PHENOMENAL RAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21346, 22 November 1932, Page 9

PHENOMENAL RAIN

* SYDNEY'S SEVERE STORM

SHOPS AND HOUSES FLOODED

SYDNEY, Nov. 21 The State Meteorologist, Mr. D. J. Mares, stated that at times during yesterday's storm, rain fell at an approximate rate of 6in. an hour. In the half-hour from 7.20 to 7.50, 210 points were registered. Nothing in the records can equal this.

Storm water channels were insufficient to copo with the deluge in sections of the suburbs of Balmain, Camperdown and Iffedfern, where shops and houses were flooded to a depth of two feet, while in the city a wall of water burst through the windows of eight shops in George Street.

A tram was struck by lightning at Mosman. No passengers were on. board and the crew escaped.

Fireballs are also reported from widespread points In one case a little ghl had just left her bedroom when a fireball crashed through the roof above her bed with a shattering explosion.

Low-lying areas in every suburb suffered, and hundreds of backyards and homes were flooded.

QUEENSLAND ALSO SUFFERS

DAMAGE TO WHEAT CROPS

BRISBANE, Nov. 21

The wheat crops on Darling Downs were extensively damaged by torrential rain, three inches falling at Rockhampton in half an hour, flooding parts of the town. A dust storm and gale unroofed buildings at Charters Towers and damaged fruit crops.