COOL WEATHER IN CITY

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28179, 18 January 1957, Page 10

COOL WEATHER IN CITY

South-West Change Brings Rain The weather in Christchurch yesterday was refreshingly cool after the heat of Wednesday. The predicted south-westerly change, with cooler temperatures and showers, was general over Canterbury, but only over the coastal areas was the rain steady. About 1.20 p.m. the growl of! thunder was heard and rain soon; began, increasing in volume until just before 1.30 p.m., when there was a downpour of almost tropical intensity which lasted about four minutes. There was a little) hail mixed with the rain. Cathedral square, which one} minute was thronged with lunchhour crowds, was the next minute temporarily deserted as persons rushed for shelter under verandas of shops and buildings bordering the Square. A knot of persons sought quick shelter in the porch, of the Cathedral. A little beyond the city light showers only were reported. At' Harewood about 1.30 p.m. the I shower which fell did not seem as heavy as that in the city, only .02 inches being recorded. This was not nearly as much as the .26; inches recorded there during a similar summer shower about 11 a.m. on January 2. Light showers only in the early afternoon were reported from country districts. After the heavy shower the rain eased off to a steady fall, but later in the afternoon the weather cleared. About 7.40 p.m. rain again ;4et in and a heavy shower fell shortly after 8 p.m.. although not of the intensity of that in the early afternoon. Rain fell steadily although not heavily, until about 11 p.m. Up to midnight .28 inches had been recorded. In inland Canterbury there were some light showers in the evening. Near the foothills and in North Canterbury there was no rain at all.