SEVERE STORM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 22 December 1938, Page 9

SEVERE STORM

IN SOUTH CANTERBURY j HAIL RUINS CROPS AND DAMAGES GOODS MANTLE OF WHITE I United Ereuß Association! TIMARU, 21st December. ! A severe thunderstorm struck South j Canterbury this afternoon and was folj lowed by one of the worst hailstorms | experienced for many years, goods bej ing damaged and crops of all descriptions ruined. Heavy rain fell in Timaru, but the hailstorm went across the country, striking Pleasant Point, Temuka and Geraldine. In the two last-named places hail lay on the ground some inches thick. During the height of the storm the streets and roofs carried a mantle of white, giving the towns a wintry appearance. Hail blocked the spoutings and when heavy rain set in later water poured into business premises, dislocating business and causing considerable damage to stock. In some homes windows were smashed by the hail. The rainfall recorded for the year in Timaru up to td-night was 39.20 inches, which is the highest on record for more than 40 years. WHIRLWIND IN WARREN DISTRICT CHRISTCHURCH. 21st December. A heavy thunderstorm from the south-east broke over the Oxford district about 1 p.m. to-day. It was preceded by an exceptionally heavy hail-

storm; the hailstones were v described by residents as jagged pieces of ice, the largest being about the size of golfballs.

In the Warren district the storm was | accompanied by a whirlwind which caused considerable damage. Two | telephone poles were snapped off close | to the ground, heavy branches of trees were broken off and hurled high in the air. and some crops were partly ruined by the whirlwind, which seemed to be confined to a width of about ten chains. At Carlton. Mr A. E. Cross was a heavy loser. The whole of one side of his glasshouse, containing 120 panes

of glass, was destroyed by hail, and 15 panes in his house were shattered. Reinforced skylights on some of the outbuildings were also shattered by the hail. His crops were extensively dami aged, about two-thirds of one paddock of oats being ruined. A second storm broke about 6 p.m. with torrential rain and- liaiL

The rainfall recorded at Carlton was I.lßin. from 1 o’clock, neither storm lasting any longer than half an hour. The ground was white with hailstones on eacli occasion.