RAIN COMING

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 116, 19 May 1938, Page 8

RAIN COMING

SOUTH-EASTERLY WINDS

Special forecast for Wellington:— Light to moderate northerly Jo north-easterly winds, but winds turning to the south-cast before morning- and increasing in force. Weather fair and mild-at first, but gradually becoming dull, and rain probable before morning with

cooler temperatures.

The general forecast 'for the Dominion as a whole, issued at noon today for the ensuing twenty-four hours, is for west to south-west winds predominating in the South Island. These will be mainly light to moderate, but will freshen and gradually turn more southerly in direction. Easterly to northerly winds will prevail over the North Island. These will be. strong, reaching gale force in places, north of Kawhia and East Cape, but elsewhere will be light to moderate, but a change to freshening south-easterlies will extend later over the North Island. Ttye weather in the North Island will be cloudy to overcast, with rain over the northern half, and the rain will gradually become general. Many heavy falls with some flooding may be expected in the Auckland Province, and later in Hawke's Bay. In the South Island the weather will be mainly fair at first, but rain will extend later to the northern portion. Temperatures will be mild at first, but will become cooler tomorrow.

The westerly depression which was j advancing over the southern Tasman j Sea yesterday passed very rapidly in the night. It was the cause of rain in the western and southern districts of tha South Island, Arthur's Pass reporting a fall of 140 points and Jackson's Bay one of 116 points. Following the passage of the depression, winds in the South Island turned to the west or south-west and pressure rose. The fall in temperature, however, has so far been only slight. In the meantime the northern cyclonic depression from Norfolk Island has been travelling in a southeasterly direction, and its centre at 9 a.m. today was between Cape Maria Van Diemen and Norfolk Island. Skies in the North Island have, owing to its approach, become overcast, and raih is falling in many places in the northern half of the North Island, Auckland having had a fall of 117 points and Cape Maria Van Diemen one of 110 points, and strong easterly winds have been blowing from Auckland northward. Temperatures have been unusually mild, especially in tfie South Island.

In Auckland yesterday the weather became overcast, and rain commenced to fall in the afternoon and has since continued. Winds have been from'the east and mainly light to moderate in force, but in some exposed positions they have been strong.

In Wellington, although it was cloudy at times, the weather yesterday was beautifully fine with mild temperatures which fell very little during the night, and conditions this morning were almost summer-like. A strong north-westerly wind prevailed yesterday. some gusts reaching a velocity of 53 miles an hour, but at 7.30 a.m. today Ihe wind suddenly became light. There was not much difference between yesterday's maximum and minimum temperatures, these being 59.2 and 58.3 degrees respectively. During the day 7.4 hours of bright sunshine were recorded.

Christchurch had a cloudless sky yesterday, the wind being northerly and light and temperatures warm. At 4 a.m. today, however,-the wind changed to the south-west and skies have since become overcast.

Dynedin also ha(l clcar, sunny, and warm weather, with a light northerly breeze. The change to south-westerlies reached there last night, but the weather at 0 a.m. today was clear again.