EFFECTS LOCALLY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 110, 5 November 1926, Page 8

EFFECTS LOCALLY

NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

REPORTED,

Tho prognostications of tho Government Meteorologist that the Dominion as a whole might expect another gale, of special severity in and around Cook Strait, proved to be quite correct. Wellington experienced the full force of the northerly gale, which was a disagreeable repetition of last Sunday's blow. Locally very little structural damage seems to have been done, but exposed gardens, or what was left of them .after the previous blows of late, naturally suffered again, and much promising summer growth was laid low. To those able to read tho signs, the sky yesterday morning gave every indication of the unpleasantness to come, and as the day wore on the northerly gale increased in force. The dry warm wind, blowing in great gusts and raising clouds of dust, made things out of doors the reverse of pleasant. During the night tho wind moderated and rain fell. It commenced at about 11 p.m., was heavy shortly before 1 o 'clock, and ceased at about 4 a.m., at which hour the wind also died away. The total fall locally was 79 points. Tho biggest gusts of ' wind were of fifty miles an hour, tho height of the gale being between 9 and 10 o'clock in the evening. The total velocity recorded up to 9 a.m. to-day for tho last twentyfour hours was 584 miles, the highest for some time past. HEAVY RAINFALL. The whole Dominion felt the force of the gale, which was caused by an intense westerly disturbance. Exceptionally heavy rain fell in western districts of the South Island, Arthur's Pass recording no less than 12.7 inches, and that on the top of oin during the previous twenty-four hours. Rain was general, and the gale caused interruption in the telegraph service over the South Island, more especially in the north. "The worse the weather will be during tho next twenty-four hours the better during the week-end," was the Government Meteorologist's comment this morning. He forecasted westerly winds, strong to gale, and then backing to the south. Rain would probably be general, and flooded rivers tho rule. The barometer is at present unsteady, but is due to rise shortly everywhere, when a brief colder spell of weather may be expected. Mr. Bates would not commit himself as to when genial spring weather might be anticipated.