WILD WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 136, 13 June 1927, Page 10

WILD WEATHER

A SOUTHERLY STORM

HEAVY RAINFALL

OUTLOOK NOT BRIGHT

The driving rain and the keen southerly wind made conditions yesterday almost as unpleasant as they possibly could be. Xt was a day on which the fireside appealed most, and the majority of people spent their time in doors. Bays and other places which usually attract the Sunday walker were deserted, and throughout the day the tramcars carried, few passengers.

After the heavy rain yesterday many a ceiling shows a brown stain. Many a leak made an appearance where least expected, ■ and in some houses basins, old pots, and pans were made full use of to catch the persistent drippings of water from the ceiling. The wind levelled several fences, and at Petone one was blown across Jackson street.

'' Conditions . have not been so severe," said the Dominion Meteorologist (Mr. D. C. Bates) to-day, "but, nevertheless, they havo been decidedly unpleasant." Bain fell on Saturday afternoon about 3.30, but at 6 o'clock it came on more heavily, and it continued to rain steadily until about 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. The weather then cleared, but there was a shower at 0 o'clock. About 11 p.m. the rain came on heavily again, and did not cease until about 1.30 this morning. The total rainfall measured on Sunday morning was 76 points, and this morning 1.92 in were recorded, making a total of 2.68 in for the two days.

The weather was calm between 5 o'clock and 11 o'clock o.n Saturday night. The wind then increased steadily in force. The average velocity of the wind on Sunday was about 20 miles per hour. It was strongest yesterday afternoon and at 9 p.m ,On Saturday morning northerlies prevailed, but the wind veered round to the south.

The winds were not so remarkably heavy, but the weather was disagreeably cold. On Saturday morning the minimum temperature was 45.2 deg., and yesterday morning the temperature was 42.3 deg. This morning at 9 o'clock the temperature was down to 41 deg. Heavy rain has also fallen in other centres. At Wanganui this morning 130 points were measured. Bain fell heavily during the night on the East Coast.

The centre of the disturbance, which on Saturday was located to the northwest of Gape Egmont, passed in the neighbourhood of Cook Strait yesterday, and the barometer is now very low at the Chatham Islands. Heavy rain has fallen about Cook Strait and in the east coast districts of the South Island, and snow has fallen at many of the highlevel stations. At Naseby this morning 3in of snow were lying on the ground. The barometer is now rising everywhere, and south-westerly winds are ruling, but they are expected to give place to southeasterlies, strong to gale at times. Cold and changeable weather is forecasted generally, with squally conditions and heavy showers in the North Island, and rain, and snow on the higher levels, in the south. Seas are likely to be rough, northward of East Cape, considerable southward of Parewell Spit, and heavy elsewhere. The Hutt Biver was not very high this morning, being only 2ft or 3ft above normal. It takes about 12 hours for heavy rains to havo an appreciable effect on the river, and the waters, although not high this morning, may rise this afternoon.

A slip of fair dimensions, about 1000 cubic yards, came down across the Ngahauranga Gorge road, just north of the City Corporation quarry, yesterday, but no timo was lost by the Public Works Department in having the roadway opened again. Thirty men were rushed to the slip and in spite of exceedingly bad working conditions they had the roadway open for traffic at midday today.

SHIPPING NOT AFFECTED,

The southrly storm did not affect shipping to any extent. The Wahine, from Lyttolton, arrived up to time, 7 a.m., and the Anchor Company's steamer Nikau, which left Nelson at 11 p.m. on Saturday, reached Wellington at 11.50 a.m. yesterday. Other arrivals in port yesterday were tho Kapiti, from Wanganui, Port Auckland, from Gisborne, and the Corinna, from Lyttelton. . ■