TORRENTIAL RAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 22, 26 January 1940, Page 8

TORRENTIAL RAIN

OVER TWO AND A HALF

INCHES

Another torrential rainfall must now be added to Wellington's list which, during the last two months, has been altogether exceptional. . The rain gauge at Kelburn at 9 a.m. today recorded : a fall of 2.64 inches. The downpour about Ngahauranga was probably local in its extreme intensity this morning.. •

Some" light showers fell yesterday morning and some heavier showers during the afternoon, but it was not until about 8 p.m. that the rain began to show what it could do. Between 11 p.m. and midnight it was very heavy, and between 2 a.m. and 3.15 a.m. it came down even more heavily About 4.30 a.m. its fall was extremely heavy, and there was but little inter mission until 8 a.m. Wellington was not the only place to have heavy rain. The rain was widespread and some stations recorded well over three inches, and in many parts of the country there were electrical storms' also. Last night's fall, from the point of view of the quantity of rain wh" h fell, was well below the two major falls in December, but it caused "ar more extensive slips and flooding along the Hutt Road than did any of December's downpours. This is accounted for by the fact that most of the rain fell in a comparatively short space of time, and that it fell on ' hillsides already saturated. ' December's three most phenomenal rainfalls were (1) that on the 7th, when a little over an inch of rain fell in about an hour, (2) the six inches which fell on the 11th, and (3) the ' 48 inches which fell on December 26. December's total rainfall reached the phenomenal total of 15.21 inches, compared with the average for December of 2.93 inches. The present month of January until last night was bidding fair to have about the average rainfall. Until then 2.73 inches had fallen, 2.89 inches being the January, average. Last night's downpour has brought the month's total to one point over five inches. .

HUTT VALLEY ESCAPES

TROUBLE

No damage has been reported in the Hutt Valley. The Hutt River rose slightly. Streets in the low-lying part of Petone were flooded. Parts of Petone are almost at sea level and want of fall makes* a speedy getaway difficult. In Lower Hutt while the storm lasted High Street, Laings Road, and some other streets were flooded.

LIGHTNING DAMAGE

(By Teleeraph— I'rese Association.)

WHANGAREI, This Day,

During a particularly severe thunderstorm early this morning a direct hit by lightning was scored on an electric high tension switch in Kamo Road. Accompanied by a loud explosion, sparks and flames shot up, forming a huge torch. The switch was of the high tension oil type, the voltage being 2200. Immediately the instrument was struck the oil burst into flames, and the switch was reduced to molten, twisted metal.

Since the month's fine spell broke on January 13, the rainfall in Whangarei has been 13 inches.

MAIN ROAD BLOCKED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) DARGAVILLE, This Day. A fall of 2.45 inches or rain last night brings the month's total rainfall to 13.73 inches. The main road to Whangarei is blocked with 4ft of water, which is rising.