A monthly newsletter from the National Climate Centre. Current climate – March 2009 Rainfall: Very low March rainfalls were recorded in parts of Wairarapa, Marlborough, north Canterbury, and North and Central Otago. It was also drier than normal in most other areas except for wet spots in western Bay of Plenty and eastern Otago. Soil moisture: Generally low rainfalls led to falling residual soil moisture by the end of March. Some areas were comparably dry to the drought-like conditions of the same time last year. Air temperatures: Below average over most of the country during March.