THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15750, 17 November 1916, Page 6

THE WEATHER.

AN ELECTRICAL DISTURBANCE. Beyond a few peals of thunder and several light showers, Christchurch was not affected by the electrical disturbance experienced in other parts of tho province yesterday, though a tropical downpour would be very welcome to lay tho dust and refresh gardens. However, the passing of the storm brought cooler weather, the atmosphere beforehand bordering on the oppressive.

The thunderstorm completely spoilod tho Duvauchelle Show yesterday. lip till about 2 p.m. the weather was 'brilliant, but then thunder-clouds came up from the west, and very shortly after conditions were electrical. There was a phenomenally heavy downpour, which turned the roads into sheets of water, and drove all outdoors under shelter. Tho storm was confined, to the A k arc a side of the Peninsula.

At Glentunnel during the past two weeks weather conditions have been very sultry. Thero has been rain almost daily, and sionallv thunder. Matters camc to a climax yesterday. At about 11.45 peals of thunder were heard to the north, which gradually came jiearer. In a short time the sky was covered with leaden clouds, and there was a vivid electrical disturbance. At (12.30 r&in began to fall, and for hvilf an hour there was » tropical downpour. Between 12.30 and 1 p.m. 1-14 points of rain was recorded. The rain apparently came from the nor'-west at first, and then with a .slant of wind it- came from the south-west, with increased violence, accompanied by hail. So dense was the downpour at times that it was difficult to 6cc many yards away. It is many years since such, a delude has been experienced. The brick and pipe works at Glentunnel were full of earthenware pipes in the green or unburned stage, and the unusual rainfall penetrated everywhere, doing very considerable damage. The storm lasted for about two hours, and was followed by a period of absolute calm, with indications of more "electric"' weather. A very heavy shower registered one- j third of an inch at Rangiora yesterday afternoon.

(ritESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERC'ARGITyL. November 10. This afternoon copious and refreshing rain began to fall, and hopes are entertained of a good twenty-four hours' downpour. ivTiile the whole district is in splendid condition from an agricultural point of view at the present time, a good soaking rain woukl do an immense amount of good. Southland has had very slight falls of rain during the past two months, and the ground is in need of moisture.