HAIL UP TO WINDOW SILLS OF HOUSES

Chronicle (Levin), 21 January 1949, Page 4

HAIL UP TO WINDOW SILLS OF HOUSES

Press'. Association )

, (Pof'

DUNEDIN, Jan. 20. One of the most terrifying hailstorms experienced at Waitahuna, struelc the town at midday on Wednesday and lasted nearly 21 hours. Thunder and lightning heralded the approach of the storm and eontinued for more than two hours. All the houses in the district were flooded, trees stripped of leaves and crops .severely damaged. The Jia.ilstones were from half an inch to oue inch in diameter and in some places banlced up almost to the level of window sills. Few houses -escaped flooding and there were not many dry beds in the lown that night. W.ater poured through the roofs and manv people walked a 6011 1 their honies - in gumboots . and overcoats. OneM'krnier said two bowls on a fable were fillecl with water soon after the storm b.egan, One resident going to' the back door, discovered his potato erop washed from the ground and deposited in the yard. The Waitahuna store was badiv flooded and yesterday all goods were removed outside to dry. Several roads were blocked and a grader was engaged to clear the hail. The surrounding country was covered to a depth of more than six inches. Apparently the storm covered only a uarrow strip as a few miles from the Lown only a few showers were experimced.