THE WEATHER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 99, 7 February 1936, Page 4

THE WEATHER.

EXCEEDINGLY HEAVY SHOWER. HAIL AND THUNDERSTORM. I Accompanied by thunder and lightning a heavy thunder storm passed over Ashburton shortly after 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The hail, falling with considerable force for a brief period, as followed by p short but exceedingly heavy rain storm. A remarkable change of conditions was experienced within lialf-an-hour. Strong sunshine was followed by heavy wind, black clouds, lightning, thunder, rain, hail, strong sunshine and heavy rain. The hailstorm fortunately was too short to do serious damage. Streets in Ashburton were soon covered with water, while hail lay in thick heaps until it rapidly melted.. The side channels were overflowing in a short time, and even when the weather cleared there was plenty of evidence of the storm. The evening was unsettled, showers of rain falling. A total fall of 29 points was registered. The thunderstorm was experienced in coastal parts of the Ashburton County, but although it was heavy it was of short duration and no damage was reported. There was a heavy thunderstorm at Wnkanui. Heavy rain accompanied a thunderstorm at Seaview, where lighting blew -out fuses in the power-line, an unprecedented occurrence in the district. Electric power was maintained in most parts during the storm, except at Elgin, where it was off for about an hour. There was no hail at Pendarves, but the thunderstorm was heavy, 27 points of rain falling. Further falls during the night brought the total up to 47 points at 9 o’clock. Although there was no thunderstorm at Westerfield, rain fell during the night. Conditions were inclined to be unsettled to-day. The sky was overcast, and a scuth-westerly breeze was blowing. The maximum temperature yesterday was 74 degrees, and the minimum last night 47.1 degrees. The barometric pressure at 9 o’clock this morning was 29.77 inches, compared u itli 29.58 inches yesterday morning. TO-DAY’S FORECAST. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government Meteorologist, at neon to-day, issued the following statement regarding the weather:— General inference: A depression is moving eastward, off the Dominion, while an anti-cyclone of moderate intensity is approaching across the Tasman Sea. The forecast for the east coast of the South Island from Blenheim to Oamaru is as follows: Moderate to strong southerly winds, decreasing tomorrow. Weather cold and changeable, with passing showers, but later improving. Seas rather rough, and increasing.