STORM SWEEPS CITY

Southland Times, Issue 24593, 15 November 1941, Page 6

STORM SWEEPS CITY

GALE WITH HAIL AND RAIN POWER FAILURE IN NORTH INVERCARGILL A wind that rose to gale force at times and which was accompanied by heavy and frequent showers of hail lashed Invercargill and the surrounding districts yesterday. Part of the city’s electric powei’ supply was interrupted early last night as a result of the strong wind. A wire was brought down and part of the North Invercargill area was without lights from about 6.45 to 8.53 p.m. until repairs had been completed. The supply to some of the city shops on the same feeder circuit was also interrupted. The weather yesterday was extremely boisterous. Storms of this nature can be tolerated in winter, but yesterday’s was most unseasonable. ‘lf this is your summer, then I wouldn t like to be here during the winter,” was a comment passed yesterday by a visitor from the north. Perhaps that is a little severe, but it must be admitted that the weather provided justification for such a remark. HEAVY HAIL SHOWERS A south-west wind of considerable velocity raged throughout the day. Certainly there were lulls, but more often than not the wind rose again with greater force. The hail showers were particularly severe in the afternoon and early evening and more than once the streets were coated. Much of the zest of Friday night shopping was absent, although the shops were often a welcome refuge from driving showers of rain or hail. There was no opportunity last night for pleasant loitering on lhe streets; all were scurrying along eager to get home or join friends at supper and shut out the bleakness of the night. The storm was by no means spent late last night and about 11 o’clock thei’e were several violent claps of thunder and blinding streaks of lightning, followed by a savage hail shower. Yesterday’s weather certainly blasted all hopes of a summer unspoilt by stormy conditions, and will also mean a setback to gardens and farm work. The present is more or less an in-between season as far as flowers are concerned, but young plants for summer flowering will be badly affected. WIND OF HIGH VELOCITY Mute evidence of the force of the wind in the business area of the city yesterday was to be found in the branch torn from a cabbage tree in front of the Government Buildings opposite the railway station. The branch was torn right out of the trunk of the tree. The city was filled with the usual crowd of Friday shoppers. They found the combination of wind, rain, hail and sleet extremely unpleasant. Through the early afternoon up to about 3.30 o’clock fierce squalls occurred every few minutes. The wind was due west. It was so strong that peopl. walking west during a squall found it almost impossible to put one foot in front of the other. The famed “bank” corner at the intersection of Dee and Tay streets must have been as windy a spot as there was anywhere. Travelling west across it the pedestrian had the grimmest battle of all. He had to show plenty of determination if he was not to be blown over backwards. Travelling east he leaned back on the wind! and let it carry him along. Travelling north and south he ~s liable to get a gust from any direction, usually the most unexpected. Shortly after 3.30 o’clock the squalls suddenly ceased and the sun shone wanly. The lull did not last long, however. Before 4 o’clock the wind was at full force and it was hailing. BAD WEATHER AT BLUFF The weather was stormy yesterday in most parts of the province. Bluff has been swept by intermittent showers, mostly of hail, during the past two days, although the weather became worse yesterday. A strong wind from the south was bitterly cold. Boisterous conditions prevailed at Gore and there were frequent rain squalls. Several showers of sleet fell and there was, at one stage, a suggestion of snow. Although there was little rain, the weather at Queenstown was miserable. A fine mist descended on occasions and the conditions were not improved by a gusty wind. There was a light coating of snow on the hilltops.