OCTOBER WEATHER

Southland Times, Issue 24890, 2 November 1942, Page 6

OCTOBER WEATHER

Rainfall Below Average

Although there was a good deal of rough, stormy weather last month, the total rainfall, 2.48 inches, was considerably below the average for October, which is 4.50 inches. In other words the rainfall last month was a little more than half the average. September was also drier than usual, the total rainfall that month being 2.85 inches against an average for September of 3.27 inches. In October 1941 the rainfall recorded was 2.97 inches.

October’s bright sunshine record was only moderately good. It totalled 147.46 hours or between four and five hours a day on the average. October 1941 had a considerably better record of 181.8 hours of bright sunshine. The highest daily total of sunshine last month was 11.8 hours on October 17 and there were 10 hours on October 9 and again on October 20. On the latter day the thermometer touched 78, the highest reading for. the month. The weather that day gave promise of an early summer that was quickly belied. The last few days of the month were made unpleasant by strong, cold southerlies. The thermometer on October 25 did not rise above 49 degrees, or 29 degrees lower that the highest reading on October 20. Generally speaking the weather was warmer in the first half than in the second half of the month. The heaviest rainfall was on October 6 when 1.13 inches were recorded.