FEBRUARY'S WEATHER
February in Kāpiti, along with the rest of western central New Zealand, saw a return to the cool, cloudy and windy conditions of December, more like what we might expect in autumn. Except for January it wasn’t the greatest summer, but it was dry.
Our daily average maximum temperature of 22.6C was almost a degree cooler than average, and a degree cooler than February 2023. But for much of the month it was actually the coolest February recorded in over a decade. Despite lower temperatures we still reached 20C every day; the warmest being Wednesday 22 with 27.7C.
As usual for time of year, and especially this El Nino summer, east coast Blenheim and Masterton had the highest average maximums in central New Zealand, however, Kāpiti’s overall mean temperature of 18.4C was the highest in central New Zealand,
February had the equivalent of 17 sunny days, two fewer than average, with the longest spell of sunshine occurring in the third week, despite rain being forecast.
Total rainfall of 33mm recorded at the airport was half the longtime average, again reflecting the low precipitation of recent months. Yesterday’s rain (March 4) amounting to just under 30mm will go some way in relieving recent months’ deficits.
⚠️ 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.