APRIL STORMS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 188, 7 May 1931, Page 5

APRIL STORMS

Phenomenal Rain

A survey of April weather in New Zealand by the Meterological Department records that there were three stormy periods and a fourth was commencing at the end of the month.

Temperatures in the lsland were generally slightly below normal, but the deficiency in the South Island was considerable. , Over most of the North Island the rainfall was considerably above normal.

The wind during the storm on April 2 and 3 reached gale force over a wide area, extending from the extreme north to below Christchurch, and about Cook Strait the northerly gale was the most severe recorded for many years. There were unprecedented rainfalls in the Tararua Ranges and on parts of the ranges of Northern Nelson . and Marlborough. Records were unobtainable in some localities owing to the gauges overflowing or being washed away. During April 2 and 3 over 8.75 inches were recorded at Collingwood, over 24705 in. at Bainham, Nelson, 16.84 in. at Karamea, 10.21 in. at Millerton, 15.15 in. at Tiroroa, 11.17iu. at Otira and 13.55 in. at Yncyca Bay, Marlborough. An interesting phenomenon was the accumulation of foam on the coast of Westland and it was heaped as high as 8 feet in places.