A—4a

The only gale recorded at Atafu in the last twelve years was from the west, occurring in February, 1941. Fakaofo has two gales on record: north-east force Bon the 14th January, 1936, and west force 9 on the following day. In about three years Nukunono has reported two brief gales : north-north-east in December, 1939, and west in February, 1942. The latter was associated with a twenty-four-hour rainfall of 6-20 in. Rain. —At Nukunono the mean annual rainfall from three years' observations was 119 in. The annual rainfall at Atafu is also rather high, with a mean of 123-31 in., but the variations from year to year are considerable. There are on an average 169 wet days (0-10 in. or more) a year. Daily falls of 3 in. or more are likely to occur in all months. Extreme maximum and minimum monthly and annual totals recorded are Atafu : Maximum and Minimum Monthly and Annual Rainfalls, in Inches, 1929-46 Maximum. Minimum. January .. .. .. .. ..24-76 3-37 February .. .. .. .. ..33-18 4-16 March .. .. .. .. .. 16-04 6-25 April .. .. .. .. .. 18-05 3-53 May .. .. .. .. .. 12-68 2-68 June .. .. .. .. .. 13-45 3-58 July .. .. .. .. ..21-99 2-88 August .. .. .. .. .. 13-98 0-84 September .. .. .. .. 15 • 46 1-47 October .. .. .. .. ..17-02 4-44 November .. .. .. .. .. 19-20 2-31 December .. .. .. .. ..28-13 5-29 Year .. .. ..' .. .. 177-40 87-43 No hail has been reported from Atafu. Air Temperatures.—-The mean temperature is 82-5° F., with little variation from month to month. July is the coolest with 82-1° F., May the warmest with 83-2° f. Sea Temperatures.—The temperature of the ocean around Tokalau varies from 81-5° f. to 83° f. Humidity. —The relative humidity at the morning observation averages 84 per cent., with very little variation throughout the year. The afternoon humidity averages 76 per Cent., varying from 72 per cent, in September to 81 per cent, in February. Climatic tables are appended.

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