18 Feet of Rain

Suva Breaks Records in 1949

SUVA’S rainfall for 1949 just missed being 100 inches above normal. On a total of 271 wet days 220.54 inches fell. This was 99.68 inches above the average, and nearly 50 inches above the previous record of 170.74 inches which was established in 1921, The previous record for twelve consecu tive months was 212.13 inches. This was beaten in 1949 by over eight inches. The one record which remained intact was

that for the wettest single day. This has stood since 1906 when a fall of 26.5 inches in 24 hours was recorded. In 1949 the heaviest rainfall in one day was 14.53 inches. This occurred during May, a month in which a new record of 58.73 inches was recorded.

At Laucala Bay there were 269 wet days, only two fewer than in Suva but the total rainfall was only 179.54 inches, or 41 inches lower than Suva’s total.

When a woman driver puts her hand out, you can be sure of one thing—the window’s open.