RECORD RAINS

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2562, 20 December 1924, Page 8

RECORD RAINS

In Wellington and Masterton Districts 7 INCHES FALL IN 24 HOLES [Per Proas Association.! WELLINGTON, Last Night. During tho past three days, a big cyclonic disturbance has pre-vailed over the whole of the North Island, extending to the district on either side of Cook Strait. Yesterday’s storm was very severe and continued with unabated violence all day. Hallway slips are reported In many quarters and there have bees landslips in and around Wellington particularly at Karori, where tne tramway power line and lighting cable was brought down by a falling tree. Traffic was held up and the storm water has given trouble In the city, it being of abnormal volume and more than the surface water drain s could take.

Telephone commluncation was Interrupted between the city and the Hutt, but officials quickly grappled with tho situation. In all directions the rainfall has been abnormal. In Masterton, 7.0 G inches of rain were recorded In the 24 hours preceding 9 a.m. yesterday At Featherston, 5.91 inches, and at Wellington 2.74 inches. At ’Mastertoi. 2.95 Inches fell in 4 hours. The total rainfall for the month of December in Wellington is 7.44 inches, and only once has this been excelled since records were first taken over 60 years ago. Hie Forecast. Present indications are for southeast to south-west winds, strong to gale. The weathdr will be cold and unsettled; wet generally and stormy in and northward of Cook Strait Further heavy rains and floods are expected in many parts of the North Island and the north-east districts of the South, but conditions may moderate to-morrow. The barometer is rising in the north and will be failing shortly in the south.

■CYCLONIC DISTUKBANCE.

WELLINGTON, Last Night.

Some interesting facts and figures were afforded by the acting director of the Meteorological Office (Mr A. V. Pemberton) in speaking of tho cyclone which has been effecting New Zealand this last few days. He stated that it had been very slow moving. The centre on Thursday morning was located over the middle portion of the North Island, having moved from off Capo Egmont the previous day. This disturbance is impinging on the high pressure system to the southward and has resulted in a very steep baric gradient, particularly In the neighbourhood of Cook Strait. For this reason, the worst' effects of tin storm have been experienced in the districts round the Strait. Southerly gales and heavy continuous rains have boon experienced in those districts, accounting for floods in many places, of which warning was given on Wednesday.

Some of the reports which have reached the Meteorological Office Indicate very heavy fails. At the Summit for the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. to-day, 5 inches were recorded and it was still raining heavily. Other records for the same period were. Fcathersion 5.91 inches; Masterton 7.0 G inches of which 2.95 inches fell in four hours); Wellington 2.71 inches; Foxton 1.72; and Wanganui 1.93. The total fall for the first three days of the present storm in Wellington was 4.03 inches, bringing the total rainfall for the month of December to 7.44 inches, although the average rainfall for the month of December is only 3.20 inches.

The present total of 7.44 inches has only been exceeded on one occasion since the records were commenced. This was in December 18S4, when the record of 12.4 G inches was recorded. To-day’s rainfall has yet to bo added to the figures given above. The total rainfall for the year so far is 4 5.2 G inches, and the average is 48.09 inches, which will probably bo reached by the time this storm is over. The average rainfall this year was only exceeded this month. Conditions generally outside the districts surrounding Cook Strait were cold, squally weather, with strong southerlies to the West Coast.

Some portions of the South Island have not experienced such severe conditions as other parts of the Dominion. It is strange that while Wellington has experienced such stormy weather, the ant Arctica, according: 1 1 weather in Antarctica, according to Sir James Clark Ross, whaling steamer, they have had for the past two days calm and beautiful sunny weather. The temperature at noon on Thursday was 39 degrees, and to-day at mid-day it v.as 40 degrees, which is a very mild temperature for those regions.