RAIN & THUNDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1938, Page 7

RAIN & THUNDER

UNSEASONABLE WEATHER IN MANAWATU. LIGHTNING BULGES STEEL TANK. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., December 20. Unseasonable weather for this time of the year brought dismay to Christmas shoppers in Palmerston North today, when a high westerly wind, accompanied by heavy rain squalls and a thunderstorm, made conditions in the city most miserable. Compared to the crowd which was in town yesterday, that today was very small. During the 24 hours which ended at 9 a.m. today, 91 points of rain fell, and on many occasions culverts past the shopping centres were filled to overflowing. and were unable to cope with the downpours. Beginning fairly late in the morning and ending in the afternoon,. the thunderstorm brought more heavy rain. The storm was particularly severe in the Rongotea district, where lightning struck a Manawatu-Oroua Power Board transformer at Westella. The steel tank of the equipment was bulged by the force of the lightning, and the felt packing was blown out. It was reported that lightning had i struck a house belonging to Mr E. Wilson about two miles part Kimbolton on ; lhe way to Rangiwahia this morning, ■ but inquiries tonight revealed that the . house was untouched, though the light- ■ ning struck uncomfortably close, putting the telephone out of order.