WEATHER IN LONDON.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20272, 14 August 1937, Page 7

WEATHER IN LONDON.

DRY SPELL ENDED. TRAFFIC DISLOCATED. TROPICAL RAINFALL. (Official Wireless.) (Received Aug. 14, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY’, Aug. 13. London’s spell of dry weather with high temperatures came to a sudden end to-day in thunderstorms, resulting in severe flooding, which in many districts caused considerable traffic dislocation. Knightsbridge was flooded at one time to a depth of five feet and wood blocks in the Jtretch from the French Embassy to the Egyptian Legation were forced up so as to make the road impassable. Heavy afternoon traffic westwards was diverted through Belgrave Square. In the west of London underground railway traffic was also interrupted by a deluge which flooded the tracks where' they emerge from the tunnels. The position was particularly bad at Acton and Ealing, and the London Passenger Transport Board caused notices to be -posted at all stations warning the passengers of holdups of traffic west of Hammersmith. Rain fell with tropical violence' in Barnet and traffic was held up by kerb-high floods. In the lowest part of the district the drains could not cope with the storm-water, and manhole covers blew up and wate'r poured out in six feet high columns, flooding the houses. Kilburn was another district which suffered severely. Damage by lightning was slight, and the London fire brigade had only one' call as the result of the storm, which raged round and over London for most of the morning and afternoon.