TORNADO OF HAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20362, 17 September 1929, Page 9

TORNADO OF HAIL.

SOUTH AFRICAN STORM.

STONES LIKE CRICKET BALLS

Durban was struck by a tornado of hailstones p. few weeks ago. For nearly half as: hour hail as largo and as heavy as cricket balls, says tho Natal Mercury, rained down on the town with a fury that was as awe-inspiring as it was destructive. Tho tiled roofs of commercial and residential buildings in the path of the tornado crumpled up under the fierce bombardment and the occupants were flooded out. The damage was unprecedented and it was calculated that the half-hour of oycloriic fury would cost Durban many thousands of pounds. Tho most amazing features of the storm were the great size of the hailstones and tho clear-cut path which it mowed through Durban. At the height of the storm the majority of tho stones were as large as cricket balls. Some wore porfectly round, others were spiked with jaggy protuberances, and others were square. Millions of pounds weight of ice crashed on to the town, and from careful measurements made and weights taken at the end of tho storm it was possible to give definite proof of the magnitude of tlio stones.' Four that were measured wero 7in, Bin and s£in in diameter. One weighed at the po,st office was BJloss and two others and 602 respectively. One stono was 9in in circumference and another weighed 4£oz.