ROOF LIFTED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21232, 1 October 1940, Page 6

ROOF LIFTED

STOR # M AT HUNTLY RESIDENCES DAMAGED SCHOOL BUILDINGS DOWN HOUSE WINDQWS BLOWN IN (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) HUNTLY, Wednesday Subsiding as suddenly as it struck the district, a severe cyclonic storm swept Huntly this morning and left in its wake a trail of damage and disorder among residences. No one was injured but citizens had a nerve-racking time for about 15 minutes. Windows were blown in, fences levelled to the ground, and trees damaged. The roof of one home was lifted off the framework and carried away. Later a shelter shed at the Huntly District High School was wrecked as the high wind and driving rain whirled over the town. Leaden skies and humid conditions presaged the storm, which struck the district at about 8.30 a.m., approaching from the west. Heavy rain was accompanied by an increasing wind when the cyclone reached the Pukekapia district, where the trail of damage commenced. The high gale lifted the roof away from the home of Mr A. S. Jenkins and it travelled some distance before crashing. The telephone system in that district was dislocated, but it is understood no serious damage resulted to electric power transmission. Garage Thrown Over Fence Without any easing in intensity, the cyclone passed over the Waikato River, churning the water in its passage, and struck homes on the Great South Road. A corrugated iron garage owned by Mr W. Wardell was entirely lifted off its foundations and thrown into a neighbour’s backyard. The home of Mr W. Walters on the Great South Road was considerably damaged when the cyclonic gale smashed in windows and tore a window sash away from the building.

Several small buildings in the rather narrow path of the maelstrom were either blown down or severely strained. Windows were broken in several homes while doors were wrenched off in other cases. Radio masts swayed in the gale and some were damaged, while in one part of the town portion of a corrugated iron fence was carried across the road. Damage at School As the storm passed by the Huntly District High School a shelter shed was blown down, but there were no children in it at the time. Along the river bank willows were topped and limbs of the trees were carried some distance, foliage was carried to nearby telephone wires where it became entangled. Telegraph workmen were busy for some time afterward clearing away the entanglement. After about 15 minutes the storm passed away over Lake Hakanoa. SUDDEN STORM AFTERNOON DOWNPOUR I HEAVY FALL OF HAIL SCURRY FOR SHELTER IN TOWN Ushered in by a heavy fall of rain during the night, October began in Hamilton as if setting out to make up for an unusually dry September. Following heavy showers during the morning lowering clouds massed in the north-western sky at lunch time and sudden claps of thunder had an ominous sound. Shortly before 1 o’clock the rain came down, to be followed ten minutes later by a rattling hailstorm that drowned all other noises. Watchers saw huge stones come hurtling down and go leaping across roads or crash on to roofs with deafening drum effect. Townspeople were caught twice during the day by soaking showers. When most businessmen and shop assistants were on their way to work this morning a heavy deluge forced them to shelter. Then the lunchhour downpour caught many people returning from lunch. Buses were packed throughout the rush periods. Unexpected Hall An unusual feature of the thunderstorm just after 1 o’clock was the size of the hailstones. They were not numerous but they were very large, and quite -unexpected owing to the humid atmosphere. The footways under the shop verandahs were crowded with pedestrians. Gutters were full to capacity and in many places the water flowed over the footpath, particularly where cars, parked close to the kerb, caused the water to back up. The rain was particularly heavy at the Frankton sale and when the hail began there was a scatter for what shelter could be obtained. The selling was interrupted for only a short time. September was Dry During the past month 2.27in. of rain fell, compared with an average September rainfall of 3.88in. Of this total -68in. was recorded during the 24 hours ended 9 o’clock this morning. The year so far has been unusually dry as only 32.09in fell during the nine months, compared with 4G.77in. last ~e al. Un _ less the rainfall for tne next three months considerably exceeds the average. 1940 will prove one of the driest years m Hamilton.

However, the early spring and the mild weather has had a favourable effect on pastures and gardens generally. Few frosts were recorded during September this year, the heaviest being on the 12th, when there was 8 degrees of frost at Ruakura and 4 degrees in Hamilton. AUCKLAND LASHED RAIN DRIVEN BY GALE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Tuesday Driven by a north-easterly ga'-i that reached its highest velocity of 44 miles an hour at two o’clock this morning, rain lashed Auckland city and suburbs through the greater pari of the night. The fall of 1.26in. recorded at nine o’clock marked the heaviest rainfall since May 3, when 1.68in. fell for the 24 hours. The weather cleared during the forenoon.