THE WEATHER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 109, 7 April 1934, Page 2

THE WEATHER

■ FAIR TO CLOUDY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 7. Pressure continues high over and to the east of New Zealand. The depression over the Tasman Sea yesterday has disappeared, but a fresh and more vigorous one has now passed Tasmania and is J advancing towards the South Island. Forecast: Moderate but gradually s increasing north-westerly winds, gales j being likely in places to-morrow. * Weather: Fair to cloudy and mild. ' Seas moderate at first, but gradually r becoming rough. ’ CONDITIONS IN MARCH. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 7. In his survey of the weather in the ■ Dominion for the month of March, the Government meteorologist (Dr E. Kidson) says that, in much the greater part of the North Island, it was very dry. In -the South Island conditions i were more varied and a most import- ’ ant feature was the breaking of the drought in Nelson and Marlborough by : the heavy rains of the 27th. Temperatures were considerably below normal, ■ but this was not altogether an unfavourable circumstance, since in combination with a general absence of strong winds it tended to mitigate the effects of the lack of rainfall, especially in the middle of the month. In most districts there is abundant pasture of good quality, but in the Waikato and parts of Taranaki rain is needed to produce a good growth before winter. In Nelson and Marlborough, also, there has not yet been much recovery following the drought. Stock are almost everywhere reported to be in good condition; the milk yield has been well maintained; and crops generally are good. The apple crop in Nelson is, however, rather light owing to the absence of soil moisture. The only considerable area of tho North Island which had more than the average rainfall included most of .western Wellington south of Wanganui and extended to the northern Wairarapa. Over the rest of the Island the totals averaged only about half the normal, and the central and north-eastern districts recorded a particularly dry month. In the South Island, an area in North Canterbury and South Marlborough had double the usual fall for March. Westport, also, had a heavy fall. Elsewhere, conditions varied considerably, but excesses were rather less numerous than deficits. The month was a distinctly cold one. At most places the mean temperature was between 1 degree and 2 degrees below normal. The west coast of the South Island had relatively milder conditions than the remainder of the Dominion. A few frosts were recorded but, on the whole, the cold spells, though lengthy, were not severe. In eastern districts of the South Island from Canterbury southwards, cloudy and humid conditions prevailed, and sunshine was much below normal. Elsewhere, totals were generally either equal to or better than average. Nelson had 248.6, Napier 221.5, Taupo 221.2, New Plymouth 219.7, and Blenheim 219.1 hours. The storm systems experienced during the month were rather too complicated to describe in detail. A marked characteristic of the general situation was the disturbed conditions which prevailed in the tropics. Damage was done by cyclones in Australia on both the north-west and the Queensland coasts, while several less violent storms , occurred in the area to the east of ' Australia. Associated with these conditions were a number of intense and : ' widespreading anti-cyclones which oc- . curred in New Zealand latitudes. In several the pressure at the centre ex- ( ceeded 30.5 inches, and the mean pressure for the month was considerably ' above normal. On tho Ist, a shallow j cyclone was located west of the Auck- . land Peninsula. This crossed the penin- . sula during the night and was followed closely by a depression which had a ; cyclonic centre in its southern portion ( where it passed over Otago. Almost < general rains resulted, with thunder- , storms in places. A westerly depres- ( sion passing quickly between the sth . and 7th was responsible for some very ; stormy weather. Thunderstorms were , widespread on the night of the 7tli and in Canterbury there were some severe hailstorms. Snow fell on the ranges, the falls on Mt. Egmont and at the ] National Park being unusually heavy. , Another rapidly moving westerly depression was responsible for some heavv j rains in western districts of the South ■ Island on the 12th. There was some ] hail, also, in the far south. The most important storm was cyclonic in form j and moved slowly through Cook Strait between the 26th and 28th. General ’ rains were recorded with many heavy ( falls, especially in the central portions , the Dominion. Between one and two ] inches were recorded in the areas of Nelson and Marlborough, where ( drought had previously prevailed. Par- , ticularly heavy falls occurred in_ parts j of North Canterbury and the Kaikoura , districts, where rivers and creeks were ‘ in high flood. This, and that of the . 2nd, were the only general rains. | MANAWATU RIVER GAUGE. , Noon.—lft. 6ins. !