WEATHER RECORDS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVI, Issue 3, 20 March 1923, Page 194

WEATHER RECORDS.

» FEBRUARY, 1923. The following general summary and rainfall statistics are supplied to the Journal by the Director of the Dominion Meteorological Office (Mr. D. C. Bates) : —■ The month opened with, stormy weather, "on account of the passing of a cyclone northward of the Dominion. Easterly gales and heavy rain were experienced in the north. Barometric pressure quickly recovered, but an extensive westerly low-pressure held sway over the Dominion between the sth and 10th, with heavy rain in the west coast and southern districts, while warm and sultry conditions ruled in the east coast until the change took place with the wind backing to south-west on the gth. This brought thunderstorms along the east coast. High pressure continued in the north from the Bth to the 13th, but from the 14th conditions were very unsettled everywhere, and changeable and showery weather prevailed until the end of the month. A cyclonic storm passed northward of the Dominion on the 28th. • Rainfall was mostly in excess in the west coast and southern districts of both Islands, but great diversities are apparent in the returns for the month. For instance, while Foxton was 74. per cent, above the average, Wellington was 54 per cent, below ; New Plymouth was 25 per cent, and Inglewood 12. per cent, below ; Whangamomona was 35 per cent, and Patea 57 per cent, above. Invercargill had over three times the average for the month; and Gore and Queenstown were each 123 per cent, above the mean for the month of former years. Rainfall was rather deficient on the east coast of the North Island and on some of the highlands in the South, but it was in excess on the highlands in the North.

Note. The following January rainfall figures were received too late for insertion in last month’s Journal: Napier—Total fall, 8-ioin. ; number of wet days, 17; maximum fall, 1-34 in. ; Gore —Total fall, 3-50 in. ; number of wet days, 17 ; maximum fall, o-6i in.

Station. Total Fall. Number of Wet Days. Maximum Fall. Average February Rainfall. Norik Island Inches. Inches. Inches. Kaitaia . . .. . .. 0-58 3 ■ ' 0-30 2'95 Russell .. . . . . 1-82 5 ' 1-16 ,4’35 Auckland 3-84 12 . 1-82 2-97 Hamilton 2’94 11 i-i5 2-85 - . 2-85 Kawhia . . 3-48 9 i-io 2-40 New Plymouth . . ' 3-08 15 i-34 . 4-09 . Inglewood ... . . . . 5-63 ■ 17 i-44 6-40 Whangamomona 5’6o 19 1-02 4-14 Tairua, Thames 2’74 5 2-40 4’52 Tauranga . . .. 2-55 7 •i-55 362 Maraehako Station, Opotiki 2-76 7 2-16 3’7° Gisborne . . . . 2-28 ' 6 1-07 3-68 Taupo . . .. 3'66 6 i-54 2-81 Napier (Park Island) . . .. 2-78 7 0-62 3-02 Taihape 4-20 12 1-20 2-43 Masterton 3’54 12 1-40 2-71 Patea 3-66 13 . 0-82 , 2-33 Wanganui .. .. 3'19 ' 4 1-50 2-49 Foxton .. . . 2-87 8 1'35 1-65 Wellington . .. i-47 - 14 0-58 3'23 South Island. Westport . . ■ . . 6-46 - 20 0-98 4’37 Greymouth .. .. . . 7’29 21 . I-2I 6-13 Hokitika 9-62 20 2'30 7-29 Arthur’s Pass . . ... - 12-48 14 2-40 7'55 Okuru, Westland .. 14-76 18 2-84 7’92 Collingwood .. .. . . v 3-82 11 1-24 5-63

Station. Total Fall. Number of Wet Days. Maximum Fall. Average February Rainfall. South continued. Inches. Inches. Inches. Nelson . . .... I-l6 8 056 ' . 2-78 Spring Creek, Blenheim . . 1-56 7 0-45 2-30 Tophouse ... 4-14 14 o-88 4-50 Hanmer Springs 2-72 9 o-8o 2-93 Waiau . . . . 1 2-56 10 0-84 2-55 Gore Bay . . . . 375 10 1-40 3-50 Christchurch . . . 2-06 9 0-46 1-84 Timaru . . . . . . 2-02 • • 16 0-34 1-89 Lambrook Station, Fairlie I’OI 7 0-32 i-95 Benmore Station, Omarama . o-86 11 - 0-16 1-23 Oamaru . . . . . . 3-20 9 08 1-72 Queenstown 392 12 o-66 -1-76 Clyde.. . . .. 0-77 7 0-20 0-99 Dunedin . . 5 -I 9 18 1-07 2-70 Gore . . . . . . 5 52 . 22 o-6i 2-47 Invercargill . . . . ■ 8-86 23 1-36 273

RAINFALL FOR FEBRUARY, 1923, AT REPRESENTATIVE STATIONS.