SOUTHERLY STORM FREEZES AND FLOODS GISBORNE DISTRICT

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1949, Page 4

SOUTHERLY STORM FREEZES AND FLOODS GISBORNE DISTRICT

Air and Road Transport: Cat Off P.A. GISBORNE, May 11. A bitterly cold south-easterly gale, accompanied by prolonged torrential rain squalls, lashed the Gisborne disifict throughout to-day, _ and they were increasing in intensity to-night. A sharp fall in the temperature marked the breaking of the storm in the afternoon, during which gusts up to 50 miles an hour swept the area, and the wind increased in violence after nightfall. The storm disrupted the air services to Gisborne, and severed road communication with Napier in the vicinity of Wairoa, where flood waters encroached upon and across both highways. So far, both the Gis-borne-ojotiki road and the East Coast road to the north are open, but the going is rapidly deteriorating. The rainfall for the 24 hours to 9 a.m. to-day was one decimal 17 inches, and over an inch had fallen since then up to 5 p.m. The Wellington-Gisborne plane, due here at 4.30 p.m., ran into an electrical storm between Palmerston and Napier, and it. stopped overnight at Napier because of the bad conditions over Gisborne, while the Auckland-Gisborne plane, due here at 4.25, stayed the night at Tauranga, because the Darton field at Gisborne is closed down on account of the adverse weather, with poor visibility and a low ceiling. The plane will leave Tauranga at 6.40 a.m., and, after an inspection here, it is expected to leave Gisborne for Auckland at 8.45 a.m.

One plane remaining at Napier will be despatched from there to Wellington. The Gisborne drome is very wet, with many greasy patches, and much surface water.

The prolonged heavy rain and a storm from the flood quarter have nut the Catchment Board officials on Hie alert to-day, and a watch is being kept on the Waipaoa River gauges at Tekaraka and Kanakania. Fortunately, the rainfall in the headwaters area is not so heavy as that round Gisborne, and the river's rise early to-night was approximately sft, which was well below the danger level of 18 to 20 feet. The officials did not expect any sharp rise till the daylight hours if the storm continues. A possible danger is that of a heavy fall of sno/i' in the Alangatu area, which is melting' rapidly. Heavy flooding is reported in the vicinity of Whakaki, near Wairoa, but no details are available. ALL NORTH ISLAND SWEPT BY GALES P.A. AUCKLAND, Alay 11. Fierce southerly gales swept the North Island to-day. Snow and Hoods were part of bitter winter weather, which has followed three days of heavy rain. There was damage to roads in the Rotroua district. Snow fell deeply across the central plateau of the North Island. Several Bay of Plenty farmers suffered serious stock losses when the Kaituna River overflowed on to their properties TASMAN CYCLONE HOLDS UP “MONOWAI” (Rec 1.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Alay 11. The trans-Tasman liner “Alonowai” reached Sydney to-day 24 hours late after being hove-to on Sunday night for 12 hours, in. the middle of a cyclone. The master of the ship, Captain G. B. Alorgan, said that the storm was as bad' as anything he hart been through in his 48 years at sea. He added, “Anyone wanting worse than that storm is a glutton. It was on from Saturday till Monday, reaching a climax on Sunday night. The passengers stood up to it fairly well, but we hove-to for their comfort.’’ There was no damage or casualties.