THE WEATHER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20086, 21 May 1914, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

A BAD TIME COMING

MR BATES IN GLOOMY MOOD.

(By Tel-egrapn.) (Special to "Chronicle.") ™ WEIJJNGTON, May 20, It has been raining here on fourteen out of twenty days of "this month that have passed. In a*U, just upon five and ■ a half inches of rain fallen in that time- To-day the w«atifier." has been fine, and clear, btft the unwonted calm, seems, to. be but the; prelude to"another storm; indeed, the (Government Meteorologist states that ■• ther storm that Is. coming will be worse than, the one that has gone, and that on this occasion not only the North Island but the.whole of the Dominion will be in its grip. There are, says,Mr Bates, two depressions —- one off the east coast and tlie other to the south-west. Keither of these alone would cause a very severe; storm,. but as both are of the sain© character, they neutralise each other to a certain extent as regards the intensity of the wind and weather. This is not regarded as a hopeful sign,itoweyer, aiidj; the conditions are accordingly posted as threatening. It is ■> anticipated that the two areas of pressure will combine forces and produce a heavy south-west-orly gale. This will envelope the whole of the Dominion. Hitherto the bad weather has been, practically confined to the North Island, but the anticyclone which stood the south in such good stead has now departed. Bain, which will probably be general, will be accompanied by snow in the South Island. The glass will fall further, but it is likely to rise fast after some 20 to 30 hours. What with bad weather and floods, Hawke's Bay has recently ad a very bad time. Last night Mr. Bates received a telegram, from .the observer at Potumanu (near Wairoa), to the effect that a heavy southerly, with continuous rain, had prevailed ever | since Saturday afternoon. So far 27 ; inches of rain had been recorded by • him, and he reported much damage in the district. This morning, advice wag received from Potumanu that the rain was still falling. The seas are still very heawy between Napier and Kaikovra, but they are likely to decrease temporarily."