SOUTHERLY GALE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 39, 9 November 1940, Page 7

SOUTHERLY GALE

Wintry Weather In Wellington LOW BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AU yesterday Wellington was swept by a southerly gale which caused high seas iu Cook Strait and delayed coastal shipping. Temperatures were abnormally low for late spring and conditions out of doors were unpleasant. Apart from wrecked gardens,-no storm damage was reported last night. Commercial air services were not disrupted and in spite of the gale interisland trunk and Cook .Strait flights were flown to schedule. The cause of Wellington’s return to wintry weather, at a. time when most people were looking forward to bright sunshine and warm days, was a cyclone. Its centre passed just north of Wellington at about midnight on Thursday night, when barometric pressure fell to 981.6 millibars. This is low reading for any time of the year, particularly November. The centre of the cyclone passed over the Manawatu district, but from midnight onward pressure rose steadily and the wind freshened from the south. It reached its maximum velocity, 64 miles an hour, at 4.30 a.m. yesterday. During the day a considerable number of gusts exceeded 50 miles an hour. These figures were recorded at the Government meteorological office, Kelburu. Low Temperatures. The minimum temperature recorded at Kelburu on Thursday night was 42.1 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 7.2 degrees below the average minimum for November. The .owes! minimum temperature recorded in Wellington during November was 35,1 degrees, which occurred in 1933. All yesterday the temperature did not rise above 50 degrees, 12.1 degrees below the average for the month. The mean maximum for November is 62.1 degrees. Yesterday’s southerly was of the gusty type, accompanied by frequent heavy showers. On occasions the wind was so strong in the Wellington city area that pedestrians crossing streets against sheets of wind-driven rain experienced difficulty. During, rain squalls the harbour was often obscured. Women who volunteered to help the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association with the. annual Rose Day appeal had- an unenviable time. Iu spite of the weather, however, they kept to their posts throughout the day. There were the usual Friday shopping crowds in the city and trams and buses were well patronized. In Other Centres. The low barometric pressure—9Bl.6 millibars—was not the lowest recorded in Wellington. The record still stands at 90S millibars. Pressure rose during the day ami at noon the reading at Rongotai aerodrome was 992 millibars. With the exception of Otago and Southland, barometric pressures were comparitively low over New Zealand yesterday. In all four centres the weather was cloudy and overcast, with southerly gales in Wellington and Christchurch. Auckland and Dunedin had fresh to strong westerly to southwesterly winds. Apart from occasional showers, little rain fell in the other main centres. According to the noon observations made at the various aerodromes yesterday and broadcast at 1 p.m., the weather was overcast in practically all parts of the North Island. Wanganui reported a southerly of 40 miles an hour, and in New Plymouth, where the wind was also from the south, the velocity was 30 miles an hour. Gisborne, Napier, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Masterton and Stratford all reported rain. Shipping Delayed. High seas were running in Cook Strait yesterday and last night. The steamer express, Wabine, from Lyttelton, arrived to schedule, and the coasttil motor-ship, Pakura, also from Lyttelton, had no difficulty in reaching port. Other coastal vessels at sea, however, were forced to take shelter. It was reported yesterday morning rhat the motor-ship Hawera was sheltering off Titahi Bay. The Anchor Company’s steamer, Kaitoa, en route from Nelson to 'Wellington, was due here at 6 a.m., but put into. Picton and was still there last night. The only coastal departures from Wellington yesterday were the Tamahine for Picton and the ‘Wabine, which left ' for Lyttelton last: night. Work on Wellington wharves was carried on intermittently, but for the most part was held up by rain. The weather forecast, for the 'Wellington district indicates that a gradual improvement will take place today. A tine weekend is predicted.