METSERVICE PROMISES "FINE AND SETTLED" OVER DEVONPORT — ONE CLOUD DIDN'T GET THE MEMO
The forecast said sun. The sky said get stuffed. A single dark cloud is now parked directly over the ferry terminal doing whatever it wants.
MetService's confident promise of a "fine and settled" Tuesday over Devonport has been undermined by one large, angry-looking cloud sitting directly above the wharf, soaking commuters who'd left the brolly at home on official advice.
Roofer Macca Halligan, who'd planned to flash a chimney in Narrow Neck on the strength of the forecast, said he'd downed tools by 9.15. "App reckoned bluebird. I get up there, one bloody cloud the size of Rangitoto pisses on me and only me. Looked across the road — bone dry. Mate's ute two streets over — bone dry. My ladder? Swimming."
A Devonport local, Pip Gallagher, said she'd watched the cloud from the Vic for forty minutes. "It hasn't moved. It's just hovering. The ferry came in, the cloud rained on the ferry, the ferry left, the cloud stayed. I've never seen one hold a grudge before."
MetService, contacted for comment, stood by the forecast. A spokesperson said conditions were "broadly fine across the isthmus" and that isolated cells were "not statistically significant". Asked if they'd looked out the window, the spokesperson said they were based in Wellington.
Macca has rescheduled the chimney for Tuesday. Which Tuesday, he wouldn't say. The cloud, as of filing, is still there.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
Classic MetService. Always a step behind.
couchgremlin
Lol.
Garry (Halswell)
In the 80s, you'd never see this kind of mess. Weather forecasts were read by someone who actually looked outside the window every so often.
Bex_Leslie
Garry, you've got a point, but technology's supposed to make it better, not worse!
ernie_west
The cloud probably works for MetService. Just trolling us.
Wayne_CN
What's the fuss? Just head to Ponsonby whenever it rains in Devonport.
KiwiPete
Wayne, that wouldn't exactly solve the problem for the commuters getting drenched now, would it?
MumOf3_Riccarton
This is why I still carry an umbrella all the time. MetService has been wrong too many times for my liking.
Victoria_Tea
Could be worse, at least it wasn't hailing. I've had a hailstorm ruin my afternoon tea party once. Scones weren't the same.