THE WEATHER

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1479, 10 September 1883, Page 2

THE WEATHER

Our weather correspondent writes as follows:—The weather has been very winterly most of this week. Bain fell on four days, giving a total rainfall for the week of 1-270 inch. The barometer has been very low all the week, and whether attributable to the violent earthquake or not, this we know—severo storms have taken place in all directions. The mean readine; for the barometer is 28-035 inches; it was down to 28-58 inches on the sth For the thermometer it is 50 Fah, The wind has been cold and strong;, mostly from the W. and S.W.

When these six conditions • are considered iu relation to New Zealand, it at once becomes apparent our insular position is so extremely different from all other places where records have' been taken, extending over many years, that to apply deductions drawn from and founded upou these records would, in our present state of knowledge in these matters, be very haphazard in predicting what kind of weather may take place in a short time here; but we can form an opinion, as is stated by Captain Edwin, of what is likely to take place from obobserved facts which have been recorded in New Zealand, Let us apply what is stated in Captain Edwin's letter to the. weather of the present week':'"For wind changing fromE. towards N., then to N.W., and as far as W., usually attended with rain"; and it may be added, very strong wind will accompany it. On the sth inst., the wind was E,, and in the morning a slight rain commenced; it then backed to the N. in the forenoon, when wo had more rain. In the afternoon the wind backed to the W., and with it more rain. Tt further backed to the S.W, on the 6th, when we not only had rain, but strong wind with it Combine this with the barometer readings : On the sth it stood at 28'73 inch, and fell to 28-58 inch on the same date; on the morning of the 6th it stood at 28*61 inches, and at night it was 28*63 inches; therefore, as predicted, we have, as I am now writing (Thursday night), a strong gale, with vain, falling from the S.W. If Captain Edwin's letter could be a means whereby others would take up the study of weather, not only in this district, but in all parts of New Zoaland, his letter will not have been written in vain, His observations and hints about forecasts are of great value, but it will be some.time yet before we can strictly rely on these predictions, There is no doubt in my mind, when we are in possession of records extending over a longer time than we at present possess, "weather forecasts" may be depended upon Hence the great importance of becoming more interested in observing and in recording accurately their observations on barometer and thermometer readings daily j likewise on the rain-fall of each district, and oh the wind, its direction and force, To observe closely what effects result from the combined action of the whole of these. What may, or what may not be traced tostbeae operations of nature; but we must take into consideration where records are made the following:—l, The position of the station, in latitude, 2. The size and figure of the land on which the station is situated, whether, detached land, as New Zealand, or Archipelago, or .Continent. 3. The elevation of the station above, the sea. i The position of the land on which the statioD is.placed, with reference to the neighboring land, 5. The position, distance, ...direction, ;magnit£ide, and. nearest continent, (}. The, nature, mag'ni?

tude, and direction of the nearest great marine current on the shores,' Oh Friday morning the barometer reading was 29.03 inches, and still rain fell. Both the wind was strong and heavy rain with it through the night. Therefore the remarks.made by Captain Edwin in his letter to the Editor of the Daily holds good. As to weather signs none of those are fo'.'bo depended to the same extent as the' one relating to distant "objects hein g more distinctly seen. This is a certain sign of rain Halos are not'such sure guides here asat home. The more perfect they are, combined with a great distance from the.moon, rain usually, follows. As a ' . popular sign for wind without reference to the barometer when anvil shaped clouds are seen wind may always be expected (Sir John Herschel). ' Cloud study is one of the most interesting imaginable, and when well mastered, predictions about weather may be safely relied upon. I only may state who would not trust the correctness of an old salt's or shepherd's opinion of ■■ what weather is coming ? I -will add -'• an anecdote of Sir Isaac Newton, who ''■[ was passing across Salisbury .Plain ' when an old shepherd said to hinv: "You better make haste, or you will ; : get a wetting." At the time not a cloud was visible, yet before long Sir Isaac got what the Bhepherd fortold— ■ a good wetting. He turned back to enquire from the shepherd '.■sy.- i }£Jjl was that he could, foretell ■■ l that:'ra(SfiK ! . would so soon' fail •.," Look at that F ram" said man, " whenever' he turns his back to the breeze rain is sure . to fall veryjoon. He was doing that v when ybti. were passing." -It is not l said Sir Isaac wan satisfied.—W.F.F.