Rainfall totals across the region were below normal again in March – and the fourth consecutive month that levels were below 50% of the long term average in the Ruahine Ranges and along the Ruataniwha Plains and along the southern coastline.
In the March State of the Environment Report, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Principal Scientist, Dr Kathleen Kozyniak, says monitored river flows also fell further below normal than they were in February.
She says soil moisture levels in March were okay in the northeast of the region, but otherwise lagged below normal for the time of year.
Temperatures were about normal for March.
-----
Blades for the wind turbines at the Turitea Wind Farm are about to start being delivered to the site on the Pahiatua Track.
The first of 99 blades are about to leave Palmerston North for delivery to the site, with delivery expected to take until the end of this year.
Over-dimensional trucks will be used to transport the 55m long blades overnight, leaving Palmerston North at 10pm, and will take up to four hours at a time.
Motorists are being advised by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to be prepared for delays of up to 20 minutes, and to follow the directions of pilot vehicles.
NZTA says the trucks will delay using the Pahiatua Track until midnight each night to lessen the impact to truck drivers and other road users.
There will be six overnight movements a week, excluding Saturdays, with all of them weather dependent.
-----
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake was located near Pongaroa early this morning.
The quake struck at 4.21am, and was centred 20km east of Pongaroa, at a depth of 18km.
Geonet said the quake caused light shaking.
-----
Hawke’s Bay Club Rugby results from the weekend :
Central’s point-scorers in the Premier Grade game against TRSC were tries to Tomo Fogarty and James Logan.
Meanwhile the Dannevirke side had a 45-21 win over Feilding Yellows in the opening round of the Manawatu competition at the weekend.
