BOISTEROUS GALE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 36, 11 August 1933, Page 8

BOISTEROUS GALE

VERY HEAVY GUSTS

A ROOF BLOWN OFF

Most of the Dominion, cither yesterday or last night, felt the effects of the severe storm which swept the country. The deepening of s the westerly dopiession as it crossed the country caused very strong winds to blow from some j northerly or westerly quarter, and in many places considerably more than galo force was reached. The strong winds were accompanied by heavy rains in places, and other meteorological phenomena added their quota to the general unpleasantness of conditions. Tho strongest wind for many years at Napier j a whirlwind at Carterton; a curious juxtaposition of snow, hail, and heavy rain at Ashburtou, together with thunder and lightning; and gales and heavy downpours elsewhere were some of the features of the roughest spell of weather that has been experienced for some time. Wellington had a particularly rough time, and seldom before have so many heavy gusts of wind been experienced in one day. The maximum gust during the north-westerly galo was one blowing at the rate of 80 miles an hour. This occurred at 5.30 p.m. Thero were two gufets of 77 miles an hour, at 12.55 p.m. and at 6.20 p.m. Four gusts of 75 miles an hour were recorded, tho last j of tlieso being at 8.10 p.m. This seemed to be 'the gale's last kick, for after that the wind gradually decreased in force. At 5 a.m. today there was a dead calm for an hour or so, and by 8 a.m. a southerly wind was in evidence. In addition to the particularly strong gusts detailed above, thero were numerous gusts during the day ranging round a velocity of 70 miles an hour, and their frequency made it quite one of the windiest; days that Wellington has ever experienced. In view of the fury of the wind, it is somewhat surprising that more damage was not done. Most of that which has been reported is of a comparatively minor nature, tiles, chimney! pots, wireless-masts, and'fences being amongst the sufferers. But the roof of a garage in Childers Terrace, Kilbirnie, | was removed and deposited in another j section. .The wind, too, hampered tho movements of coastal shipping, and a laifiich was driven ashore and wrecked at Evans Bay. But the city as a whole escaped lightly. • Although the wind ia its fury broke no records yesterday, ; it came very nearly to so doing, for the 80 miles an hour gust closely approached the record for Wellington established on April 2j 1931, when a gust blowing at the rate of 81 miles an hour was registered at Kelburn.