39 degrees on September 9, while 40 degrees were registered on September 4,5, 8, 11, 14, and 28. The lowest minimum temperature for August was 35 defrees. The average maximum temperature or the first week in September was 53 degrees, for the second week 51 degrees, for the third 56 degrees, and for the fourth week 58 degrees. Compared with August, there was a shorter period of clear skies, the sun breaking cover on 23 days. The total num-, ber of hours’ sunshine recorded by the sun dial on the roof of the Daily Times building was 111 hours, as compared with 132| hours for the previous month. The greatest recording of daily sunshine was 11| hours on September 22, while 11 hours were registered on September 11, 10.) hours on September 10, and 9| hours on September 29. The shortest periods of daily sunshine recorded were 20 minutes on September 14, 15 minutes on September 20, and 30 minutes on September 23 and 26.

The barometer was fairly high during the first two days of the month, but a noticeably change in the climatic conditions caused the barometer to fall for several days thereafter. From 29.85 on September 1, the barometer fell to 29.63 on September 6, but it commenced to rise the same day, and also the two following days. The reading on the evening of September 8 was 30.00, and the same readings were recorded on September 9. These were the highest readings recorded during the month. Between September 9 and 14 the barometer fell 95 degrees, the reading on the evening of the 14th being 29.05. There was a steady rise for several days, the reading on the morning of September 18 being 29.96. A fairly steady barometer was recorded between September 18 and 23, but another change in the climatic conditions caused a noticeable fall. The barometer, in fact, fell 86 points in six days and a-half.“ The reading on the evening of September 25 was 29.10, and rising rapidly less than 12 hours the barometer showed 29.80 on the evening of September 26. Another change resulted in a further rapid fall from 29.85 on the morning of September 26 to 29.08 at midnight on September 28, and 29.05 at 4 a.m. on September 29. The barometer rose very rapidly on the last day of the month.

The winds were mostly light to moderate from the north-east and south-west. There were occasions when the wind was from the south-east, and on several days the south-west winds were somewhat squally. CENTRAL OTAGO. The following is the report of the Ophir meteorological station for the month of September:— Average reading of barometer at 9 a.m., 29.66 m; highest (September 18), 30.01 m; lowest (September 29), 29.12 in; extreme range, .89in. Average shade temperature at 9 a.m., I4.ldeg; highest (September 25), 52.9 deg; lowest (September 10 and 11), 35.0 deg. Average for August, 33.8 deg; for September, 1929, 45.0 deg.

Shade temperature: Average maximum, 53.9 deg (August, 47.6 deg; September, 1929, 55.1 deg). Average minimum, 34.8 deg (August, 26.1 deg; September, 1929, 33.1 deg). The highest maximum was 65.4 deg on September 24; the lowest minimum, 22.8 deg, on September 11. The corresponding figures for September, 1929, were:—Highest maximum, 65.9 deg on September 23; lowest minimum, 21.0 deg on September 28. Minimum grass temperature: Average, 29.3 deg (August, 21.6 deg; September, 1929, 26.5 deg). The temperature fell to 32.0 deg and lower on 19 mornings (August, 27 mornings; September, 1923, 23 mornings). The highest was 44.4 deg on September 2; the lowest, 15.7 deg on September 11. The lowest reading in September, 1929, was 14.4 deg; September, 1928, 15.4 deg; September, 1927, 16.2 deg. Maximum solar radiation: Average, 84.7 deg; highest (September 25), 101.6 deg; lowest (September 8), 55.3 deg. The temperature exceeded lOOdeg on two days; ranged from 91deg to lOOdeg on 11 days; and from 81deg to 90deg on six days. Average dry-bulb and wet-bulb: 9 a.m., dry 44.1 deg, wet 40.5 deg; 3 p.m., dry 51.0 deg, wet 44.7 deg. Mean relative humidity: 9 a.m., 71 per cent.; 3 p.m., 57 per cent, of saturation. Average clearness of sky: 7 a.m., 37 per cent.; 9 a.m., 40 per cent.; 7 p.m., 33 per cent.; 10 p.m., 39 per cent. Number of observations (9 a.m.) of clear sky-cloud 0 to 22, 11; of overcast sky-cloud, 8 to 10. 14. Wind, recorded at 9 a.m.: Calm, 12 days; N., 1 day; N.E., 5J days; E„ 3| days; S.E., 4 day; S., nil; S.W., 4 days; W„ 2 days; N.W., lj days. Rainfall: September 2, 4 points; 3, 38 points; 5, 4 points; 6, 10 points; 7, 8 points; 11, 10 points; 15, 18 points; 19, 1 point; 20, 16 points; 26, 8 points; 29, 3 points; 30, 3 points;—total, 123 pointe on 12 days. Average in September of preceding six years, 106 J points on seven days. Total rainfall for 1930 to date, 7.08 in on 61 days. Other phenomena (9 a.m.): Hoar frost, nil; dew, 12 mornings; fog, nil; mist, one morning (September 3); snow lying, one day (September 7), when 7-1 Oin fell. Falls of snow occurred upon Dunstan, St. Bathans, and Hawkdun Ranges as follow:—September 3 (night), fairly heavy: September 7 (day), heavy; September- 20 (p.m.) light; September 26 (night) very light; September 27 (day); very light; September 30 (day), light. General remarks: The good rainfall was of much benefit to pastures; but, owing to scanty precipitation during the seven preceding months, the soil is still dry not far beneath the surface, and more ram is needed.

Unusual cloudiness modified the severe night frosts which might have been anticipated as a result of the large quantity of snow lying upon the mountain ranges.

Sept. 1 . . .. .03in Sept. 19 . . .. .Olin Sept. 2 . . ,. .03in Sept. 20 . . .. .45in Sept. 3 . . .. .14in Sept. 21 . . .. .13in Sept. 4 . . .. .02in Sept. 23 . . .. ,07in Sept. 6 . . .. ,34in Sept. 26 . . .. .07in Sept. 7 . . .. .50in Sept. 27 . .. .35in Sept. -8 . . .. .45in Sept. 28 . .. .04in Sept. 9 . .. ,02in Sept. 29 . .. ,04in Sept. 12 . . .. .12in Sept. 30 . .. .12in Sept. 16 . .. .12in

1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. 1930 January . 2.08 2.35 1.27 4.57 4.96 February . 5.7 3.13 2.45 1.46 1.67 March .. x .78 4.04 1.80 6.80 65 Anril .. . i1.28 2.76 3.77 1.33 1.37 May . 5.44 2.86 .83 .24 1.38 June . 1.24 2.10 1.86 4.05 1.76 July . 1.3 4.69 .91 4.62 1.54 August . 3.15 3.6 .73 .58 1.98 September . 2.00 3.73 1.52 1.33 3.05 October . 4.51 3.56 4.79 .23 November . 3.18 2,62 1.25 3.16 December . 4.68 2.89 3.25 4.38 — Annual .. 35.34 38.52 24.33 32.32 —