540 HENRY A. HUNT. 
notherly to southerly winds, but from north-west to south-west : 
winds; all these conditions combine to strengthen the westerly 
circulation, until at times they seem to be like the brave west 
winds of the roaring forties. 
On the east coast they extend further north than they do inland, 
and at times include Brisbane within their influence. When 
very strong the anticyclone is elongated and the southern isobars 
are flattened. (See Chart 30). They are very cold and dry, 
having all the raw feeling of the easterly winds of England, and 
have been known to last for several weeks without intermission} 
they are the most persistent winds during our winter. In heavy 
_ westerly winds the cold is very severe in Bass’ Straits, between — 
the south coast of Victoria and Tasmania, rain, hail, and sleet being 
very common. It is almost needless to say that on land they 
bring very little rain, and they rapidly dry up the soil. The . 
severe drought of 1895 was largely due to the persistent westerly 
winds which rapidly dried up the occasional rains; this featur : 
becomes intensified if instead of coming from due west they blow 
from north-west. : 
Westerly Gale 
29 & 30, 
RS ee nee 
