WEATHER PHENOMENON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 10

WEATHER PHENOMENON

STORM-CLOUDS OVER CITY,

STRANGE LIGHTING EFFECTS.

FLUCTUATION OF BAROMETER. Remarkable weather conditions served as an ominous prelude to heavy rain and intermittent electrical disturbances in the city and suburbs last evening. The unusual conditions were accompanied by noticeable fluctuations in the level of the barometer, which rose and fell, in an extraordinary manner throughout the afternoon and evening.

Shortly before sunset heavy clouds commenced to gather in the south-eastern sky, and as dusk fell there was a phenomenal black wall high above the eastern horizon and stretching far to the north. Seldom lias such an array of storm-clouds been seen in Auckland, and the late afternoon gave place to an early darkness, which seemed to bo intensified by a sudden fall in the wind. Residents with a view over Rangitoto toward the Coromandel Ranges witnessed most unusual colouring effects. Kangitoto was almost blotted from view, but above the dark clouds the sky was a brilliant yellow. The glare was also apparent in the city, where buildings were bathed in a sickly light akin to the last glow of a bright sunset. In strange contrast was the deep green of the waters of the Waiteinata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf.

Heavy rain set in after dark, and there wcro bright flashes of lightning with an accompaniment of distant thunder.

Tho barometer rose from midnight, oil Wednesday, and at 3.30 yesterday afternoon it registered 29.75 in. Then it rose sharply over half-a-point, and dropped again just as suddenly. At six o'clock it stood at 29.80 in., rising slightly until about 9 o'clock, when it commenced to fall sharply. It then rose again and at midnight the reading was again 29.80 m. According to tho Herai.d gauge, rainfall in the city for tho 24 hours ended at midnight was .79in. Cargo operations on vessels in port were suspended last evening owing to the rain, and tho departure of the Waipiata for Napier and the Awahou for East Coast bays was postponed until to-day. The full force of (he electrical disturbance apparently broke over the West Coast. Reports from tho Manukau Heads last evening stated that thunder and lightning were accompanied by heavy rain. Tho seas were not very rough on the bar, and three vessels were able to cross safe! v.