CHRISTMAS WEATHER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27273, 27 December 1949, Page 4

CHRISTMAS WEATHER

Electrical Storms Over Province ALL RESORTS WELL FILLED A sharp contrast in weather —a warm, pleasant day on Christmas Day and some hours of spectacular electrical storms yesterday—was a feature of the holiday week-end in Dunedin. The city was quiet on Saturday, when sultry conditions prevailed and most people were content to go to beaches or drive to picnic spots or just to rest in preparation for Christmas Day itself. A few families actually had their Christmas dinner on Saturday, Little in the way of entertainment was offered in the city, but private parties and family reunions were numerous.

Christmas Day was one of the most pleasant spent in the city for years past. The sun shone for six hours and the maximum temperature was 78.9 degrees—more than three degrees .higher than on Saturday. Beaches were thronged and those people who did not have the traditional Christmas dinner went for all-day picnics to nearby resorts. Others went for after-dinner drives.

Yesterday began with humid overcast conditions. Towards noon, however, there was a change and light rain began to fall. Conditions deteriorated and about 1.30 the city experienced a spectacular thunderstorm. Great peals of thunder echoed round the hills, vivid lightning flashed across the darkened sky, and heavy hail and rain flooded streets and banked spouting and gutters to overflowing. The storm affected power and telephone services and areas of the city were without power for varying periods. The full force of the storm was not felt at Wingatui where the Dunedin Jockey Club's cup meeting was begun, but nevertheless many people were soaked in the sudden downpours and conditions changed quickly from pleasant to very unpleasant. Campers at Tahuna were philosophical over the change in weather. They were delighted over the first two days of the week-end and suffered little inconvenience yesterday. All the accommodation is full at the camp and scores of caravans and tents dot the large area. As in Dunedin, the weather m many Central Otago districts has been variable. The Lakes District also experienced spectacular thunderstorms but they occurred early on Christmas morning. At Queenstown there was a severe electrical storm from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. and heavy rain fell. There was further rain during the day and at night light snow fell. Wanaka also had a thunderstorm which was described as one of the most severe for some time. The weather cleared later and yesterday, though fine, was cold. , , Both Queenstown and Wanaka are crowded with holiday makers, the camping grounds and accommodation houses are full. Trampers in the Wanaka district were held up by the storms, and there were' l2o disappointed bowlers at Queenstown when the annual tournament had to be postponed until today. The weather did not interfere with Queenstown's first “Carols by Candlelight,” a function that drew large crowds to the waterfront and proved most spectacular More than 2500 campers are at the Alexandra Motor Camp and all hotels and private homes are full. On Sunday evening Father Christmas visited the camp and presented gifts to the children. There were four hours of light rain on Sunday morning, which did not interfere with holiday plans and which was most welcome to farmers and orchardists. Since then warm and pleasant weather has been experienced. Fruit is ripening well, and pickers are busy among the apricot, peach and cherry crops. Cromwell, Roxburgh and other holiday resorts are also crowded with holidaymakers.