SEVERE THUNDERSTORM

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1933, Page 7

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM

WELLINGTON’S VISITATION STRONG GALE AND HEAVY RAIN. INTERRUPTION OF SERVICES. / HAVOC PLAYED BY LIGHTNING. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Laet Night. A storm that moved on to New Zealand yesterday seemed to pick on-Wel-lington as the chief target, supplying the city in turns with a wind of gale force, very heavy rain and a thunderstorm of exceptional severity. Lightning played .havoc with electrical communications and seriously interrupted the service between the two islands. During yesterday aftemoop the sky rapidly became overcast and there were occasional flurries of rain. A stormy northerly was blowing, and this increased to gale force. Heavy showers commenced to fall in the city at 7.20 p.m. and continued at intervals through the might. The thunderstorm did not really break until about 5 o’clock this morning, and it continued for two hours. Between 5.45 and 6.15 the lightning was very vivid and thunder peals loud and prolonged. Thirty-six points of rain was recorded at the Kelburn observatory in fifteen minutes. The total fall wass 77 points. The storm was less severs at Lower Hutt, where only 29 points of rain was recorded. Two gusts exceeding "0 miles an hour were recorded at Kelburn, one at 9.6 last night and the other at 3.42 this morning. . Considerable damage was done to gardens by the wind and rain. The most serious interference was with the cables running to the South Island. Fuses were ol>»vn out at the shore ends, temporarily interrupting the service. Linemen, however, were out early repairing the damage. The West Coast and Masterton lines also were interrupted, and over the northern part of the South Island, particularly along the east coast, there were interruptions. STORM IN THE WAIRABAPA. TANKS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. J Masterton, Last Night A severe thunderstorm which bioke over the district early this morning did considerable damage in the Te Wtiti district, near Masterton. A number of electric power and telephone fuses were blown, and in one case a telephone was almost wrenched from the wall. Mr, and Mrs. S.H. Cotter had a’fortunate escape- They were standing scarcely three yards away from two 400 gallop tanks when lightning struck one with a deafening report, bursting two large holes in each side, from which the water poured. NORTH CANTERBURY RIVERS HIGH. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE REPORTED. Christchurch, Feb. 15. A severe electrical storm was experienced in North Canterbury last evening, causing an interruption of telephone communication in several localities. Some stock was killed. The heavy rain accompanying the storm has delayed harvesting. The Wairau and Hurunui rivers are in heavy Rood. Fuses were blown in telegraph offices, but there was no serious damage.