THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 9

THE WEATHER.

HEAVY SOUTH-WEST GALE.

A heavy sou’-wester, one of the most boisterous felt in Christchurch for somo time, swept over’ tho city early yesterday morning, accompanied by heavy rant. The. storm was..gusty, auth tlio wind did a considerable amount of damage to exposed flower gardens. In one or two. instances tall plants were uprooted, but othorwiso the effect of the storm was not serious. In tho forenoon, however, the wind died down, and clouds gave way to sunshine. Early yesterday morning a strong southerly gale sprang up in Lyttelton, and .the conditions wore decidedly wintry. ... There was a fairly big sea in the harbour, but towards midday the wind moderated. Along the coast the conditions were boisterous, but as the ferry steamer Wahine had her bunkers fillecl with New Zealand coal, she had little difficulty in maintaining her usual speed, and arrived in ample time to* make a connection with tho first express to Invercargill. . A violent south-wester swept over North Canterbury , early yesterday morning, accompanied by heavy rain and hail. The storm soon blew itself out, and the morning broke fine.. There was a light fall of snow on the hilltops. A' violent thunderstorm broke over Ashburton at about a quarter to three yesterday morning, and lasted for nearly an hour, during which there were loud and continuous claps of thunder and vivid flashes of lightning, with torrontial rain _ showers. The storm was an exceptionally _ severe one in the Longbeacii district, and also away towards the hills. In the Mount Somers and Springbttrn districts there was a heavy hailstorm and a fall of snow on the top of the ranges. A violent southerly gale raged for several hours, and 0.28 in of rain fell in Ashburton. The. thermometer suddenly dropped to within three degrees of freezing point.