A HAIL SHOWER AND ITS LIMITS. 



BY MR. BASIL T. EOWSWELL. 



We all know that in showery weather the rain-laden clouds 

 deposit more water over some parts of the island than over 

 others. The blackest portion of one shower will sometimes 

 be seen travelling across the Vale and St. Sampson's, while 

 the other parishes comparatively escape. At other times the 

 southern districts get the downpour and the lowlands the 

 sprinkling only from the outskirts of the cloud. 



On Friday evening, November 15th, 1901, a shower passed 

 over the island showing this peculiarity in a very marked degree. 

 During Thursday night temperature fell quickly owing to a 

 clear sky, with little or no wind. Steadily the fall, went on as 

 night progressed till in the screen at Les Blanches the instru- 

 ment stood at 30*1°. Two degrees of frost in the air was thus 

 indicated, and all exposed water was found to have a coating 

 of ice. Friday morning turned out very fine and sunny, but 

 the afternoon brought an increase of cloud, and at 5.30 o'clock 

 the shower referred to began. In town hail fell heavily and 

 steadily for nearly an hour, and when it ceased the streets 

 were in a frightfully slushy state. The hail lay in a half- 

 thawed condition a full inch deep, and prevented the water 

 running away quickly. As may be imagined walking was 

 most unpleasant and wet feet unavoidable. The conditions 

 were, in fact, what one experiences when a thaw sets in after 

 a smart snowfall. 



All up Hauteville and George Road this state of things 

 prevailed. Front gardens and lawns were white with the 

 deposit, while walking was a constant slipping back, crunching 

 of melting hail and splashing in icy cold water. After passing 

 the " Magazine " along the Fort Road, the conditions sud- 

 denly and rapidly improved, and by the time the houses, some 

 four hundred feet further south, were reached, the slush 

 and water had completely disappeared and only a little hail 

 was seen fringing the footpath on the Fort Field side, while 



