OVERNIGHT STORM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 21, 23 December 1938, Page 6

OVERNIGHT STORM

DISPLAY OF LIGHTNING. POWER LINES AFFECTED. Heralded by an abnormally low barometer, another storm of a violent nature was experienced in the city and surrounding districts shortly before midnight. Although heavy rain set in, and there were several heavy falls of hail, the city itself again escaped the full severity of the visitation, which was expended on the country areas adjacent to Palmerston North. Lightning of exceptional brilliance, accompanied by thunder of unusual intensity, indicated that other districts were experiencing a troubled night, and investigations to-day showed that such had been the case. The lightning was particularly severe in the Lower Ivairanga area and was responsible for a number of fuses being blown ou the Manawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board’s lines, and in many eases they were wrecked. Members of the staff commenced the task of repairing the damage at 1 a.m., the bulk of the trouble being located in Lower Aorangi Road, Gillespie’6 Line and at Aorangi. , . . There were falls of hail during the storm, and in some eases it was piled inches deep, the ground being mantled in white. In several lo'.ilities it was still on. the ground early this morning. The unseasonable weather for this time of the year has b - ?n most unfortunate for ihe farming community, who have had their shearing and haymaking operations hampered, while fences have been struck bv lightning and damaged in the Whakarongo, Halcombs and Ivairanga districts.