HEAVY RAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 88, 24 January 1938, Page 4

HEAVY RAIN.

STEADY FALL OVER WEEK-END. TWO INCHES IN ASHBURTON. Heavy rain fell steadily in Ashburton over the week-end, and the total fall, when rain stopped this morning, was 204 points. This is the heaviest fall since the middle of December, when there were nearly three inches. Another heavy fall took place about 12 days ago, when over three davs the fall was about the same as this weekend.

The fall caused a rise in rivers, although there .was no flooding. The main rivers were all higher than usual and discoloured owing to the heavy fall in the back country. The Hinds River was also up but the mailman whs able to get over.

Another effect of the rain whs to cause a delay in harvesting, which was getting well under way, and to flatten crops in some areas, although there was no considerabl damage. Rain began late on Saturday afternoon after a warm day. The fall over night was particularly heavy, and at 9 o’clock yesterday morning 136 points were recorded. The ram fell steadily yesterday, but was not so heavy, the total being 68 points.

At Pendarves there was a fall of 121 ing, and a further 71 points fell yesterday, making a total of 192 points. Crops were reported to be in good order.

There were 216 points of rain at Anama, where conditions were bitterly cold. Rain began at 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and crops, which were flattened by the previous rain, were in some cases brought down further.

The rain had stopped this morning, but a drizzle started in the afternoon. The sky remained overcast, and conditions were cold. The temperature yesterday was the coldest since the beginning of September, the maximum being 49 degrees. After close conditions on Saturday the maximum shade temperature, was 77.1 degrees. Inside minimum temperatures were 44.2 degrees last night and 46.3 degrees on Saturday night. The barometer was steady at 9 o’clock this' morning, standing at 29.78 inches, the same as yesterday morning.

TO-DAY’S FORECAST.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government Meteorologist, at noon to-day, issued the following statement regarding the weather-: General inference: A rather deep cyclonic depression is passing slowly eastwards off the Dominion, while an intense anti-cyclone covers SouthEastern Australia. The forecast for the east coast of the South Island from Blenheim to Oamar-u i« as follows: Moderate to strong southerly winds, reaching gale force in some exposed places. Weather cold, unsettled and squally with further and in places heavy rain, but improving gradually tomorrow. Sea moderate to rather rough swell.