POOR OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1937, Page 12

POOR OUTLOOK

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

TROPICAL CYCLONE COMING

The optimists who, perhaps on the

strength of the barometer having risen slightly, imagine that the weather for the Easter holidays is going to be good, are doomed to a big disappointment. In fact the weather, as far at any rate as the 'North. Island is concerned, gives every indication of being the distinct reverse of good—of being exceedingly bad. and. the further north from Wellington that the holidaymaker travels the worse is likely to be the weather encountered.

The upsetter of holiday plans and holiday enjoyments is to be found in the deep Tropical cyclone—the one which has figured in the news as delaying the arrival in Auckland of the flying Clipper which is surveying the new Pacific air route. The cyclone started its operations in the New Hebrides. This morning it was centred to-the north of Norfolk Island and was travelling in a south-south-easterly direction. Unless anything happens to deflect, it. from its course, which is improbable, by tomorrow it will be near enough to .the northern part of New Zealand to be exerting a distinctly unpleasant effect on the Dominion's weather. It appears likely to repeat the experience of the beginning of February last year, when a similar cyclone travelled down this way from the Tropics and left a trail of havoc from Auckland to as far south as Palmerston North, the whole of the North Island practically, and the Auckland Province more particularly, suffering badly from the storm.

•On that occasion there were some complaints—unjustified as it subsequently transpired—that insufficient warning had been given the northern city of what it might expect. This time there cannot possibly be any such complaints: Auckland has been warned by the Meteorological Office in no uncertain terms that it is likely to "get.it in the neck" during the next day or two —at least that is the meaning of the meteorological terms employed. Strong gales from between the north-east and south-east are predicted, and the bad weather will gradually extend southward from the Auckland Province to Cook. Strait.

All of which will make very tinpleasant reading for those contemplating going north for the holiday. Possibly by the. latter part of the holiday the storm may have passed and the weather improved, but at present it is not possible to predict accurately what is likely to happen at the beginning of next week. AH the holiday-maker can do is to hope for the best, and perhaps go to Stewart, Island in the hopes that there he will be out of reach of the cyclone and Its attendant!bad weather.