✨ Meteorological Observations
50
during a thunderstorm which passed directly over the city, from S.W. to N.E. This is by far the heaviest fall, of which there is any record, at this station. Some very large hailstones fell for a short time during this thunderstorm. The night of the 20th was very wet; and rain showers fell, also, on the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 29th, but the remainder of the month was remarkably fine, without being oppressively warm at any time.
The mean temperature of the month was considerably below the average, viz., 60°.6, against 62°.2 for four years previous, owing to the days being very much cooler, though the nights were above the average warmth. The highest temperature registered in the shade was only 78°.2 on the 14th. The month was entirely free from gales of wind, or the strong, hot, north-westers, usually so prevalent at this season of the year. The rainfall was far above the average, or, 5.203 inches against 1.882 inches; spontaneous evaporation, 6.553 inches. Mean direction of the wind, E.,S.E. Rainfall in January, in each year, as follows:—
1868 ... 5.203 inches on 13 days
1867 ... 1.056 " " 5 "
1866 ... 4.102 " " 8 "
1865 ... 0.987 " " 8 "
1864 ... 1.384 " " 8 "
Hokitika.
The first three weeks of the month were very wet and stormy, with more or less rain each day except on the 9th, 10th, and 11th.
A thunder storm took place on the 5th; and gales of wind from north-east or south-west, on the 2nd, 3rd, 12th, 13th, 19th, and 20th. From the 21st to the close of the month, the weather was very fine and dry; with only a few showers of rain on the 28th. Mean direction of the wind for the month, north-west.
Rainfall in January each year as follows:—
1867 ... 7.10 inches on 17 days
1866 ... 10.56 " " 20 "
1868 ... 13.26 " " 19 "
Bealey.
From the 1st to the 15th the weather was very wet, particularly on the 1st, when 3.05 inches of rain were collected. There were thunderstorms on the 1st, 4th, 5th; and gales of wind from north-west on the 1st, and 13th. From the 15th to the 31st, fine weather prevailed in general, with the exception of the 19th, when a heavy fall of rain took place, equal to 2.21 inches, and some showers on the 28th and 29th. Total rainfall 13.484 inches on 18 days. The mean temperature was 5°.5 below Christchurch; and although mid-summer, eight nights in the month were frosty. Snow fell on the surrounding hills on the nights of the 8th and 9th. Of the fifty observations on the direction of the wind, forty were north-west, and seven south-east.
R. L. HOLMES,
Meteorological Observer,
Christchurch.
CHRISTCHURCH:
Printed, under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Canterbury, at the Lyttelton Times Office, Gloucester street, by Crosby Ward and William Reeves, Official Printers for the time being to the said Government.
Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1868, No 10
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Results of Meteorological Observations for January 1868
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🎓 Education, Culture & ScienceMeteorology, Weather, Temperature, Rainfall, Wind, Barometer, Thermometer, Hygrometer, Christchurch, Hokitika, Bealey
- R. L. Holmes, Meteorological Observer
- Crosby Ward and William Reeves, Official Printers