WEATHER IN MARCH

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19546, 8 April 1935, Page 9

WEATHER IN MARCH

METEOROLOGIST’S REPORT

SATISFACTORY AUTUMN MONTH.

WELLINGTON, Monday,

'The Dominion Meteorologist provides the following notes on tile weather for March: —

March was a very satisfactory autumn month. The warmth and lack of wind led lo 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.

The Rainfall. •'Except in the Auckland and Hawke’s Bay Provinces the first half of -the 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. Hawke’s Bay and parts of the interior of the North Island also has 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 OtaS'go had double the avorage.

Temperatures were again considerably above normal, v the departures ranging mainly between 1:5 to 3.0 degrees. TJie; one exception was Hawke’s Bay, where the mean for the month was below the average. Some snow fell on the mountains 1 on the 26th and 27th, but most of it subsequently disappeared. A few light frosts were recorded.

Sunshine was unusually abundant on -the West -Cpast- and in the far southern portions of the South Island. On the east coast of the North Island, from Hawke’s Bay northward, there was a considerable deficit, and this probably accounted'for the low temperatures in; that area. Elsewhere the totals did not differ groatly from normal!

Pressure Systems.

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 Gape caused heavy rains north of Hawke’s Bay and in parts of the Bay of Plenty area. Be?tweeh the 10th and the 14th a depres-. sion passed slowly by; the northern extremily of the North Island and was responsible for' north-easterly gales nnd heavy rains In most oT the Auckland- Province. Very severe flooding occurred in North Auckland. The first '.general rains were associated with a rather complex storm system which Avas active over the country from the loth to 19th, the 17th ing 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 which had characterised the. dry weather of the early part of the sjjmraer. After the 17th, however, there was a definite change and weather of a westerly type lias 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 in tlio Auckland Province, and some were very severe and prolonged. Between the 19th and 23rd a tropical cyclone developed in tlie Paoiflo Islands region and passed through the Tonga Group in a south-easterly direction. Fortunately no serious damage was done.