WEATHER FORECASTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Issue 8, 31 July 1945, Page 4

WEATHER FORECASTS

FLOOD AND STORM, WARNINGS The following memorandum regarding the broadcasting of the general forecasts and flood and/ storm warnings has been received from the Director of Meteorological Services: — "At present, three forecasts are being broadcast daily viz. 7.04 a.m., 12.29 p.m V) 9.01 p.m. Warnings of anticipated prolonged or heavy rain likely to cause flooding will be included. Should additional 'informa,tion received between broadcasts indicate the necessity of originating or changing a warning this will be done by announcements from the National and Commercial broadcasting stations serving the area. "It. must, be realised however that the Meteorological Office is not in a position to forecast more than the general conditions over a fairly large area. So called cloudbursts or other localised very heavy falls of rain often cannot be predicted. "When widespread heavy rain is expected this information is includr led in the broadcast forecast and mention is- also made of the risk of flooding. Such a warning is intended to put the inhabitants of the locality affected on their guard. The Meteorological Office is not in a position to be able to forecast, the extent to which a particular river will rise, or just what areas it may inundate. Such information must be provided by someone on the spot s such as the Local Body engineer, on the basis of local observations of the river concerned and the- fore r cast of general precipitation conditions broadcast loy the Meteorological Office."