RAIN AND THUNDER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 97, 29 April 1929, Page 10

RAIN AND THUNDER

EXTENSIVE CYCLONE AT WORK

A glance at to-day's weather map shows that conditions over tho whole of the Dominion and over many hundreds of miles of tho surrounding oceans arc dominated by a cyclone which, besides being very intense, is of widespread extent. This is the same cyclone as that described on Saturday as being centred to the south-west of, Norfolk Island. Since then it has moved gradually southward, its centre on Sunday morning being to the west ■of Cape Maria and to-day to the west of Farewell Spit. Its effects ' have been general over the whole of New Zealand, causing rain in all districts, some heavy falls being recorded in both Islands, a number of places also reporting a succession of thunderstorms. Bast Cape has had nearly three inches of rain during the last 48 hours, Pakihiroa six and a half inches, and Kotorua nearly three inches. During the last 24 hours Motueka (Nelson) has had a fall of 338 • points, and Farewell Spit 270 points. Wellington itself ■ has escaped comparatively lightly with 75 points of rain, 'a slight 'thunderstorm developing yesterday afternoon higher up the Hutt Valley. Tho intensity of the cyclone is shown by a radio message from the Maunganui iii latitude 34 and longitude 165, the barometer being reported to bo as low as 28.85 inches, with a very heavy sea and squally conditions. Over the northern half of the North Island the winds havo been very severe, with northerly to north-easterly gales. . From Cook Strait southward the winds have been less strong, easterlies to southerlies ruling. ;■'■■■

The forecast issued at noon to-day indicates that north of New Plymouth and Napier northerly to north-westerly winds may.be expected, these being strong to gale force, but backing later to westerlies * and south-westerlies. Elsewhere southerlies or south-easter-lies are likely to increase to gale force, the weather being generally dull and. unsettled. Further general rain may be expected, there being many heavy falls and the possibility of flooded rivers. Thunder in South Canterbury and Otago may also be expected, as well as snow on the ranges. Temperatures will show a decided drop 1 everywhere.