STORM CENTRE PASSING

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1925, Page 2

STORM CENTRE PASSING

WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. Though the westerly disturbance that made itself felt during the past week showed signs of coming to an end, apparently il:e storms are not all over, and Jlr Bates says there will be a sting in the tail of the last of the depression. Expectations are that a southerly will shortly dominate conditions, the westerly v. inds being likely to back to the south in the next 24 to 3(i hours. Ibe boisterous weather locally is due to tuc eentre of the storm being in the south, where conditions appear to be more severe than in the north. Most ol the North island stations report fair to eioudv weaher. but tins cannot be taken bad lieen squally and changeable. Reports from the south show that gales are prevalent, and that rain has been heavy, especially in districts with a westerly’aspect. At Otira 11.9 inches of rain bad been registered during the 48 hours preceding 9 a.in. to-day. At Hokitika the river was stated to lie in flood, and a northerly gale, with thunder and lightning, was reported from the Hermitage. There were northwesterly gales at Christchurch, Fnirlie. and Dunedin, and northerly gales at Invercargill and Cape Foulwind. Heavy seas were reported from Westport and Cape Foulwind. and a good deal of rain bad fallen. Generally, the weather had been sqully and changeable. The indications point to further unsettled and boisterous weather generally. with more heavy rain, causing rivers to be flooded in the A\ est Coast ana southernmost districts of the South Island. Colder conditions are likely to follow.