Streets turn to rivers after storm

ABERDEEN NEWS - A ferocious storm swept through Aberdeen last Tuesday afternoon, wreaking havoc on gardens and turning many dry and dusty streets into rivers of mud.

The noise of hail on corrugated iron roofs was deafening, and many residents of older houses were rushing around with buckets and pots to catch the water leaking in through the roofs. Several also reported flooded floors as the water was forced under doors by the violent winds.

"We have a stable door into the kitchen, and for the first time in the 15 years since we have lived in Aberdeen, the rain came in the top of the door, below the door, and even through the middle division," said one rather wet and bedraggled resident.

After the rain, an eerie mist was seen rising from the pools of water laced with icy hail that had collected on the hot road surfaces.

As much as 38mm of rain was recorded in little more than half an hour, and on several properties, banks of hail could still be seen the next morning.

Many compared the event to the devastating storm in December 2010, when almost horizontal high winds and golf ball-sized hailstones smashed through windows, lifted roofs and ripped up trees just four days before Christmas.

Thankfully this time the hailstones were smaller and the wind not so single-minded, but it still caused a considerable amount of damage, leaving residents mopping up floors and sweeping leaves for several days.

Care for a swim? The streets of Aberdeen resembled rivers after heavy rain last Tuesday.