HEAVY DOWNPOUR

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 38, 15 February 1938, Page 2

HEAVY DOWNPOUR

Severe Electrical Storm

VIVID LIGHTNING SEEN

From Our Own Corresnondfnt NAPIER, Feb. 14.

Torrential ram, accompanied by thunder and lightning, swept portion* of the province round Hastings and Napier late yesterday afternoon and early evening. It would appear that there was a series of short cyclonic storms verging upon the coastal line, and though there was very heavy rain it was of short duration and was not accompanied by excessively strong wind.

The rainfall recorded by Mr E. H. Beamish, of Whanawhana, was 1.08 ins. in 20 minutes, the heaviest recorded in that district for many years. It would appear that the back-country in this district and off Cape Kidnappers were the two localities which were affected most. Between these two points, taking semi-circular courses to include the Esk Valley and coast line from Petane via Westshore, Napier, Haumoana ana Cape Kidnappers, there was a heavj downpour of rain for approximately 2b minutes or so.

“The water was right across the road and came very close to entering the houses on the flats,” commented a resident of Petane. He said that the storm came up suddenly and departed in the same manner, leaving behind a * drenched countryside. Water filled the ’ drains and gutters to overflowing, and only the fact that the period of ram was a brief one saved considerable damage being done, for the fall was phenomenal.

In Napier the. lower end of Carlyle street was covered from pathway to pathway, the thoroughfare resembling a miniature lake. In other parts of the town the water channels were soon filled to overflowing, and it was quite a time before the storm waters disappeared. The power service to Haumoana was temporarily cut off for a short period as the result of lightning tripping a safety switch, but apart from this no other trouble was experienced by the Power Board. The storm was accompanied by prolonged peals of thunder and considerable lightning, both of fork and chain varieties. For some time after the cessation of rain the sky in the direction of Cape Kidnappers was black and lightning continued to play in it, the sky being brilliantly illuminated by the flashes. EFFECTS IN CENTRAL H.B. WAIPUKURAU, Feb. 13. A thunder storm, accompanied by bright flashes of lightning and a heavy downpour of rain, broke over Waipukurau about three o'clock yesterday afternoon, but the storm was of short duration. At Takapau, however, it was longer and more severe. Another thunder storm broke over Waipukuau early this afternoon and blackened the whole sky for some time, but the rainfall was not heavy on this occasion. The heat has been oppressive all day. Recent sudden changes in the weather have been responsible for an epidemic of colds and light forms of influenza, with the result that many business firms in town arc working with depleted staffs. *