636
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
No. 25

NOTES ON THE WEATHER FOR MARCH 1962

General: March was for the most part wet and warm. In the North Island and in Marlborough and Nelson good rains relieved the dry conditions which had persisted during the summer, and growth was mainly satisfactory; though in some districts still more rain would have been appreciated. In Canterbury, Otago, and Southland it was considered to be a particularly good month for stock and pastures, but the rather unsettled weather made conditions difficult for harvesting and haymaking.

Rainfall: Rainfall was mainly above normal. For a considerable part of Nelson and for inland areas of South Canterbury and North Otago it was double the average value; and in the Auckland Province it was mainly from two to five times average.

Around Rotorua it was by far the wettest March on record, with totals ranging from 15 to 26 in. In this and surrounding areas a large proportion of the rain — up to 21½ in. — fell in the seven days 2–8 March. Flooding was reported on the 8th and 9th in the Reporoa district (south of Rotorua) and also in the Hauraki Plains and Thames.

About the west of the Southern Alps rainfall was mainly only half the average value. The only North Island district appreciably drier than normal was Northern Hawke’s Bay.

In nearly all districts most of the rain occurred in the first half of the month, which was very unsettled.

Temperatures: Temperatures were mainly above average by 1–2 degrees, highest departures being in western districts from Taranaki southward and also in Nelson, South Canterbury, and Southland. It was exceptionally warm and humid during the first three days, and in many places temperatures exceeded 80 degrees. On the 3rd Wellington had its warmest March day in a century of observations when the maximum reached 83° F.

Sunshine: Over the greater part of the country sunshine was below average by about 20 hours. In Otago and inland Southland, and also in Wairarapa, the deficiency amounted to 30–40 hours. The West Coast was favoured with 20–50 hours more sunshine than normal, and it was also somewhat sunnier than usual in South Canterbury and from Hamilton to Bay of Islands.

Weather Sequence: The first fortnight was particularly unsettled, especially in the North Island.

From the 1st to the 3rd a depression of tropical origin moved southward past North Cape, causing gales in Northland. The air from the north-east was exceptionally warm and moist; and rain commenced in the Auckland Province and spread southward over the whole country, soon becoming heavy in the Bay of Plenty–Taupo Area. A trough of low pressure affected the South Island on the 3rd.

For the next five days pressures remained low over New Zealand. Heavy rain continued in the Bay of Plenty–Taupo area, and unsettled conditions persisted in most other North Island districts, with flooding on the 8th and 9th in the Hauraki Plains and around Thames, and also in the Reporoa district (south of Rotorua). In parts of the South Island conditions were somewhat more settled at first; but during the 7th and 8th as one centre of a complex depression crossed the Island there was a general deterioration, with some considerable rain in South Canterbury and North Otago.

Pressures remained low, and from the 9th to the 12th a depression was centred over the South Island. The weather was still unsettled in most districts — the main exceptions were Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay. As pressures commenced to rise on the 13th the weather cleared on the West Coast but deteriorated over Canterbury. By the following day the improvement had spread to the greater part of the country. However, it was still raining in Gisborne, Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough, and coastal Southland.

The country now came under the influence of an anticyclone moving slowly eastward over the Tasman Sea, and from the 15th to the 17th the weather was mainly fair, but rather cool. During the next two days the anticyclone moved on to the North Island, while a trough of low pressure affected the southern half of the South Island, causing light rain in coastal districts.

A trough of low pressure crossed the country during the 20th and 21st at the same time as a depression deepened to the east. There was a change to southerly winds, with cooler temperatures and snow on the ranges in the South Island. Rain was general, except in Bay of Plenty and Coromandel.

The next five days were fair but still cool, as an anticyclone remained almost stationary over the eastern Tasman Sea. On the 27th and 28th a trough affected the South Island, with rain in Westland, Otago, and Southland; but when an anticyclone enveloped the country on the 29th there was a return to fair and warmer weather.

On the last two days of the month a small depression covered Northland, causing rain over the Auckland Province. Temperatures were still warm for the time of the year.

(N.Z. Met. S. Misc. Pub. 107)

M. A. F. BARNETT, Director.

Ministry of Works—Schedule of Civil Engineering, Building, and Housing Contracts of £10,000 or More in Value

J. T. GILKISON, Commissioner of Works.

Notice Under the Regulations Act 1936

PURSUANT to the Regulations Act 1936, notice is hereby given of the making of regulations as under:

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