UNUSUAL STORM.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1938, Page 3

UNUSUAL STORM.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. WELLINGTON EXPERIENCE. METEOROLOGICAL EXPLANATION. (By Telegraph. —Press Association]. WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. A proiongod thunderstorm, most unusual for this locality and most parts of New Zealand, was experienced in Wellington and throughout the surrounding districts, particularly the Flutt Valley, from 2.30 until 8 o’clock this morning. 1 At times the lightning was exceedingly vivid, with thunder rolling the sky for a lengthy period. Tolephone bells tinkled, particularly after close flashes, but there was no dislocation of the services. Dr. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services, said the indications were that there was over the Northern Tasman Sea yesterday a mass of air that had not been in such low latitudes. Such air would be absorbing heat and moisture from the surface of the sea, and such conditions would become unstable if for any reason such a mass of air should be raised. Water vapour condensed in it would liberate the latent heat, and a portion of the mass would become warmer than the corresponding level of undisturbed air. It would therefore continue to rise, producing active connection currents, and thunderstorms would start.

Heavy rain, at places torrential, fell throughout the visitation.