THE WEATHER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 111, 11 April 1936, Page 2

THE WEATHER

FINE AND MILD. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 11. An anti-cyclone fextends from New Zealand eastwards, while a slight depression is advancing across the south Tasman Sea. Forecast: Light to moderate northerly winds. Weather: Fair to fine, and mild. Seas moderate. STORMY WEATHER. CONDITIONS IN MARCH. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 9. . The Director of Meteorological Services (Dr E. Ividson), in his notes for March, refers to the stormy' conditions which prevailed. On the night of March 2 to 3 a depression which had been shallow when it crossed the country deepened very much while to the eastward. In consequence, southerly gales blew and heavy rain fell over the South Island and across Cook Strait to the southern portion of tho North. Snow fell on the ranges, and a tornado was reported near Tauranga on the 3rd. Following this, an intense anti-cyclone moved on to the Dominion and fine weather ml ed for several cTavs. On the night of the 6th to the 7th, however, a depression moved from the north to the vicinity of East Cape and, though shallow, it caused very heavy rain between Hawke’s Bay and East Cape, and, in places, severe flooding. Following the passage of an innocuous depression on the 7th, pressure again fell rapidly to the east of New Zealand on the Bth and continued low until the 11th. Gales from between west and south were experienced at many places, and 1 rain was almost general. The falls were particularly heavy in eastern districts of the South Island, and widespread floods occurred. Canterbury and Banks Pcnsinsula fared the worst. There were heavy snowfalls on the high levels. Heavy rain again fell over the South Island in connection with a depression which moved on to the Dominion during the 20th and 21st. Though vigorous at first, this depression lost energy when a cyclone moved down from the north and, keeping' to the eastward, passed near Chatham Islands. On the 25th a deep'cyclone, which had first appeared off the Queensland coast on the 18th, passed Norfolk Island on the westward side and on the 26th was centred near Cape Maria Van Diemen. Moving in a south-easterly direction it was centred off East Cape on the morning of the 27th, and soon moved away. It was responsible for very severe gales and remarkably high tides from Auckland northwards, and much damage was done. Heavy rain was recorded over most of the North Island, but the amounts. nevertheless, were surprisingly small for so deep and slow-mov-ing a cyclone. From the 28th until the end of the month, a westerly depression followed by a series of secondaries caused a second series of westerly or south-westerly gales, which were severe in many places. On the 29th a tornado of unusual size for New Zealand did considerable damage at Greymouth. There were heavy rains in the western districts of the South Island. MANAWATU RIVER GAUGE. Noon. —lft 9in.