LIGHTNING DAMAGE

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3765, 2 October 1940, Page 5

LIGHTNING DAMAGE

SEVERE STORM YESTERDAY POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTED Damage to power and telephone lines resulted in several parts of the Cambridge district yesterday when a severe electrical storm was experienced. The weather was showery during the day, and in the afternoon there was a torrential downpour accompanied by vivid lightning flashes and heavy crashes of thunder. Although the atmosphere was warm, hail fell in most parts during this downpour. The hail was of extraordinary size in the Roto-o-rangi and Maungatautari districts, some of the stones having been reported to be an inch in diameter, and 1 to weigh 50 to the lb. The Monavale district suffered the most damage from lightning. Many transformer fuses were blown and the staff of the Cambridge 1 Power Board was kept busy making temporary repairs to enable milking to proceed. There were odd cases of damage to the lines in other parts. Taotaoroa was affected to some extent. Many telephone services in the same localities were interrupted. The rainfall in Cambridge for the 24 hours up to 8 a.m. this morning was .56in. Rainfall in September During September rain fell on 13 days for a total of 2.44 in. The heaviest fall was .61in. on the 30th, In September, 1939, 3.54 inches of fell on 14 days, and in 193$ the fall was 3.21 inches on 16 days. There were three frosts last month, the heaviest being 6.2 degrees on the ,11th. In September, 1939, there were eight frosts, th# heaviest of which was 3.9 degrees.