QUARTER'S RAINFALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20218, 1 April 1929, Page 10

QUARTER'S RAINFALL.

INCREASE ON LAST YEAR.

OVER 5f INCHES IN MONTH.

WETTEST MARCH SINCE 1922.

The fall of 5.62 in. of rain in Auckland last month was the heaviest for March since 1922, when 6.20 in. were recorded. The total was also 2.53 in. Jjovo" the average, and rain fell on 16 days. Weather conditions were generally fairly unsettled, and the month was a contrast to February, which was the driest for 13 years. The rainfall for the quarter aggregated 7.61 in., an increase on the corresponding period of last year but lower than in 1927 or 1926.

Following are details of the rainfall in the first quarters of each year since 1926: —

3929. 1028. 1027. 1926. In. In. In. In. January .. 3.38 .20 3.46 4.04 February .. .61 ' 1.0 L 5.58 2.66 March . . 5.62 3.45 4.57 2.42 7.61 5.26 11.61 9.02 Up to March 16 light showers had accounted for only ,90in. Stormy conditions set in on the 17th, and in 24 hours 2.33 in. fell. Temperatures were normal in March, ranging iiom 77deg. in the shade on the 2nd to 56deg. on the 24th. The Government observed, Mr. 11. M. Vincent, reports that sunshine was below the average, the total for the month being 162 hours smin. In the corresponding month of 1928, 225 hours of sunshine were recorded. The mean barometer reading in March was 30.019 in., the maximum of 30.322 m. being reached on tho 13th, and the minimum of 29.659 in. on the 7th. MONTH AT DUNEDIN. FALL OF NEAELY SEVEN INCHES. [BY telegraph.— press association.] DUNEDIN, Sunday. Nearly seven inches of rain fell in Dunedin during March. This was the heaviest fall recorded for any month since April, 1923, when over ll£in, was recorded. The heaviest fall in one day was nearly 42in., on March 20, when the low levels of the city were flooded and considerable damage done to dwellings and property.