MARCH RAINFALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 473, 3 April 1909, Page 10

MARCH RAINFALL.

GREATLY' ABOVE THE AVERAGE. Reports received. at the Meteorological Offico show that the total rainfalls in March were greatly aboro the normal on all parts on tho eastern coast, but generally below tho average of former years on tho western coast, and especially so in tho South Island and parts of Southland. This was owing to three cyclonic disturbances from tho north passing to the eastward of New Zealand, while tho usual wavo pressures which come from tho westward and affect tho South Island principally were not so much in evidenco, Aucki?r -i liiwl half as much again as usual, and ii ailn two and a half times the . average, viz., 20 inches, which is about half an inch less than the highest over recorded thero, namely, in March, 190 S. At Waihi there is a self-recording; rain gauge, in charge of Mr. Dovereaux, which shows that 5 inches fell in Ivojiours oh March 27.'r.Gisborno had nearly doublo _tho normal-,■".while Napier had over throe'times-its-March average.; ; Wellington's; 3./6 was just .13 point s.ahovo'the usual." liovin- and'A\ a nga'riui' Wer6 belowj but Dillon, Mastertoiij' arid stations' in"Taranaki wero somewhat above." - ETbkitika reports hiss than half its average March rainfall; Nelson and ni° r i . Canterbur y io'and aro slightly above. Blenheim had 1 two-thirds more than usual, and Christchurch three' and one-third its mean rainfall. Its total 6.47 inches has only ™, ccn slightly exceeded according to tho official records. Its highest fall, 3.1G inclics, occurred on tho 30th. Tho total rainfall at Lincoln was two inches below that at Christcnuroh. Timaru rainfall for tho month was 0./o, which is moro than'double tho average, i i . Ira , s Ilcar! 3' double, but' Oamaru'. ' had 6.01 inches on eight days.' The average : for tho month is 1.32, but 2.73 fell on one' i day only Dunedin had a total of 4.79 inches,: ! which is 1.(9 above the averago for 52 years. : Dipton, m Southland, had loss than half tho average for a long period. Though such ' marked differences in rainfall-aro exceptional ! and cannot bo forecasted, it is very evident i that they are tho effects of disturbances. I anectuig a wide area in tho Southern Facific; or: an even iargor field. '.' ■ !• •• - .• >7 TO I