WELCOME CHANGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 63, 12 September 1938, Page 8

WELCOME CHANGE

MAINLY FAIR AND MILD,

Special forecast for Wellington:— Strong north-westerly winds, gale force being reached at times. Weather mainly fair and mild, but occasional rain probable. The general forecast-for the Dominion as a whole, issued at noon today for the ensuing;twenty-four hours, is for north-westerly to westerly winds prevailing, but winds backing temporarily in places, more especially in western districts, to the south-west. Winds will be moderate to strong generally, gale force being' reached In some exposed positions from Taranaki and Hawke's Bay southwards. In eastern districts the weather will be mainly fair. In those with a westerly aspect it will be unsettled. There will be general rain on the west coast of the South Island, with more scattered rain elsewhere. Temperatures in eastern districts will be mild", in western districts moderate. During the weekend an anticyclone moved slowly across the northern Tasman Sea on to northern New Zealand, while at the same time a series of westerly depressions crossed the southern Tasman Sea and caused a considerable fall in pressure in the South Island. Consequently winds, which on Saturday were" between north-east and south-east, have now become westerly, the predominating direction yesterday and today being north of west in eastern areas and south of west in western areas. Easterly winds were strong o n Saturday about Cook Strait and in Taranaki. The westerly winds have been variable in force, but have been strong at times in most districts, especially in central provinces and in the far south. The change in wind direction has brought abdut a corresponding change in the weather. In eastern districts between Wellington and East Cape the weather on Saturday was unsettled with rain, with a change yesterday to fair to fine weather. On the other hand, all western districts yesterday and today have had changeable and showery weather. Falls, however, have been very light, except in Westland and a number of places have had no rain at all. Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago all had fine weather throughout the weekend. Temperatures have been gradually rising, and in places east of the ranges have been very mild. - Auckland's weather over the weekend was partly cloudy, with rather more cloud on Sunday than on Saturday. On both days there were occasional light showers, three points of rain being recorded on Saturday, but only a trace on Sunday. There was a light southerly wind on Saturday and a moderate south-westerly on Sunday. Temperatures have been moderate, Saturday's maximum and minimum being 60.1 and 45.8 degrees, and Sunday's 58.7 and 49.2 degrees. The weather this morning was partly cloudy and showery, the wind being a moderate south-westerly. Wellington had overcast weather on Saturday, with an occasional very light drizzle and a moderate but decreasing southerly wind. On Sunday there was a welcome change to bright sunshine, mild temperatures, and a very light north-easterly breeze. This morning it was still sunny, but a strong northwesterly was blowing, with gusts occasionally reaching a velocity of over 50 miles an hour. Instrumental readings during the weekend were:—Maxi- i mum temperatures, 50.8 and 59 degrees; minimum temperatures, 41.8 and 48.2 degrees; sunshine on Saturday nil, on Sunday 9.7 hours. Saturday morning in Christchurch was overcast, but since then there has been only scattered cloud. A fairly strong north-easterly wind blew on Saturday, Sunday's wind being from the same direction but only light in force. Temperatures have been mild, but a light frost of 4.8 degrees was recorded last night. Saturday's maximum and minimum temperatures were 48.9 and 38.5 degrees • respectively, and Sunday's 55 and 41 degrees. Dunedin had a sunny weekend, with only ■ passing clouds. A light northeasterly breeze, however, kept temperatures cool. The weather this morning was cloudy to overcast and mild, the wind being a very light north-westerly.