UNSETTLED WEATHER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 16 January 1939, Page 5

UNSETTLED WEATHER

LOW BAROMETER READINGS NEW RECORD IN OTAGO [United Press Association! WELLINGTON, This Day. The extraordinary changeable and unpleasant weather during most of the week-end in Wellington, which included a gale with gusts reaching 60 miles an hour, coincided with unusual conditions in other parts of New Zealand. A record low barometer heading was reported to the meteorological office from Tairoa Heads, Otago, at midday yesterday. The pressure, 28.35in, was a record for that station, but was not a record for the Dominion, a reading of 28.31 in having been taken at Bluff on Cth July. 1936. In Wellington the glasa fell to 28.65in at 3.30 p.m., but the Wellington record of 6th March, 1871, 28.59 deg., still stands. NEW LOW LEVEL RECORD IN CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTCHURCH. 15th January. The barometer In Christchurch today reached the lowest level recorded since 1902, when the observatory was installed. The maximum temperature for the morning was 76. 3degrees at 10.10 a.m., when, with the changing of the wind, a rapid decline of temperature followed the rapid rise of early morning. The minimum barometer reading since the installation of the observatory occurring at 10.15 a.m., the reading falling to 28.387 inches. The previous minimum occurred on 6th July, 1936, when 28.45 inches was recorded. On the present occasion the rapid change of the surface wind from strong north-east to strong north-west, which occurred about 10.15 a.m., was followed by a marked decrease of electric potential gradient. The moisture content of the air was only three-fifths of the moisture content at 9 a.m., and the degree of humidity decreased from 67 per cent, at 9 a.m. to only 35 per cent, at noon. So far the day in Christchurch hae been brilliantly fine, with bright sunshine and the barometer at 6.30 p.m. was steady at 28.430in. MANAWATU DISTRICT BATTERED PALMERSTON N., 15th January. The Manawatu district was well battered by north-west to south-west winds which blew constantly during the week-end, bringing driving showers of rain. In common with other centres in the Dominion, the barometer reading was low at Palmerston North, and temperatures, particularly to-day, dropped considerably. The barometer, which read 29.5in at about 11 o’clock last night, fell to 28.85in by this morning, one of the lowest readings ever recorded in the city. VIOLENCE OF GALE IN PARAPARAUMU

WELLINGTON, This Day. A north-westerly gale, easily the most violent of a succession of heavy I wind storms experienced during the past two months, swept Paraparaumu to-day. The beach area, received the full fury of the gale and, while heavy seas pounded the beach, an almost continuous stinging cloud of sand blew across the road along the beach front. Heavy toll was made on orchards and gardens throughout the district. Plum crops suffered most, and ripe fruit have been piled in thousands beneath the trees. HIGH WIND AND GREAT HEAT WAIPUKURAU, 15th January. A heat wave was experienced in Waipukurau to-day. The glass dropped during the night to 28.84in and a heavy but warm westerly gale blew throughout the morning, moderating in the afternoon. The day was the hottest experienced this summer.the temperature at its height reaching 90.4 deg., at which it remained for some hours. Welcome light rain began to fall at 9 p.m. As a result of the burning wind the country is rapidly drying up. Many hay crops were blown away by the high wind. Considerable damage was done to the power board’s lines, but before darkness set in a good part of the area was able to receive supply. FULL FORCE AT FOXTON FOXTON. This Day. Foxton and beach experienced the full force of the gale. A cow shed was blown down and the Harbour Board launch broke its moorings and it aground in the river. Practically al' small boats arc adrift or awash.