A COLD CHANGE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 128, 28 February 1928, Page 8

A COLD CHANGE

WIDESPREAD RAINFALL END OF SUMMER-TIME NEAR A stern reminder of the ap» preaching end of “summer time” tame during the week-end in the form of a cold southerly gale, accompanied by heavy rain. Following the heavy rain of last Thursday night and Friday morning, there was a brief spell of fine weather and northerly winds, while a rather shallow low-pressure wave was rapidly approaching the Dominion from the westward on Saturday. By Sunday morning the trough of the depression or the fine of lowest pressure had crossed Otago, where a southerly change had again set in, accompanied by light showers. The southerly reached Wellington at about 3.20 p.m. on Sunday, and the weather became much colder, with heavv threatening clouds. After a brief period of light drizzle, heavy rain set in at 9.40 p.m., and by 9 o’clock yesterday morning 101 points had been recorded at Kelburn. A second squall line passed Wellington about 10.30 p.m. on Sunday, and was followed bv a considerable increase in the force of the wind, the maximum gust of 41 miles per hour being recorded at Kelburn at 11.40 p.m. Strong squalls of gale force continued throughout the night and a great part of yesterday, witli frequent heavy rain, which will add considerably to the total rainfall recorded. Up till 9 a.m. yesterday the total for the month was 296 points, so that yesterday’s addition should bring the figure above the 318 points which represents the February mean for 66 vears. High winds or gales were reported from' most points in the region of Cook Strait. The rain has been even, more general than that of last week. Kaipara reported a heavv fall, while rain was also reported from Auckland, Kawhia, and Gisborne. At Wanganui If inches had been recorded up till 1 p.m. yesterday. The 9 a.m. reports recorded 41 points at Foxton. 62 points at Cape Campbell, 82 points at Farewell Spit, with lesser falls most of the wav to the Bluff. Snow fell in many places in the mountainous districts of the South Island. where the temperatures were very low for the time of year, readings below 50 degrees being recorded in numbers of cases. The temperature at Arthur’s Pass at 9 a.m. yesterday was down to 41 degrees. A gradual improvement in the weather is expected during the next two days.