SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19513, 17 December 1926, Page 14

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

WIDE AREA AFFECTED. COW KILLED BY LIGHTNING. An electrical disturbance of exceptional severity accompanied by heavy thunder and vivid lightning was experienced in 'Auckland yesterday. The storm travelled in an easterly direction and, although it ■was marked in tlie city only by a light fall of rairij messages from various parts of the province report torrential downpours and extensive damage by lightning. Heavy black clouds gathered over the Waitakere Ranges yesterday morning, and the storm broke over the western suburbs, fitful bursts of bright sheet and forked lightning lasting for about throe hoars, whilo heavy rain fell over the district. During the afternoon loud thun-«ler-claps were experienced in the eastern suburbs. The storm reached its height last night, when outlying districts were subjected to torrential rain and a severe thunderstorm. Extensive interruptions were caused to telephone and electric light services over a wide area, whilo the heavy iant soon flooded water channels and several roads. The full force of the disturbance was fe.lt at Otahuhu. shortly before eleven o'clock, when forked lightning had a serious effect for some time on electrical installations. At the height of the storm a cow which was grazing in a paddock adjacent to Mangere Road was struck by lightning and killed. A severe hailstorm occurred at Papakura yesterday afternoon and hailstones ■of an abnormally large size fell for about 20 minutes. A number of shops in the main street were partially flooded and the sudden downpour proved too much for the water channels. Outside one shop five people with brooms desperately strove to stem the approaching water which threatened to make its way into •the building. A message from the Waikato states that a thunderstorm passed over the district yesterday afternoon and was accompanied by heavy rain. Although no iserious damage was done there was gen- j oral interruption of electrical services!"'