AUGUST WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1929, Page 3

AUGUST WEATHER

A MONTH OF CONTRASTS. WIND, RAIN AND SUNSHINE. " WELLINGTON, Sept. 2. August ended us it began, with fine weather and bright sunshine, 'but nevertheless the momh was chiefly remarkable, as was July, for a long si ell of wet and co.(l, the nunfall being well above the average. Rain fell <. n sixteen day's during the month, the total fall recorded at Kelburn being 5.39 inches, comparedwith a mean August rainfall of 3.97 inchos a... ...arorij where it is usually heavier than at Kelburn. There was a continuous spell of wet weather from- August 15 to 27, the heaviest rainfall, being 311 points for the forty-eight hours ended 9 a.m. on August 21, and mofst of that being recorded in 24 hours.

There was a greater prevalence of strong winds last month than has' I een experienced in August for some years, the average run per 24 hours being 256 miles compared with a mean of 217 miles. A strong northwest gale was responsible'' for a run of 468 miles during life 24 bouts ended 9! a.m'. on August 6. Strong north erlies also prevailed during tho periods Thursday, August- 15, to Monday August 19. The-' biggest run for the month was 632 miles for 24 hours 9 a.rn. on August 17. On tlie p.revi us day the run was 418 miles and on the two sue ceding days the runs were 570 miles and 497 miles. This was followed by a spell of eight days of southerly winds from August 20 to 1 27. The wind reached gale force on August 21-22, when runs of 464 miles and 555 miles for 24 hour periods were recorded. , i h

! Despite the wet weather, the total hours of bright sunshine recorded last month were well above the avetj age. Up to Friday the total was 143.6 hours, compared with the Allgust average of 141.7 hours. Satuhdav was a bright- day so that tl/e I total for the month .was over; 150 " hours. The moan temperature at 9 a.m. for the month was 47.3 degrees and the humidity 78 per cent. The mean maximum temperature up till August I 30' was 51.2 degrees, or 3.2 degree's below the average. The mean minimum., 46.5 degrees, was 2.1 degrees hobw the August average. The minimum grass temperature recorded last month at. Kelburn was 37.1 degrees, but it was lower in other parts of city on at least two occasions, witch frosts wore observed. The 'mean barometrical pressure for the montii was 30.002 inches, which was slightly above the August average of 29.95$ inches. -