SUNSHINE AND RAIN

Marlborough Express, Volume 87, Issue 19, 23 January 1952, Page 3

SUNSHINE AND RAIN

D0MINI0N RETURNS FIGURES FOR PAST YEAR Four towns had rain on more than 200 days last year. They were Thames 217, Whangarei 216, Masterton 202, Greymouth 202. More than 80in. of rain fell in the three main towns on the West Coast of the South Island and in Waihi, and five other towns had more than 50ins. The figures were : Hokitika 104.28, Greymouth 96.31, Westport 81,42, Waihi 83.15, Whangarei 61.57, Tauranga 58.25, New Plymouth 55.59, Thames 51.55, and Rotorua 50.83. The Meteorological Office has supplied tables showing the duration of bright sunshine and the rainfall totals for 1951. The figures are: — Bright sunshine: Blenheim 2526.9 hours, Nelson 2471.5, Tauranga 2314.9, Mechanics Bay (Auckland) 2131.7, New Plymouth 2086.8, Waihi 2076.3, Napier 2074.7, Gisborne 2055.8, Wanganui 2051.4, Thames 2038.4, Westport 2023.8, Rotorua 2014.1, Hokitika 1973.6, Auckland 1968.2, Alexandra 1965.1, Waipukurau 1949.6, Wellington 1927, Waingawa (Masterton) 1897.6, Greymouth 1884, Wigram (Christchurch) 1872. Q, Ashburton 1846.9, Palmerston North 1802.4, Timaru 1776.4, Gore 1712.7, Taumarunui 1702.9, Invercargill 1660.6, Dunedin 1633.5, Oamaru 1619.5, Waimate 1595.3. Rainfall totals and rain-days (first figure is rainfall in inches and second figure is number of rain-days) : — Whangarei, 61.57, 216; Auckland, 48.03, 190; Thames, 51.55, 217; Waihi, 83.15, 197; Ruakura (Hamilton),' 42.63, 181; Tauranga, 58.25, 148; Rotorua, 50.83, 148; Gisborne, 41.43, 177; New Plymouth, 55.59, 193; Napier, 31.36, 138; Hastings, 32.40, 142; Wanganui, 37.14, 164; Palmerston North, 43.88, 184; Waingawa (Masterton), 40.83, 202; Wellington, 45.64, 168; Nelson, 46.36, 129; Blenheim, 32.59, 118; Westport, 81.42, 186; Greymouth, 96.31, 202; Hokitika, 104.28, 199; Christchurch, 39.76, 138; Ashburton, 35.37, 118; Timaru, 24.46, 101; Oamaru, 23.68, 142; Alexandra, 16.58, 114; Musselburgh (Dunedin), 33.31, 185; Gore, 33.96, 177; Invercargill, 37.11, 195. HIGHEST AND LOWEST The five highest rainfall totals and

the five lowest for both islands during 1951, compiled from about eight hundred returns so far received. (Rainfall in inches and rain-days in that order) were: North Island— Highest rainfall i Dawson Falls, 149.43, 140; Kiritahi, East Cape, 136.16, 173; Puketawhero, East Pape, 126.93, 170; Orongorongo, 127.22^ 243; Maungatarere Valley, Wairarapa, 119.37, 217. The Dawson Falls total is for seven months only (June to December) and the Kiritahi total is for eleven months only (January to November). Lowest rainfall: Napier, 31.36, 138; Havelock North, 31.57, 128; West Shore, Napier, 32.14, 146; Hastings. 32.40, 142; Waitarere, Levin, 33.22. South Island— Highest rainfall : Milford Sound, 192.95, 190; Otira, 179.25, 191; Downertown, 192.53, 173; Waiho, 165.66, 162; Inchbonnie, 157.70, 199. Lowest rainfall: Patearoa, Central Otago, 15.15, 81; Waipiata, Central Otago, 15.26, 85; Earnscleugh, Central Otago, 16.06, 90; Alexandra, Central Otago, 16.58, 114; Garguston, Central Otago, 17.01, 96.