July's Weather: Semi-Drought Ends
July in Kāpiti was a little cooler and cloudier than average, and the prolonged dry spell of the last six months continued right up to the end of the month when we had around 40mm of rain. The first signs of spring were evident in many gardens, as is usual by the end of July.
Our daily average maximum temperature was 13.6C, compared with the longtime average of 13.8 and last July’s 14.1. The overall mean temperature was 10.2C (10.3C last year). Kāpiti’s coldest day of the year to date, with a maximum of only 11.1C, occurred on the last day of the month, but the several light frosts were all recorded early in the month.
The equivalent of 13.5 sunny days was two fewer than average. For most of July it seemed we would again experience below average rainfall, but steady rain on Tuesday 30 delivered around 40mm, the heaviest episode of the year, pushing the total for the month to around 90mm, slightly above the longtime average.
August should see a slight rise in both temperatures and sunshine, with spring’s presence becoming even more evident in our gardens and countryside.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Best way to use leftovers?
I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.
What are some of your favourite ways to use leftover food from Christmas day? Share below.