GOLD AND CHANGEABLE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 17, 20 July 1931, Page 8

GOLD AND CHANGEABLE

UNPROMISING'FORECAST

Owing to the1 persistency of an intense depression of the westerly type covering New -Zealand, the week-end for the most part was one of the most severest experienced during the present winter. Wellington, however, again has been lucky, as although strong and cold westerly winds prevailed the weather was mostly fine,, some light rains falling during Saturday night only. Generally very cold and stormy conditions wero experienced, strong winds to gales between west and south-west.pre-vailing. Nearly all districts have had rain, and in' the South Islands, fairly widespread snow 'has fallen, many heavy falls occurring in Otago, in the South, and on the. ranges. At 9 a.m. to-day snow was still reported falling in many places in the South Island and at Taihape. . Strong westerly winds and frequent showers 'prevailed at Auckland during the week-end. Light rain fell during Saturday, night at Wellington, but although strong westerly winds made conditions unpleasant^ the weather was mostly fine on both Saturday and Sunday. It was suhny and warm on Saturday mqrriing at Christchurch. ' The wind backed to south-west in the afternoon, however, and rain fell in the evening. Early ■ Sunday morning, a light north-easterly prevailed, but this soon changed to soutli-west, and the weather became Equally and showery with heavy hail at times. There were 18i degrees of frost in'Christchurch last night, the heaviest ever recorded. Veiy wintry conditions prevailed at Dunedin. Heavy rain fell on Saturday afternoon, and there was a heavy fall of snow during Saturday night. ' Intermittent snow fell all day on Sunday. The forecast is for west to ' southwesterly winds and later southerly winds strong to gale force. The weather, is likely to be'cold, squally, and changeable. Showers may be expected at times in most, districts with snow and hail in many places. The weather is likely to improve shortly on the west coast of •the_.South Island.