EXTREMELY DRY

WEATHER IN MARCH

FREEDOM FROM WINDS

Except for the period from the Bth to: the 10th, during which 0.96 in of rain fell, March was extremely dry. There was misty rain on several other occasions,. and this, while it failed to penetrate the ground, freshened up vegetation, which has maintained a better condition than might have been expected. Fortunately, there was comparatively little wind, otherwise a great strain would have been imposed on foliage.

Temperatures were mild, and rather uniform, and the humidity was slightly above the average. These two factors also assisted in preventing the scorching of vegetation.

The mean average temperature at 9 a.m. was 60.6 degrees, 60.5 degrees being the previous average for March. The mean relative humidity at 9 a.m. was 77 per cent., compared with the previous average for the month of 76 i per cent. The mean maximum tern-, perature was 66.7 degrees, the previous March average being 66 degrees. The mean minimum temperature was 53.6 degrees, the previous average being j 53.4 degrees. The mean average tern-, perature was 60.2 degrees. The highest maximum temperature was 75.7 degrees on the sth and the lowest mean temperature was 43.8 degrees on the 30th. The mean minimum temperature on the grass was 48.7 degrees as! against the previous average of 47.4 degrees. The lowest temperature was 43.9 degrees on the 23rd. WIND AND CLOUD. The mean run of wind over 24 hours was 144 miles, compared with the previous average for March of 239 miles. This is the least windy March since 1894. The highest run for one day was 304 miles for the 24 hours preceding 9 a.m. on the 11th. The minimum amount of cloud at 9 a.m. averaged 7.5 tenths of the sky covered. The total of bright sunshine was 195.7 hours, compared with the previous March total of 189.9 hours. The greatest amount of sunshine in one day was 12 hours on the 2nd. There were two days without sunshine. The amount recorded is 51 per cent, of the possible. MEAGRE RAINFALL. The total rainfall was 1.65 inches, as against the previous March averages of 3.20 inches. The total was therefore 67 per "cent, below normal. Rain felron six days, the average for March being 11. The highest fall was 0.75 m on the 10th. 1 The barometrical readings at 9 a.m. averaged 30.180 inches, as against a previous March average of 30.027 inches. The highest, reading was 1029.2 millibars on the ninth, and the lowest 1000.1 millibars on the 28th. This is the highest mean pressure for March since 1932, when 1022.5 millibars were recorded. ;