THE WESTERLY GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16909, 23 July 1918, Page 4

THE WESTERLY GALE.

! RAIN AND HAIL IN CITY. TEMPORARY CHANGE PREDICTED. The stormy weather which has prevailed in Auckland for nearly a fortnight continued throughout yesterday. "Ibo wind increased in violence shortly after 3 a.m., and heavy rain and hail squalls passed over the city at frequent intervals. The wind moderated and the squalls were less frequent in the afternoon, though conditions remained stormy up to a late hour last night. The day was exceptionally cold, the thermometer being very low, the reading at Manukau Heads at 4 p.m. being 39 degrees, and in Auckland (inly a few degrees higher. The Manukau reading is stated to be a record for that locality. . Conditions on tho West Coast showed indications of improving last night, as a report received (mm the Manukau Heads staled that the wind had dropped to a moderate south-west breeze. The R-arawa left Onehunga for New Plymouth at noon , yestu'Tlay, but owing to the heavy sea on "the bar was compelled to anchor inside ' tho heads. This is the fifth time in succession that her departure has been postponed. The dropping of the wind may result in the bar being workable to-day, and the Rarawa in that case will cross j outward early this morning. I Residents of Auckland, whose memory carries back over 40 years, say they do not remember such a prolonged spell of westerly gales. The barometer indications are still threatening, as the reading ia still very low, last night's being 29.55 in. The following weather forecast was issued by Mr. Clement L. Wraggo at 8 p.m. yesterday;"At this time pressure is steadily increasing, and barometric gradients are easing off in this part of the Dominion. Consequently there is now a prospect of a temporary improvement in the weather, hut such may not be of long duration. The Antarctic disturbance named Syrtes if off Poverty Bay, and is following the course taken by Levis. In all Southern districts very unsettled and squally conditions aro likely to continue more or less with more snow ( hail, and electric disturbance, and the winds will be between west and south over the whole country. Very cold in all inland I districts. Sea rough, but inclined to j moderate. The solar disturbance is still j very marked, .and all interested should i try to see it by means of a darkened glass. I On no account should the sun be observed! by direct vision otherwise, or the eye may be seriously injured."