WEATHER RECORDS : MARCH, 1931.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 42, Issue 4, 20 April 1931, Page 289

WEATHER RECORDS : MARCH, 1931.

Dominion Meteorological Office.

March was a . very dry month practically throughout the country. Fortunately, there were comparatively few strong winds and most' of the rainfall was of a steady nature. These conditions, . together with the cobl temperatures, were responsible for the maximum amount of good being derived from such rain as fell. At date of writing, in most districts further considerable rains are nevertheless required if supplies of - winter feed for stock are to be adequate. At present stock are, on the whole, in good condition, and crops have harvested well. In the greater-, part of the Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay districts, where rain was most needed, there were good falls towards the end of the month and the situation was considerably relieved. In parts of South Auckland, the Bay of Plenty, ■ Taranaki, Manawatu, and Wairarapa districts, stock are feeling the effects of continued low temperatures and rather scanty feed.

Painfall. — On the average for the whole Dominion the rainfall was only about half the normal total for March.- In the North Island it was considerably less. The only places where the normal fall was approached were Poverty Bay and parts of the West coast of the South Island.

Temperature and Swws/zw<?.—Temperatures were everywhere below the average for March. In the North Island the deficit was between 2° and 3° F., but in the South Island it was considerably less. Sunshine was rather above the average, so that good harvesting weather was experienced.

Pressure Systems. At the beginning of the month anticyclonic conditions prevailed, and the weather was generally fine until the 10th. Between the 10th and the 12th a moderate depression passed, and rain was almost general, though only light to moderate in amount.

The next depression passed between the 15th and 18th, and again there was widespread though mainly light rain. A slight cyclonic centre developed in this depression and crossed the South Island on the night of the 17th. Thunderstorms were experienced, Christchurch recording an unusually severe one.

After another spell of anticyclonic and fine weather, a third and- rather similar depression crossed the Dominion between the 21st and the 24th. On the 23rd there were again some thunderstorms in the South Island. In the North, many parts of the Auckland Province had heavy rain.

The last depression controlled the weather between the 26th and 28th. As it passed, many parts of Auckland recorded heavy rain. Pressure

remained low to the east, and in the East Cape, Poverty Bay, and parts of the Hawke’s Bay districts rain continued till the 28th. Some very heavy falls were experienced around Gisborne, where droughty conditions had ruled since the beginning of October. Temperatures were cold during this spell. There was a prevalence of southerly winds during the month.

Edward Kidson,

, Director of Meteorological Services, Wellington, 8 /4./31.

No. Station. Total Fall. Number of Wet Days. Maximum Fall. Average March Rainfall. . . North Island. Inches, . Inches. Inches. I Kaitaia . . . . .. 0-48 .. 7 0-20 ■ 3-30.. 2 Russell . . 0-82 7 o-6o 3-10 '3 Whangarei .. ■ ... 1-08 6 o-88 4-56 . 4 Auckland . . • .; 0-83 11 0-21 3-08 • 5 Hamilton .. 1-47 7 o-73 3'99 6 Rotorua .. . . ... 1'27 5 . 0-50 . 3'6i ' 7 ' Kawhia . . . . . .. • 2-80 9 1-67 3’66 . 8 . New Plymouth . . ' . . 1-48 9 0-78 3-67 9 Riversdale, Inglewood . . 3-50 9 . i-33 7-3° IO Whangamomona . . . . 2-48 10 1-02 5'34 ii Eltham .. . . . . 0-51 9 0-15 4-41 12 Tairua ., ; . . . o-39 , .'. ’4 ri ■: 0-25 - ' 5'7i 13 Tauranga ' . . . . 1 '53 ■ 10 ' ‘ - 0-44 4-17 14 Maraehako Station, Opotiki 2-60 13 o-6o 4’29 15 Gisborne ..... 4-38 ■ 7 2-05 4-48 16 Taupo .. I-.43 .. .. 7 1-02 . 3’34 17 Napier - . . . . 2-14 10 1-08 3-24 18 Hastings \ . 1-50 8 0-58 3'0° 19 Taihape . . . . . "... 1-44 9 o-44 2-88 20 .Masterton . . . .. ... 0-78 12 0-25 2-98 21 Patea 0-71 7 - 0-78 3-61 22 Wanganui . . o-94 6 .0-36 • 2-60 23 Foxton . . .... o-34 ’• 4 . 0-25 2-22 24 . Wellington (Karori Reservoir) 0-62 ■ 11 0-17 3'45 \ South Island 25 Westport .. 5'90 11 2-15 7-50 26 Greymouth . . . . 5-76 10 . 1-29 8-91 27 Hokitika 8-66. 15 2-24 : 9-88 28 Ross .. ' . . . . ii-56 12 3-90 n-33 29 Arthur’s Pass .. 11-91 30 Okuru < . . . . 12'53 13 6’02 15-03 31 Collingwood . . 5'62 8 3-26 5'99 32 Nelson ... ■. . . . o-74 ■ 8 - 0-21 3-06 33 Spring Creek . . 0-23 2 . 0-13 ' 2-23 34 Tophouse .. . . 2'73 7 ’ o-go 4-62 35 Hanmer Springs . . 1-70 . 11 0-52 3-07 36 Highfield, Waiau . . . . o-97 5 0-40 2-99 37 Gore Bay ’ ... ... i-37 7 o-33 2-38-38 Christchurch 1-00 10 0-52 2-03 39 Timaru . . .. 1-56 12 0-36 2-29 40 Lambrook Station, Fairlie . . 1’95 5 ' 0’62 2'45 41 Benmore Station, Clearburn 1-27 ■ 8 °'45 2-79 42 Oamaru . . . . . . - i-57 9 0-78 •' i-86 43 Queenstown . . .. . 074 6 0-19 2-74 44 Clyde . . . ’ .. 1-08 4 o-8i I- 55 45 Dunedin' . . . . 1-36 15 0-27 3-04 46 Wendon - . . 1-04 ; 12 4- if. 0-19 2-91 47 Gore .. . 3-25 48 Invercargill 1-64 17 0-48 3-96 49 Puysegur Point . . ... 3'90 . ■ 22 °-77 8-59 50 Half-moon Bay 3-27 . 4 0-78 5'74

RAINFALL FOR MARCH, 1931, AT REPRESENTATIVE STATIONS.