SATISFACTORY MONTH

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 16

SATISFACTORY MONTH

RAPID FEED GROWTH IN MARCH.

CONTINUATION OF FLOODING.

March was a very satisfactory autumn month, reports the Government meteorologist. 'The warmth and Iqck of wind led to rapid growth of vegetation and a good supply of winter feed is assured. The only extensive area still suffering from a shortage of rainfall is North Canterbury. Parts of the southern Wairarapa, also, are still dry. Stock generally are reported to be in good condition, and the milk yield has recovered. There Was much dull and damp weather in the first part of the month on the east coast of the North Island north of Hawke’s Bay, and this had an adverse effect on sheep, a considerable amount of facial eczema being reported. Crops have done better than seemed probable earlier in the season.

Except in the Auckland and Hawkes Bay provinces, the first half of thie month was very dry but in the latter half there were general rains, with heavy falls at most places. In central and especially North Canterbury, the total rain was below average. Hawkes Bay and parts of the interior of the North Island also had less than normal. On the west coast of the South Island conditions were irregular, but on the whole did not differ greatly from average. Over the rest of the country there was an excess. Many places in North Auckland, Taranaki, Nelson, Marlborough and Otago had double the average.

Temperatures were again considerably above normal, the departures ranging mainly between 1.5 degrees and 3 degrees. The one exception was Hawkes Bay, where the mean for the month was below the average. Some snow fell on the mountains on the 26th and 27th but most of it subsequently disappeared. A few light frosts were recorded. Sunshine was unusually abundant on the West Coast and in the far southern portions of the South Island. On the east coast of the North Island, from Hawkes Bay northward, there was a considerable deficit, and this probably accounted for the low temperatures in that area. Elsewhere the totals did not differ greatly from normal.

In the first part of the month there was very little storm activity over the Dominion. On the 3rd and 4th a depression moving from the north past East Cape caused heavy rains north of Hawkes Bay and in parts of the Bay of Plenty area.' Between the 10th and the 14th a depression passed slowly by the northern extremity of the North Island and was responsible for north-easterly gales and heavy rains in most of the Auckland province. Very severe flooding occurred in North Auckland.

The first general rains were associated with a rather complex storm system which was active over the country from the 15th to 19th, the 17th being generally the wettest day. Floods occurred again in North Auckland and Taranaki, while few districts escaped very heavy falls. From 'the 12th to 17th pressure was high to the east of New Zealand, at Chatham Island, a state of affairs whicji had characterised the dry weather of the early part of the summer. After the 17th, however, there was a definite change and weather of a westerly type has since predominated. Further general rains occurred during the passing of another series of depressions between the 24th and 27th. Very heavy falls were experienced from Taranaki and Wellington southwards. Taranaki had its third series of floods within five weeks. There was some flooding, also, in Southern Otago and Southland. Many thunderstorms were experienced during the month, especially 1 in the Auckland province, and some were very severe and prolonged. Between the 19th and 23rd a tropical cyclone developed in the Pacific Islands region and passed through the Tonga Group in a southeasterly direction. Fortunately no serious damage was done.