WEATHER RECORDS: MARCH, 1925.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXX, Issue 4, 20 April 1925, Page 282

WEATHER RECORDS: MARCH, 1925.

Dominion Meteorological Office.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

March is the . first month of autumn . in New Zealand, and the weather this year was in striking contrast to that experienced in- 1924. While last March was one of the wettest months ever experienced, especially in the east - coast districts, thisyear it has been one of the driest months of March on record. , The weather was,, on the whole, dry and sunny, warm by day and cool at night. Changeable weather with squally and showery conditions was experienced in the first fortnight, especially in the west-coast and southern districts. Anticyclonic conditions ruled! from the 14th to the 25th, and during this time there was very little wind. The latter part of the month was somewhat unsettled, and there were sharp frostsabout the 29th and 30th which cut down tender vegetation. There was also a light frost on the 16th in many parts, and fresh snow was visible on the mountains.. These frosts were, considered early for this season, and seven were recorded in Christchurch, ranging from one to five points. --Rainfall was above the average in the high country of the South Island and ini Westland and Otago, and slightly so at New Plymouth ; . but everywhere else it appears to have been considerably below the average.

Station. Hours mins. Station. Hours mins. Auckland • • 195 20 Wellington 206 17 Waihi • • -235 ... 2. Nelson .. 248 50 New Plymouth • • 195 15 Blenheim . . • .. 200 32 Moumahaki .• 170 30 Hanmer Springs ..24I 20 Weraroa (Levin) 192 O Hokitika . . . < • • 195 8 Napier . . . . • • . 213 30 Invercargill ■- - ■ . . 149 45 Masterton 222 5 — C. Bates, Director.

Records of bright sunshine for the month are interesting, the totals being asfollows: —

Station. Total Fall. Number of Wet Days. Maximum Fall. Average March Rainfall., North Island. Inches. Inches. Inches.. Kaitaia '0-50 8 0-24 3’58 Russell . . . . ... I-OI 6 0-46 3’42 Whangarei ... . . 1-52 10 0-70 5-10 Auckland .. 1-30 8 o-47 3-06. Hamilton . .. .. . . 2-53 13 ■ 1-32 ’ 3’74 ■ Kawhia ... .. .. 2-70 9 0-72 3-i2-New Plymouth • 3'90 11 2-18 3-46-Riversdale, Inglewood . . 5’34 11 i-55 7-39-Whangamomona .. 2-68 5 1-42 . 5-46-Tairua, Thames 0-52 2 0-46 6-73-Tauranga.. .. i-74 8 • i-34 4-18 Maraehako Station, Opotiki 1-30 6 0-76 3’90Gisborne . . 0-82 8 0-32 4-60-Taupo .. .. 0-70 5 0-43 3'53Napier .. ... . o-53 5 0-28 3-40-Maraekakaho Station, Hastings . . 0-31 5 0-12 3-10 Taihape ... . . . . 1-82 8 o-54 2-69-Masterton . . . . . 0-45 ' 7 0-16 3-23 tea . . . . 2-41 10 0-41 3-60-Wanganui . . . . . . 2-26 7 0-50 2-60 .Foxton . . ... i-44 5 0-50 2-36. Wellington 2-08 5 1-40 1 3-29?

RAINFALL FOR MARCH, 1925, AT REPRESENTATIVE STATIONS.

Station. Total Fall. .. Number of Wet Days. Maximum Fall. Average March Rainfall. South Island. Inches. Inches. Inches. Westport . . . . ..14-13 .. 4-1314 Inches. 14i-i5 Inches. T-155'8o 5‘8o Greymouth ... 6-13 14 . . 2-20 9-12 Hokitika .11-71 18 ■ 5-84 9.72 Arthur’s Pass . . 19-21 II 7-58 5-84 Okuru, Westland . . . 18-46 12 9-12 . . 15-48 Collingwood . . . . ... 4-19 Nelson ; . . . . . 2-16 . .. 6 . i-88 2-99 Spring Creek, Blenheim. . .. i-57 . 3 ;■ . 1-52 i-8i Tophouse .. . . . . 2-78 9 1-76 3-44 Hanmer Springs . . . . i-43 .6 0-72 2-84 Highfield, Waiau ’ o-66 2 0-48 ' 3-°9 Gore Bay . . .. 1-47 . . 4 0-90 2-14 Christchurch . . - ... 1-13 '-i... 6 0-52 2-11 Timaru . . . . 0-56 8 0-38 2-45 Lambrook Station, Fair lie 1-16 3 o-86 . 2-58 Benmore Station, Omarama 4-32 10 3-28 . 2-64 Oamaru .. 0-99 7 0-72 1-77 Queenstown . . . . - 3-63 . 11 i-6i 2-63 Clyde . . . . ; ' . ■. 3-06 - .8 i-68 1-50 Dunedin .. .. .. 4-00 13 2-13 2-90 Gore . . 3-65 - 16 1-00 - 3-23 Invercargill 5-14 0-78 . 3-86

RAINFALL FOR MARCH, 1925 - continued.