ELECTRICAL STORMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 176, 27 June 1932, Page 6

ELECTRICAL STORMS

ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAIN. MANAWATU RIVER RISES. A rapid change in atmospheric conditions on Saturday afternoon signalled the approach of a storm, and between five and six o’clock the Manawatu district appeared to be in the centre of an electrical disturbance which brought considerable alarm to many residents. The storm apparently came inland from the sea and the vivid lightning lit up tho countryside for miles around while heavy peals of thunder preceded torrential rain. Yesterday, somewhat similar conditions prevailed and occasional heavy showers feil throughout the afternoon and evening, but towards morning the storm developed in tensity and between 3 o’clock and 4 o’clock was raging at its greatest, the thunder reverberating around the heavens, while the flashes of lightning were particularly brilliant. One local resident who had to be out of doors at that hour stated that there were actually two storms raging at the one time, for one brilliant flash of lihtning would be immediately followed by a lesser flash in a different direction. Under the circumstances, the officers of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board were given some concern and in some instances direct hits were received on the electric power main feeders, while other troubles also developed, but the service was maintained without any serious interruption. Radio enthusiasts had also spent a somewhat anxious time and many took the safeguard of switching off their sets in case a direct hit should be experienced. The torrential rain, together with the electrical disturbances, not unnaturally seriously affected tho reception of the broadcasts.

RIVER RISES CONSIDERABLY. Mr T. It. Moore, of “Waimarama,” Terrace End, advised a “Standard” reporter this morning that 85 points of rain had been x-egistered between 9 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. yesterday, while 59 points were registered from tho latter hour up to 9 a.m. today. Mr Moore, however, pointed out that the actual heavy rainfall was restricted to but a few hours in the latter instance. While tho barometer was still low—reading 29.5 inches at noon to-day—it was showing an upward tendency. Although the main centre of the storm appeared to lie on the western side of the town, moving as it did from the coast via Himatangi, Rangiotu, Rongotea and across the Kairanga, the Manawatu River was affected to a considerable extent by tho rainfall in the hills. At 1 o’clock un Saturday mornning the river gauge was registering sft. 3in above normal, but by noon that day had fallen six inches. However, the river again commenced to rise yesterday morning and at 6 p.m. yesterday had reached the 7ft 6in level. It remained at that figure till between midnight and 1 a.m. this morning when the gauge was registering Bft, while at 9 a.m. it had advanced to 9ft 3in and was still at that height at noon. However, it is anticipated that the volume will now rapidly decrease with the improvement in the conditions.

CONDITIONS AT FEILDING.

Feilding suffered its share of the boisterous weather conditions which prevailed over the week-end, Sunday being one of the worst experienced for some time. Heavy rain on Saturday night was responsible for the flooding of at least one shop through the overflow piping being blocked. During the night the heavy rain continued intermittently, and Sunday morning dawned with the elements still unpropitious. As the day progressed a cold south-westerly wind sprang up, making conditions more unpleasant, particularly during the driving squalls of rain. An electrical disturbance appeared early in the evening, the flashes of l'ightning oocurring frequently and with great brilliance. Ram fell at intervals throughout the night and about four o’clock this morning extremely heavy thunder and vivid lightning again occurred, the electrical display culminating in a deluge of ra.in about an hour later. The Oroua River rose as the result of the downpour, but was not at flood level.