WEEK-END RAIN

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXV, Issue 3265, 5 February 1935, Page 5

WEEK-END RAIN

*r- ' DOWNPOUR ON SATURDAY 'm MOST DISTRICTS BENEFIT ■ A heaviness of the atmosphere and a veering wind portended a change in the weather on Saturday afternoon. Shortly after 2 p.m., dark clouds filled the sky and rain began to fall. At first there were but scattered drops, but of enormous size, which made dull thuds as they hit the ground or roof-tops. These drops fell with increasing rapidity until the whole country-side was dreimhed with the first rain of any consequence for several months. In Cambridge the downpour continued for an hour and just when it appeared to be setting in, the clouds opened and the rain eased off to a soft shower. By six o 'clock the weather was fine and Sunday was hot and dry without further rain. light rain ' commenced again early yesterday morning and continued for several hours. At the Cambridge Meteorological Station .42in. of rain were registered on Saturday and .19in. to 9 a.m. yesterday morning, making a total of -Mm. or little more than half an inch. It appears that Cambridge was in the path of an electrical storm which swept through the country.' At Karapiro the disturbance was at it's worst and a wind of hurricane 'force, did considerable damage. The rain was also heaviest in this district and considered by some residents to be a cloud-burst. Sheets of water covered' the roads' and it was impossible for motorists to see twelve feet ahead. The rain did not •continued for long but it "is estimated that 2in. fell within an hour.' ■Whitehall; Eoto-o-rangi, Manngatautari. To Miro and all areas' to the east of Cambridge experienced valuable Tain on Saturday, though'not to any extent the same as at Karapiro. ' At Bruntwood, Hautapu, ; Fencourt, and Pukeroro the fall, was of much the same intensity as at Cambridge, with further light showers yesterday morning- .* .Unfortunately the Monavale and Tfaii«i districts were passed over with only a sprinkling of rain. Apart from the value of a good downpour to the pastures, rain would have been particularly welcome in these districts, where peat fires have been raging with renewed intensity and causing eonsidrable concern. The Path of the Storm ' The storm appears to have originated in the vicinity of National Park with heavy rain about noon. Travelling north, it reach Taupo at 1.30 p.m., and for nearly an hour there was steady rain. Between Taupo and PutanAu the downfall was considerably heavier, and road surfaces at several point- were scoured. At Rotorua, however, there were only light showers during the afternoon, and there was only a light fall in the ■ Thames. To Aroha and Paeroa districts during Saturday night. ' At Hamilton the downfall commenced at about 4 p.m. There was a feeling that an electrical storm was brewing and peals of thunder were heard .'■ throughout the early part of the afternoon. In Hamilton itself only .17in. of rain fell, but in. the surroundingareas the fall was much heavier. Jtaiii fell in torrents at Huntly. Taupiri. Ngaruawahia, Glen Aftpn and Gordonton. Large steets of water covered the road in places, and stream* which had become almost dry were - 'transformed into rushing torrents for a '" brief space. Pastures Benefit Kaiii had been anxiously looked for in Cambridge as with other districts, ,$s the total fall during January was ||ply l-.24.in. spread over eight days. especially in districts to,the will do much good to the pastures and /crops. However, several days of ■solid rain are required to penetrate the subsoil, as the drying heat which followed the week-end downpour minimised the effect on growth. Tanks have 'been filled to overflowing again and jthis has relieved another worry from the present burden farinens have been forced to carry. In some districts, peat and bush fires were cheeked, but more rain will be needed to completely quench.the fires. ' Sport Postponed All sport in the Cambridge district ■ • came to a sudden conclusion on Saturday ; afternoon. Bowler;: had just commenced to play when the rain started, and whilo it was thought at first that tho weather would clear, the greens were finally closed down. A polo match which was about to be commenced for tho Somers Cup had to be abandoned. .'Cricket enthusiasts were in'ore hopeful and one game was played at the iSqrrar.e, the players removing shoes and stq'cking? and rolling up their trousers. Most tennis enthusiasts were' in Hamilton for the exhibition matches ■and fortunately the rain did not com-

mence there until late in the afternoon. FURTHER. RAIN LAST NIGHT GENERAL THROUGHOUT DISTRICT Rain commenced to fall again before 10 p.m. last evening and although only light it was fairly general throughout tho district and continued intermittently until this morning. The fall for 24 hours at 9 a.m. this, morning was .15in., making the total since Saturday .tiOin. Further Hot Days The weather has remained hot, though since thv rain, thermometer figures have been lower. On Saturday the reading was 57.8 degrees; Sunday, 82.5 degrees, and yesterday, 83.2 degree*. Comparison of Rainfall Mr J. Christie, of Pukeroro, has provided us with the rainfall figures since 1929, from which an interesting comparison can be made. January, 1935, with l.Ouin. of rain is the lowest for this month of the year since 1929, while December. 1934, with .85in. is the second lowest in the six years. •, The table is as follows:

Jan. Dee. Year. 1029 .. 1.92 4.11 43.68 1930 ,. (5.09 .79 33.89 1031 4.26 1.53 35.91 1932 ,. 2.17 1.01 30.03 1933 2.93 2.58 43.50 1934 2.60 .85 39.02 ions ,. 1.50 ■ • Av'i