A COLD YEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1932, Page 8

A COLD YEAR

BUT MUCH SUNSHINE

LOCAL WEATHER IN 1931

Although most people's recollection of the weather is short and somewhat vague, it is still generally remembered that last year "Wellington had practically no summer at all worthy of the name, but that the latter part of the year made decided amends by introducing a couple of months of something like real summer weather. That sucti was the case is corroborated by the Meteorological Office's official summary of Wellington's weather for 1931. Since the middle of 1929 tho mean temperatures had in most mouths been below normal, it not being until October, 1931, that a definite improvement in this respect set in. The summer of 1930-31 was very cold, February in particular having-tbc lowest mean temperature recorded in that month since 1864, when observations commenced in Wellington. January and March also had temperatures much below normal. In the following months until August, though the weather still remained cold| the departures from average were not so marked, July indeed being a normal month. The cold spell went out, however, with a final burst in September, which again proved to be a record for low temperature since 1864. October and December differed little from the normal, but November was very warm. The year as a whole was 1.3 deg. F. below average, and tho only colder years recorded being 1906 and 1930. Though temperatures kept low during the year, it was not, on the whole, remarkable for severe cold or stormy conditions. The rainfall at Kolbum totalled 39.49 inches, which is only 4 pei- cent, below the average of 41.08 inches. February and March, especially the latter, when the total rain was only ' o.6<tin, were dry. Tho April total was high owing to the heavy rain accompanying the phenomenal northerly gale which arose on Thursday, the 2nd, and I continued into Good Friday morning. During the other months the departures wero not bo outstanding, January, June. July, and September having more than the average rainfall, and May, August, and October less. WIND AND SUN. : January and February, in addition to being very cold, were unpleasant months owing to the prevalence of strong northerly winds. February was probably tho windiest month of that name experienced since weather records began. March was a sunny month and more agreeable. After the storm at the beginning of the mouth, already mentioned, tho weather in April was comparatively calm though cloudy. May was.a windy month, but most of the strong winds blew in the night. Sunahino was somewhat above the average. June and July were stormy, but, again with a good deal of sunshine. A severe frost occurred on the 7th August. The month was cool and cloudy, but not otherwise remarkable. September was stormy, although only ono gale occurred at Wellington. Sunshine was much below uorpial. There was some heavy rain early in October, but after that pleasant weather with abundant sunshine prevailed. November was a similar month but much warmer. In December there wore good rains in the middle of the month, but otherwise fins and sunny weather was again the rule. For the year 2204 hours of sunshine were recorded, this being the highest total since 1911. There were no great extremes of temperature observed during the year. Tho highest maximum, 74.2 degrees, was recorded twice in December. The lowest minimum was 32>1, and fell on 7th August.