MARCH WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1929, Page 5

MARCH WEATHER

AN INTERESTING REVIEW. 'By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April o. The following notes on the weather for the month of March are supplied by the Director of Meteorological Serv ices, Dr Kid son : j be month of March has been a verv wot one over much the greater part of the Dominion. In many districts the average fall was greatly exceeded. Flight deficits wore experienced at place in the central parts of the North Island from Taranaki to Hawke’s Bay, 1 and from the Bay of Plenty to Wairnrapa. A few places in Canterbury, South Westland, and Southland also had less than their normal rain. Following on the dry February, the rain was very beneficial. The pasture* are in good condition, and the prospects for winter feed are favourable over almost the whole country. Stock and crops also were in good condition at the end of the month. About Waihi, the milk yields are reported to have fallen off. but elsewhere they are generally good for this time of the year. . The temperatures were slightly below normal, especially in districts w?cb an easterly aspect, where., also, there was considerable cloudiness. In a few cases damp and dull weather has interfered with harvesting operations. Among the outstanding features of the mouth was a cyclone of very small dimensions, which after having been met by the s.s. “ Tofua ” on her way to Auckland, crossed from the Bay of Plenty to Poverty Bay between the 171 b ami 18th. Gales of great severity, though fortunately of short duration, were experienced,, and some damage was done in the environs of Opotiki and Gisborne.

Another feature was a torrential downpour which occurred during a southerly gale over the eastern portions of Otago on the evening of the 19th. Around Dunedin the falls varied between about 4 inches and 11 inches, the heaviest occurring in the Watershed of Leith stream. Oamaru also recorded over six indies of rain, and experienced heavy flooding, accompanied by some damage to property. Still another unusual phenomenon was the occurrence of Aurora Australis on four nights during the month—namely the 10th., 12th., 13th., and 17th. The display of the 12th was par tieularly brilliant. Large spot groups were noted on the central portion of the sun on these days. On March Ist an intense cyclonic, storm had developed east of Brisbane. This storm remained in the northern Tasman Sea until the 4tlu., after which it disappeared without affecting New Zealand to any very great extent. On the sth, however, a deep smithern depression advanced from the Tasman Sea and had not completely crossed the Dominion until the - Bth, when strong' southerly winds set in. General rain fell, culminating on the fith in very heavy falls over most of the North' Island, and Nelson and Westland provinces. Some flooding was caused on the West Coast, especially at •Greymouth. On the 17th, another deep depression developed in the south Tasman Sea, and became cyclonic before reaching New Zealand. The centre crossed Northern Otago on the evening of the 19th, and the floods mentioned above were associated with it. Southed> gales followed in its wake. In addition to the specially heavy falls described, rain was general in other districts, and snow fell on the ranges of the South Island. The weather was cold-between the 20th and 22nd, and frosts occurred at southern inland stations. The storm of the 19th was followed by an intense anti-cyclone, which did not move finally away eastward until the 24th. On this date another intense depression developed in the south Tasman Sea, and caused unsettled weather until the end of the. month. There were northerly gales on the 26th anil 27th, especially about Cook Strait. Rain was again general, with many heavy falls. A change to southerlies came" on the 30th, when snow fell on the high country of the South Island, and low temperatures were experienced. The 31st was still more severe, and frosts were recorded at many places. The southerlies were of gale force at many places on the 30th and the 31st There was again a relative absence of westerly winds and a prevalence of southerlies during the month.