FIERCE HAIL STORM

Grey River Argus, 12 December 1928, Page 5

FIERCE HAIL STORM

IN HAWKE’S BAY.

Fruit and Tomato Crops Destroyed. (Per Press Association). NAPIER, December 11. A fierce hail storm broke over Napier and surrounding districts this afternoon, raging for about two hours, and leaving in its track hundreds of pounds of damage. The hail actually fell for a little less than an hour, and was preceded by deafening thunder, and followed by a downpour of very heavy rain. The orchards are hard hit, the fruit for export being severely damaged, while the tomato crops are ruined. Trees were stripped bare of leaves, and flower gardens battered and torn. At the height of the storm hail pellets were one and a-half inches long, and an inch thick. In two instances hail stones smashed through glass houses, while window panes were broken in one or two private houses. The ice piled six inches deep in places in the country, and jagged pieces even pierced the hides of cattle. The storm came from the north-west, then veered east, out to sea, where it spent its strength. The richest fruit and tomato areas in the district received the full force of the storm.