WEATHER FORECASTING EXTRAORDINARY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 3

WEATHER FORECASTING EXTRAORDINARY.

Sir, —The Government Meteorologist, I am told, has got something of a reputation as a weather prophet. Let me draw your attention to his forecasts during the past three days. On Wednesday, at, 9 a.m., he predicted for Wellington strong westerly gales. Did ■ you experience this wind ? Of course, you didn't. He added that there were "indications for fairer weather in most parts of the North Island." What about Thursday, and what about to-day (Friday) ? However, lot us see what he forecasted on Thursday at 9 a.m. "Westerly winds, changing, to southerly after 10 to 16 hours" till! With a disrespect for the Meteorological Office which I now share, the wind blew big guns from the nortli. It lulled in the afternoon, and at the expiry of the 16 hours after 9 a.m. on Thursday, the old northerly was again blowing the forecast into a cocked hat, or, to bo more accurate, into the : South Polar Circle. The meteorologist also added that "a storm appears to be approaching from tho southward." The storm came all right yesterday—the father of : all storms—but it was a storm from tho north! I reckon the meteorologist's compass must have got tired of pointing north. This morning's forecast still murmured vaguely «of southerly weather. At 9 a.m. I was blowing .south along Uio Qua; in company with

umbrellas, rain water and refuse; everybody was. And in the midst of wind and rain tho Meteorological Office had the nerve to BUggest that squally and showery weather is probable" I The meteorologist has evidently determined that his best plan now is to stick to his prediction of southerly weather: "A change to the southward for a southerly storm is probable before long." In time—it may be days, it may be weoks—that storm will come. And then, I suppose, your evening contemporary will again drop dead with reverent amazement at Mr. Batea's accuracy.—l am, etc., A NORTHERLY. [Our correspondent is unreasonable if he expects weather prophets to be right on all occasions. The Government Meteorologist is prob=»ly as correct in his forecaai as the average weather prophet.]