WEATHER SUMMARY

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 51

WEATHER SUMMARY

RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE FIGURES FOR MAY. The rainfall in Dunedin during the past month was the heaviest for May since 1926. Records taken on the selfrecording instrument on the roof of the Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers. Company’s building show that the rainfall was 1.43 inches —about five points more than the fall for May last year, but four points less than the fall recorded for April this year. The falls last month were spread over a period of 11 days, as compared with 12 days’ rain in March and 20 days in January. Only one fairly heavy fall was recorded during the month. This was on May 21, when the instrument registered .32 inches. The only other falls of any consequence were 27 inches on May 27, and .25 on May 1. The weather was pleasant for the greater part of the month, and there was a period of fine days about the middle of May. The winds were mostly light and moderate from the north-east and south-west. There were several calm days, but a strong and squally wind from the north-cast and south-west was experienced on the last two days of the mouth. The following table shows the days on which rain fell during the mouth of May:—

The following table gives the monthly rainfall for the past five years:—

In 1924 the total rainfall was 24.25 inches, in 1925 29.87 inches, and in 1926 the total fall was 35.34 inches. MAY TEMPERATURES.

The average daily temperatures for May were only a few degrees lower than the daily temperatures recorded for April. Several fairly high temperature readings were registered during the month. Tne highest maximum temperature was 68 degrees on May 30—only two degrees less than the highest temperature for the previous month. On May 12 the thermometer rose to 66 degrees, and on May 4 and 14 the maximum temperature was 64 degrees. The average maximum temperature for the month was 57 degrees, and the average minimum temperature 42 degrees. The lowest maximum temperature was 51 degrees, registered on May 22. The highest minimum ‘temperature was 53 degrees on May 20, and the lowest 32 degrees on May 10. The barometer was very high and fairly steady during the first two weeks of May. On May 1 the reading was 30.35, and it varied between 30.10 and 30.45 until May 16. There was a noticeable change on May 18, when the barometer fell from 30.10 to 29.42 in less than 48 hours. There was another quick change on May 21, when the barometer rose from 29.46 to 30.16 in about 16 hours. The readings between May 22 and 25 did not vary to any appreciable extent, but falls were recorded on May 26 and 27. Ths barometer fell very quickly on May 30, registering 29.15 at noon on that date. This was the lowest reading for the month. The barometer rose again on the night of May 30, and was fairly steady on the last day of the month, the reading being 29.50. The total number of hours’ sunshine recorded by the sun dial on the roof of the Daily Times building was 107}, on 20 days, as compared with 132 hours’ sunshine for April. The longest periods of daily sunshine were 8| hours on May 15, 8} hours on May 2, 8 hours on May 22, and 7} hours on May 10 and 30. . The shortest periods of daily sunshine were 15 minutes on May 5, 25 minutes on May 6,7, and 11, and 35 minutes ou May 20 and 27.

May 1 . .25in May 21 .. .32 in May 3 . •02iu May 24 .. .15in May 5 . •14in May 25 .. •03in May 7 . .05in May 27 . .27in May 11 . •05in May 28 . .05iu May 20 . .10in

1927. 1928. 1929 i 1930. 1931. January .. .. 2.35 1.27 4.57 4.90 5.40 1 ebruary .. 3.43 2.45 1.46 1.C7 4.99 M arch .. 4.04 1.S0 6.80 L58 April .. .. 2.76 3.77 1.33 1.37 1.47 May .. .. .. 2.SG • S3 .24 1.38 1.43 June .. .. .. 2.10 1.86 4.05 1.76 July .. .. .. 4.CO .91 4.62 1.54 August .. 3.6 .73 .58 2.0 September .. 3.73 1.52 1.33 3.03 October .. .. 3.56 4.79 .23 3.70 November .. 2.62 1.25 3.16 3.20 December .. 2. SO 3.25 .4.38 2.04 — Annual .. 3S.53 24.43 32.75 27.20