WINTER COMING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 104, 3 May 1924, Page 9

WINTER COMING

.UNPLEASANT WEATHEI.

CONDITIONS,

The battle of the elements which has taken place since yesterday indicates very forcibly that autumn days are drawing to a close, but wintry conditions have not yet been permitted to hold sway, a hope still being held out, by the Director of the Meteorological Office (Mr. D.. C. Bates) that tho naval visitors will yet be given a better impression of Wellington's weather, as well as that in other parts of the Dominion. In the conditions which have been experienced locally during the past two days there has been much variety—wind, rain, sunshine, and a keen atmosphere. The battle between the elements has had varying results, mostly unpleasant, but ere it is finished more acceptable weather is likely to prevail. Cold and unsettled weather has been e.\priencp,d with heavy showers in many parts of the country, and snow has fallen on high levels in the south. The winds generally .have been strong southerlies, particularly along the East Coast. Locally, the wind began to freshen last evening, and was at- its highest, forea about 2 o'clock this morning. The biggest gust, however, was only at the rate of about 44 miles per hour. The total rainfall for the twenty-four hours preceding 9 a.m. to-day was only 0.24 in. and in other places' the amounts were not considerable, though rain was falling in many parts of the Dominion at 5 o'clock this morning. Wanganui reported 0.6 inch, and Foxton 0.38 inch; at Greymouth and Arthur's Pass the falls were less than one-third of an inch. The finest weather in the Dominion " this morning was on the West Coast of the South Island, where the conditions were cold, bright, and keen.

The disturbance which was centred off the East Coast of the South Island yesterday has apparently moved further eastward. : Though the glass is now about' normal in the south, it is still low in the north, and, until pressure increases there, cold and showery conditions are to be expected, particularly in the East Coast districts, and there may possibly be heavy rain in Hawkes Bay. South-easterly winds, strong to ■ gale at times, are to be expected generally in the immediate future, after which a decided improvement may be looked for, and this probably before the Fleet departs.