GENERAL RAINFALL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 126, 25 February 1928, Page 8

GENERAL RAINFALL

f HEAVY DOWNPOUR AT WELLINGTON LONG DRY SPELL BROKEN INTERESTING RECORDS After one of the longest spells of dry weather known in the Dominion, welcome and widespread rain fell during Thursday night and yesterday, the fall being particularly heavy in and about Wellington, where more than L} inches was registered up till 7 a.m. yesterday. The rainfall was associated with a shallow atmospheric depression, which in regard to the movement of the barometer did not appear as promising as that experienced early in the week. There were some indications on Thursday that the belt of warm- moist northerly winds which had been producing very heavy rain in Australia, had moved eastward into New Zealand latitudes. The conditions were made more favourable for rain development also by a rapid rise in pressure over, the eastern portion of Australia, while in the Pacific Islands pressure was also high. The change to southerly winds moved gradually from the South over the Dominion during Thursday, and at 9 o’clock yesterday morning had reached a line extending from Kawhia to Castlepoint. At Wellington the change of wind occurred at 2.15 a.m. yesterday, just preceding the heaviest of the rainfall. There was an improvement in the weather in the far south of the Dominion vesterday and this was expected to extend northward during the next 24 hours. Heavy Downpour at Wellington. The rain started at Wellington at 10.45 p.m. on Thursday, and by 7.15 a.m. yesterday 158 points had fallen. The downpour at times was tropical in its intensity, especially between 2.15 a.m. and 3.20 a.m., 63 points being registered in 50 minutes of that period. Reports received yesterday morning showed that the heaviest fall occurred at Wellington. The rain was practically general, falls being recorded from Bluff and as far north as Kawhia. At Wanganui 32 points were registered, at Foxton 26 points, Farewell .Spit 45 points, Westport 34 points, and Greymouth 71 points. There was heavy rain at Tophouse and Nelson and many light fr’Js in the South Island. Further rain was expected yesterday at least over the greater part of the North Island. Dry Weather Comparisons. The period January-February, 1908 was even drier than this year, especially in Nelson, Marlborough, and Wellington, and also in other parts of the North Island; but the period December 19 to last Thursday, it is stated, has certainly been one ’of the very driest ever experienced in the Dominion. The rainfall recorded at Wellington since the beginning of this year affords

The 1908 figures recorded at Karori reservoir are the lowest in 65 years. In that year other low rainnfalls recorded were Auckland 45 points in January and 54 in February, Nelson 6 points in January and none in February, Masterton 52 points in January and 17 in February, Stephen Island none in January and one point in February, The Brothers 3 points in January and none in February. No rain was recorded during January this year at Nelson, Stephen Island or The Brothers. In 1889 January and February were very dry months'in Canterbury and Otagoi, Lincoln College recording 41 points in January and 6 in February, and Dunedin 52 points in January and 19 in February. At Auckland in 1890, 97 points were registered in January and 7 in February. MANAWATU DISTRICT BENEFITS ONLY SLIGHT SHOWERS AT MANGAHAO Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, February 24. What had promised to be another long spell of drought in the Manawatu was broken early this morning, when rain commenced to fall in a steady downpour shortly before 5 o’clock, and continued till 9 o’clock. In the four hours of rain in Palmerston North and in the immediate surrounding district, 30 points were registered, but over the ranges and in the southern portions of the Manawatu district and in the Horowlienua district, a heavier and a more continuous rain fell, doing inestimable good to the parched fields and crops. At the Tiritea waterworks in Palmerston North, the amount of rainfall registered was .27 at the filter house, gtid this is expected to have a correspondingly good effect on the Palmerston water supply, which of late has been causing some anxiety. The town, ot course, has greatly benefited; the gardens and lawns which have more resembled a well-trodden parade ground for the past few weeks, have been refreshed and the atmosphere itself has lost the oppressiveness caused by the continued lack of rain. The irritating effects of the dust in the streets, which led a deputation to complain to the Borough Council at its last meeting lias gone for the time being, and altogether theie is eencral satisfaction. It is, however, extremely unfortunate that though the areas surrounding the electric power works at Mangahaq received n deluce of generous nroportions, Mangahao itself received only a sprinkling,' ,14inch only being registered, which slight fall has made practically no difference in the position regardng the supply of power. An extremely heavy rain was experienced in the vicinity <of Paekakariki and northwards to Otaki, where drivers of motor vehicles state that conditions for driving were decidedly adverse because of the rain.

the following comparisons:— Mean 1928 1926 1908 66 years points points points points January 19 68 49 332 February 195 182 2 818 Total 214 250 51