Terrific Hailstorm Floods Homes: Waitahuna Ordeal

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22850, 21 January 1949, Page 7

Terrific Hailstorm Floods Homes: Waitahuna Ordeal

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. One of the most terrifying hailstorms experienced at Waitahuna struck the town at midday on Wednesday and lasted nearly two and a half hours. Thunder and lightning heralded the approach of the storm which continued for more than two hours.

All houses in the district were flooded, trees stripped of leaves and crops severely damaged. Hailstones were from half an inch to one inch in diameter and. in some places, the hail was banked up almost to the level of the window sills.

Few houses escaped flooding and there were not many dry beds in the town that night. Water poured through the roofs and many people walked about their homes in gumboots and overcoats. One farmer said that two bowls on the table were filled with water soon after the storm began. One resident going to his back door discovered his potato crop washed from the ground and deposited in his yard.

The Waitahuna store was badly flooded and yesterday all the goods were removed outside to dry. Several roads were blocked and a grader was engaged to clear the hail. The surrounding country was covered to a depth of more than six inches. Apparently the storm covered only a narrow strip as a few miles from town only a few showers were experienced.