VERY COLD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 15, 18 July 1939, Page 8

VERY COLD

CHANGEABLE WEATHER

Special forecast for Wellington:—

Moderate to fresh southerly to south-easterly winds.

The weather is likely to continue changeable and very cold, with occasional brief showers and fair intervals.

The general forecast lor the Dominion as a whole, issued at noon today for. the ensuing twenty-four hours, is for moderate south-westerly to southerly winds, tending later southeasterly in the South Island and westerly over the North Island. The weather in eastern districts wiU still be changeable from Hawke's Bay southward with passing showers, but there should be some improvement. Elsewhere the weather will be mostly fair, although some showers are still probable. Temperatures will be cold with widespread frosts. tonight, but it will become milder in the north.

A series of shallow depressions has been crossing the Dominion from the west, and two of these have controlled the weather during the past twentyfour hours The first brought rain to the western districts of both islands, but when it passed away eastward skies cleared, and there was some improvement in the weather in the afternoon and evening. The second of these depressions affected eastern districts, keeping fresh south-westerly winds blowing up the East Coast as far as East Cape. The weather is still fine in western districts, but in those regions not sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly or southerly winds there have been frequent showers of rain or hail with occasional snow. The effect of the south-westerly winds during the last few days has been to lower temperatures everywhere, and snow has reached an unusually low level in parts of Hawke's Bay. Precipitation has been widespread, but of a showery nature in most places and only averaging between 10 and 20 points. A few localities and the high country, however, have caught it more severely. Christchurch has had 85 points of rain, Tairoa Heads 54, Portland Island 60, and Napier .49. Inland from Motueka (Nelson), 98 points of rain have fallen, together with three inches of snow down to lbw levels.

Auckland's weather yesterday was cloudy to overcast, with occasional light showers and a moderate to fresh westerly wind. There was a slight improvement in the weather overnight, but it was still cloudy this morning. Although no showers in the city area were reported at 9 a.m. today, a few were falling in the surrounding districts. The temperatures yesterday were moderate, 59.2 degrees being the maximum and 45 degrees the minimum. The rainfall totalled 15 points.

Wellington's weather was overcast, with intermittent rain during the day and evening and with a biting southerly wind. The maximum temperature reached only 41.7 degrees, while the minimum was 36.7 degrees. The rainfall totalled 11 points, and 0.3 hours of bright sunshine were recorded between 2 and 3 p.m. Conditions were much the same this morning as they were yesterday, although between the showers of rain and hail there were occasional patches of blue sky.

Christchurch had a disappointing day. It started by being bright and clear, but by noon it had begun to cloud over, and light rain and snow fell in the evening, intermittent rain or hail since continuing. A moderate wind between west and south-west has prevailed. During a temporary lull last night a frost of 3.4 degrees was registered. Yesterday's maximum and minimum temperatures were 44.G and 33.8 degrees respectively, the rainfall totalling 85 points.

Dunedin likewise has had dull and cold weather, with intermittent rain and snow and a fresh south-westerly wind.