0.6mm here in West Melton for that period, this being drizzle on the mornings of the 3rd and the 7th.
2 recordings of AFD on the 13th and 21st of February.
5 days of any moisture hitting the ground from the clouds above.
66.6mm for the year "couch"
I haven't got a list of readings but whenever these drizzle events happen we get 5 to 6mm each time here in Mt Somers, so we've had 3 or so of these drizzly fronts in the last 2 weeks. So there's possibly been up to 15mm fall here over that time.
I'll see if I can get a tally of figures from the neighbour. Will have to set up my own rain gauge.
The grass is green and I haven't been watering it.
Jim Salinger......Jim Salinger.....now where have I heard that name before?
Wasn't he the bloke that was forecasting a 40 degree heatwave a few weeks back?
Michael wrote:whats its compared to 1934 and 1946 ? think were dry,though 46 was over quick,1978 was dry too.
Gisborne, Hawkes Bay (particularly) and I think much of the rest of the N & E of the North Island were in major drought by the end of February 1946, but March provided plenty of rain (not sure how early though) and in Northland the next 6-7 months were amongst its wettest ever.
Find it hard to believe this is the worst in 70 years? Not to diminish what farmers are going through but hasn't it only been extra dry for the past 2 months? With a nationwide rain event for one day in Feb? Just feel like we've had worse. (just curious really!)
Phil
yes although we had average rainfall here though spring it wasnt normal in how it came down. We were dryer than normal leading into December and through December. We were just hanging on and then rain came just after Christmas and early Jan. That saved us here. It gave us grass through to mid Jan. Since mid Jan though we have gone nowhere but backwards. People were cutting silage in early Jan. By the end of Jan there was a shortage of grass. That just shows how fast this set in and how much of a knifes edge we were on.
I work for Dairynz which is the industry good company for dairy farmers of NZ and Im hearing some heart breaking stories. I have family in sheep and beef too and the stories coming from them around the NI are just as bad. Its a widespread drought and is vigorous which has surprised most people.
I cant speak for it being the worst in history... financially i would say yes it will be and quite easily. As for rainfall and soil moisture deficits well someone with the data could easily work that out. I would not be surprised if it is the worst in history. There is still no end in sight of these clear blue hot days. The few showers in the forecast will be pathetic and the Ex TC that might be is a long shot. We need well over 130mm of rain to be back to normal. THats not going to come any time soon which is very scary.
Thanks Jamie - yeah I've heard from some farmers, in pockets all over NZ, who have said this is the worst in a lifetime or the worst they've seen in a few decades. We were very lucky to get that rain back in Feb, but that is a distant memory now. Hopefully next Sunday or Monday we might see a bit of change in the pattern, but boy these highs are relentless and almost all are coming in south of Aussie then streaming across NZ. A very unfortunate pattern with all the rain in other quarters of our rain maps. Fingers crossed that cyclone and a few other lows up there can make some inroads into northern NZ in 7 to 14 days. Cheers for the reply - and good to see the media giving this plenty of attention now too.
- Phil
There's only been 0.5 mm here,but its different for this area as 90% of summers are dry like this,ive seen it drier in past summers i reckon,my well water is still up high for this time of year,ive seen the water table 2m lower but if if weren't for the 65mm we got in early Jan it would be serous by now .
For those with out irrigation it must be tough going alright though.
Got the guy next door to check my rain Gauge here in Nelson while I was away in Fairlie and according to him there's only been 4mm in the last 6 weeks. yearly total of 170mm most that falling in 24 hours in January.
Panic stories in the media: "droughts will become the new norm". Heard these predictions many times over the years, then next year we'll have floods. The stories will then be "floods will be the new norm"
Tiresome.
We were told a few years ago ie 2004 it be flooding would be prevailent in the north and drier furthur south.
jamesrobert wrote:Panic stories in the media: "droughts will become the new norm". Heard these predictions many times over the years, then next year we'll have floods. The stories will then be "floods will be the new norm"
Tiresome.
