SEVERE STORM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 February 1933, Page 2

SEVERE STORM

WELLINGTON’S EXPERIENCE , GALE AND HEAVY RAIN ELECTRICAL DISTURBANCE (By Telegraph—Press Association! WELLINGTON, This Day. The storm that moved on to New Zealand yesterday seemed to pick on Wellington as its chief target, supplying the city in turns with wind of gale force, very heavy rain, and a thunderstorm of exceptional severity. Lightning played havoc with electrical communications, and seriously interrupted the service between the two islands.

During yesterday afternoon the skies rapidly became overcast, and there were occasional Hurries of rain. A stormy northerly was blowing, and this increased to gale force. Heavy showers commenced to fall in the city at 7.20, and continued at intervals throughout the night. The thunderstorm did not really break until about 5 o'clock Ibis morning, and continued for two hours. Between 5.45 and 6.15 the lightning was very vivid, and the thunder peals were loud and prolonged. Heavy rain fell. 36 points being iccordcd at Kellmrn Observatory in !,5 minutes. The total fall was 77 points. The storm was less severe at Lower Halt, where only 29 points was recorded. Two gusts exceeding 60 miles an hour were recorded at Kelburn—one at 9.6 last night and the other at 3.42 this morning. Considerable damage was done to gardens owing to the wind and rain. The most serious interference was with cables running to the South Island. Fuses were blown out at the shore ends, temporarily interrupting the service. Linesmen, however, were out early repairing damage. The West Coast and Musterton lines also were interrupted, and over the northern part of the South Island, particularly along the cast coast, there was interruption. IN NORTH CANTERBURY SEVERE ELECTRICAL STORM CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

A severe electrical storm was experienced in North Canterbury last evening causing interruption in telephone communication in several localities. Some stock was killed. Heavy rain accompanying the storm has delaved harvesting The Wainu and Tlurunui rivers are in heavy flood. Fuses were blown out at the Telegraph Office, but no serious damage was done.

An electrical storm of more severity than any other for a number of years was experienced last night in Nelson, but no damage was reported to-day. The lightning was very vivid but the full force of the storm did not strike the city,, flic centre of the disturbance being to the northward.