WEATHER FOR MONTH

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28553, 5 April 1958, Page 4

WEATHER FOR MONTH

Drought Since March 16 March whs a typical autumn month, being warm, dry and settled, with air temperatures two or three degrees above average, says the chief weather observer at,the Meteorological Office. Harewood (Mr K. Brown) in his summary for the month. The summary is made from observations taken at Christchurch airport and at the Botanic Gardens. The rainfall for the month was approximately half normal, and as no measurable rain fell after March 16 this constituted an absolute drought. Mr Brown said. Sunshine hours were slightly above normal and the earth temperatures were about average. Figures for the month, those, for Harewood first and for ’he Botanic Gardens second, with average figures in parenthesis, are as follows: — Average mean sea level pressure. 1013. F mbs.; 1013.0 mbs.; highest maximum temnerature, 89.7 decrees Fahrenheit on March 1: 88.1 degrees Fahrenheit on March 4: lowest minim m temperature, 39.0 degrees Fah•’“nheit on MsMi 17: 39.4 decrees Fahrenheit on March 17: lowest grass minimum temperature. 32.6 decrees on March 17: 34.2 degrees Fahrenheit nn March 17: mean temperature for month. 60 2 degrees Fahrenheit (58.0 degrees Fahrenheit), 61.0 decrees Fahrenheit, (58 2 decrees Fahrenheit): rainfall * for month. 103 in (I.9Rin). 0.95 in (2.00 in number rain days. 7 (9). 7 (9): greatest rainfall in 24 hours, 0.52 in on March 15. 0.44 in on March 15: bright sunshine. 166 hours (177 hours): earth temperature at Ift. —. 63.7 degrees Fahrenheit (62.2 degrees Fahrenheit*: earth temnerature at 3ft, —, 63.7 degrees Fahrenheit (64.1 degrees Fahirenhelt).