Editorial: Autumn introduces herself

Autumn made a big noise in the Bay yesterday. Photo / File

Autumn has spoken. Somewhat loudly.

Yesterday it fired a chilling shot across the bows of Godzone.

Just a week ago I was singing the praises of the season's bounty: feijoas, walnuts and saffron. But these culinary delicacies were soon forgotten at about midday as the thunder bellowed and heralded winter's approach.

A complex low traversed the country meaning no one was spared the cold air dragged up from the Southern Ocean.

A Metservice spokesperson said on the back of a warmer than average summer, this low will "guarantee a noticeable decrease in temperature for all New Zealand".

And it wasn't so much the temperature, but the drop in temperature.

There are many with grapes still clinging to vines who must be mildly worried about the consequences. The rest of us, like me, had trivia to deal with, like covering the chilli bush and saffron in my garden - as neither like the wet.

It's uncanny that yesterday's early winter storm coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Wahine disaster, itself brought about by the most tragic tempest in our recent history.

So while unseasonal, rogue storms on April 10 are not unprecedented in this country.

Those of us bemoaning the fact we've had to light the first 2018 fire and dust off the casserole pot should watch the chilling black and white footage of passengers in huge swells in Wellington's harbour in 1968.

It lends some nice perspective to those of us bemoaning a local temperature drop.