MAINLY FAIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 137, 7 December 1938, Page 12

MAINLY FAIR

WEATHER NOT SETTLED

Special forecast for Wellington:—

Winds turning shortly to the north-west and later freshening.

Weather mainly fair, but .occasional light rain probable tomorrow. Temperatures rising/

The general forecast for "-.the Dominion as a whole, at noon today for the ensuing 24 hours, is for south-westerly winds prevailing at first, but winds will veer gradually to the west and north-west. Their force at first will be mainly light to moderate, but it will gradually increase'and gale force is probable later in some places. The weather will be fair to fine at first, except for a few isolated showers, especially in the North Island. Later it will become unsettled in western districts and in the far south, and rain is likely to develop. Temperatures will be cool, but will become milder.

The combination of an anticyclone over tIK Tasman Sea and a deep lowpressure centre near the Chatham Islands has governed weather of, the westerly type over the Dominion during the last 24 hours. Moderate to strong winds between south-west and west have predominated in most places, but a change to winds more southerly in direction advanced from iihe south yesterday. Frequent heavy showers, together with lightning and thunder, accompanied this new southerly in the South Island. The change, however, became progressively less sharp as it advanced northwards, and by the time it reached Cook Strait it produced only a light shower or two. Otherwise conditions have been typical of south-westerly weather, with passing cloud and sunshine and with occasional light showers in most districts. The heaviest fall of rain occurred in Christchurch, where 67 points were recorded. Dunedin coming second on the list with 25 points. Although rather cool in the South Island, temperatures have been surprisingly mild. A new and extensive depression is now approaching New Zealand from the southern Tasman Sea, hence winds from a more northerly direction may be expected to prevail again soon with rather warmer ■ temperatures generally. It will apparently be a few days yet before we are done with the present spell of unsettled weather. Auckland's weather yesterday was mainly cloudy, with occasional light rain, which, however, totalled only two points. A moderate to fresh south-westerly wind prevailed and temperatures were normal, the maximum and minimum being 69.4 and 56:5 degrees respectively. Wellington had a moderate to fresh north-westerly breeze, and the weather was fine and mild with 7.8 hours of bright sunshine. The maximum temperature was 67 degrees and the minimum 49.7 degrees. Between 9 and 10 p.m. the wind changed to a moderate southerly and a trace of rain fell, but conditions this morning had improved again. It was sunny in Christchurch . yesterday morning, but when in the middle of the afternoon the north-easterly breeze changed to a southerly there were heavy showers, some with vhail. and thunder was frequent between 3 and 4 p.m. Occasional rain continued during the night, the total fall being one of 67 points. By 9 a.m. today the weather was improving.

The southerly change affected Dunedin earlier than it did Christchurch and there were ' frequent showers during the day totalling 25 points of rain. A moderate south-westerly wind was blowing this morning and the weather was sunny again.