Lightning Hits Roof Of Hospital
Newcastle Herald
Friday January 9, 2009
THE Scott Memorial Hospital in Scone was struck by lightning as rain and wild wind hit the Hunter Valley yesterday.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a strong wind warning for the Hunter with wind clocked at almost 25 knots.The Scone Airport weather station recorded 40 millimetres of rain, while Scone itself received 17 millimetres as firefighters were called to the Scott Memorial Hospital after a roof vent was struck by lightning about 4pm.The strike caused a small fire on the roof but emergency services quickly controlled it. No one was evacuated.The rest of the Hunter remained relatively dry for most of the day until showers set in about nightfall.Glen Innes also received 25 millimetres of rain.Newcastle is expected to be mostly sunny today with chances of rain increasing over the weekend.The wild weather resulted in 2500 Cessnock, Kearsley and Aberdare houses losing power on Wednesday night.Power lines in Colliery Street, Aberdare, were hit by branches about 7.30pm as southerly wind hit the Hunter Region.An EnergyAustralia spokesman said the blackout lasted for between 11/2 and two hours.
© 2009 Newcastle Herald