1919.] Pemberton.—Weather Forecasting in New Zealand. 167 
over the Dominion on the 4th, and is shown on the chart some distance to 
the eastward of New Zealand, while the second depression is situated to 
the westward, over the Tasman Sea. These two “ lows ” are separated by 
a tongue or ridge or relatively high pressure, which, at the time the chart 
was drawn, was just passing over the Dominion. 
A temporary improvement in weather conditions was experienced at this 
time owing to the neutralizing effect of the two disturbances. Such an 
effect is usually so brief that a forecast for a fair interval could not be 
made in safety when the distribution of pressure shows two such intense 
storms in close proximity. The actual fair-weather period might last only 
a fraction of a day. 
The succession of winds and weather experienced during the passage of 
this system may be briefly stated. On the 3rd November New Zealand 
Pig. 6.—Isobaric chart, 5th June, 1913. Typical anticyclones and /\-shaped depressions. 
was in front of the first “ low,” and north-east to northerly winds began to 
freshen, with clouds gathering over the country. A few scattered showers 
were reported in the west-coast and southernmost portions of the South 
Island, but otherwise fair weather prevailed. By the evening of the 3rd, 
however, a considerable decrease in pressure had taken place, and heavy 
rain fell, with strong north-westerly winds. 
At 9 a.m. on the 4th the trough of the first depression had passed to 
the eastward in the South Island, and strong southerly winds were in 
evidence southwards of Cook Strait; while over the North Island the 
trough was then just passing, and westerly gales were widespread. Heavy 
rain was then falling in all but the east-coast districts between Banks 
Peninsula and East Cape. In Westland the rivers were reported con¬ 
siderable in fresh. 
%/ 
On the morning of the 5th, as before mentioned, both wind and weather 
had moderated, but during the night a further fall in the barometer took 
