THE WEATHER

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 33

THE WEATHER

SOUTH ISLAND.

OPHIR STATION. The following is the report of the Ophir meteorological station for the month of May, 1931:— Average reading of barometer at 9 a.m., 30.09 in; highest (May 14), 30.45 in ; lowest (May 30), 29.20 in; extreme range, 1.25 in. . Average shade temperature at 9 a.m., 40.7dcg; highest (May 17), ,59.0deglowest (May 10), 26.1 deg. (Average for April, 44.8 deg.; May, 1930, 38.7 deg.) Shade Temperature Extremes:—Average maximum, 54.8 deg (April, 6O.2deg; May, 1930, 52.7 deg). Average minimum, SO.Odeg: ( April, 34.6 deg; May, 1930, 30.8 deg). The highest maximunr was 67.0 deg on May 17; the lowest minimum 16.3 deg on May 2. The corresponding figures for May, 1930, were: Highest maximum, 67.8 deg; lowest minimum, 21.9 deg. Grass temperature: Average minimum, 23.4 deg (April, 26.0 deg; May, 1930, 24.5 deg). The highest was 43.0 deg on May 24; the lowest 4.3 deg on May 2. (The lowest reading in April was 7.9 deg; in May, 1930, 15.6 deg; in May, 1929, 12.8 deg; in May, 1928, 10.8 deg). The temperature fell to 32.0 deg and lower on 26 mornings; to 30.4 deg (frost) and lower on 22 mornings. (In April, on 20 and 19 mornings; in May, 1930, on 26 and 26 mornings respectively.) Solar radiation: Average maximum 79.0 deg (April, 95.6 deg). The highest was 98.7 deg on May 12; the lowest 52.4 deg on May 5. The temperature exceeded 90deg on eight days, and ranged from 80 to 90 degrees on nine days.

Average dry-bulb and wet-bulb: 9 a.m. —dry 40.7 deg, wet 38.1 deg; 3 p.m.—dry

52.3 deg, wet 45.6 deg. Mean relative humidity: 9 a.m., 77.3 per cent.; 3 p.m., 55.4 per cent, of saturation. Average clearness of sky: 7 a.m., 55 per cent.; 9 a.m., 51 per cent.; 7 p.m., 63 per cent.; 10 p.m., 64 per cent. The number of observations at 9 a.m. of “ clear sky” (cloud 0 to 2) was 12; of “overcast sky” (cloud 8 to 10), 13. Wind (recorded at 9 a.m.) : Forces 8 to 10, nil; forces 4 to 7, one; calm, 25 days. Direction: N., two days; N.E., one day; S.W., half a day; W., one and a-half days; N.W., one day’. Daily average force of wind, .32. Rainfall: May 4, 1 point; May 5, 13 points; May 7, 1 point; May 12, 3 points: May 20, 13 points; May 21, 8 points; May 27, 7 points; May 30, 9 points: May 31, 1 point; total, 50 points on nine days. Average in May of preceding seven years, 89 points on seven days Rainfall from January 1 to May 31, 6.91 inches on 42 d-iys. Other phenomena at 9 a.m.: Hoar frost, eight mornings; dew, eight mornings; fog. nil; mist, one morning. Snowfalls on Dunstan Range:—May 7 (morning), light fall to about 2500 ft altitude; May 20 (night) considerable fall to about 2000 ft altitude; May 27 (afternoon), moderate fall to about 1500 ft altitude; May 30 (night), considerable fall to about 1800 ft altitude. Each fall, has been heavier on St. Bathans and Hawkdun Ranges. General remarks: Another dry month—the precipitation only 63 per cent, of ‘ffi? average amount. A month of unusually wide range of temperature. The grass minimum (4.3 deg on the morning of May 2 is the lowest recorded on any day since 3.Bdeg on July 1, 1927. On the other hand, the average shade maximum for the month is the highest s>r May during the six years recorded at this station. The barometer during the former half of the month was high and fairly steady; but extremely variable during the latter half—from May 16 to May 31. All the surrounding mountain ranges (except Raggedy Range, which is clear) have a considerable covering of snow. Pastures are very poor.

6 -5 ea - & Station. 5 g M in. in. in. 1—Kaitaia 3.72 3.91 7.54 2—Russell 6.18 5.39 7.GS 3—Auckland 2.86 8.99 4.71 4—Tauranga 1.74 4.32 5.38 5—Tairua 3.62 5.38 7.96 G—Kawhia 2.62 7.70 5.62 7—Maraehako Station. Opotiki 5.52 8.02 5.95 8 —Hamilton 1.89 5.05 4.89 9—Taupo 1.01 3.59 4.17 10—Gisborne 2.95 1.12 11—rNew Plymouth 2.34 6.21 12—Whangamomona — 6.78 7.17 13—Talhape 1.70 3.45 3.73 14—Napier 1.63 2.14 3.81 15—Patea 0.59 5.44 4.41 1G—Wanganui 2.23 3.30 3.43 17 —Masterton - — 3.79 4.12 18—Foxton 1.31 4.85 3.46 19—Wellington 2.56 5.59 3.98

o z; 3 . £> & Elation O in. 20— Collingwood 21— Nelson 22— Spring Creek, Bleti5.28 1.51 13.60 2.48 9.24 3.11 heim 23—Westport 1.27 4.07 5.95 3.07 8.35 24—Tophouse 2.35 7.84 5.87 2->—Greymouth 8.75 8.17 8.08 26— Hokitika .. .. 27— Gore Bay 7.40 2.01 ** 7.42 7.97 9.81 3.48 28—Arthur's Pass 13.29 14 77 29— Christchurch ., .. 30— Lambrook Station, 0.70 0.91 2.58 Fairlie .. .. .. 0.93 1.20 1.50 31—Okum,. S. Westland.. 11.35 12.47 11.06 3‘-—Timaru .. .. .. 1.02 0.64 1.43 33— Oamaru .. .. .. 34— Benmore Station, 0.93 0.45 1.62 Clearburn 1.76 1.11 1.86 3;>—Queenstown 3.03 2.42 2.55 36—Clyde 0.71 1.01 37—Dunedin 1.48 1.95 3.19 38—Invercargill 2.76 1.58 4.36