THE great British weather can often be a cause of much consternation, as in recent weeks with the damage caused by Storm Katie.

But there was a time back in the summer of 1950 when the heavens opened and torrential rain fell across Hampshire in such intensity that crops were damaged, communications were disrupted and floods swept through town centres.

These freak storms 65 years ago broke so suddenly that no one was prepared for the downpours that forced the cancellation of sporting fixtures and caused traffic hold-ups.

“Not since November 1946 has Southampton been so deluged as it was this morning,” reported the Daily Echo on Monday, July 3.

“Rain of almost tropical intensity broke over the town in the early hours and slight thunder accompanied the storm, while in other parts of Hampshire the thunder and lightning was far greater.”

The terrific downpour was so unexpected after two brilliantly sunny days at the weekend when temperatures reached the mid-70s.

“On a perfect July evening, almost pre-war scenes were noticed on some main roads,” reported the Daily Echo.

“For instance, on that ‘awkward’ bit of road between Totton and Millbrook Pond, cars homing after a day in the country or by the seaside were bumper to bumper at one time, crawling at a snail’s pace.

“Reports indicate that teahouses and petrol stations had a good day. There were queues for tea at some places.”

Then in just a few hours everything changed as the ominous dark clouds rolled in over the south coast countryside.

“However this morning, at one time, it was so dark that all office lights were switched on,” said the Daily Echo.

“By noon the rain had ceased in the town area, but the rain gauge soon began to work overtime again.”

In New Milton local residents described a deafening clap of thunder and a flash of lightning “like a great ball of fire in the sky”

A torrent followed that flooded Station Road, and water poured into the cellars of the Milton Hotel to a depth of 3ft.

Severe damage was caused throughout the county to corn crops, while barley fields were laid flat and hay meadows were awash with water.

At Southampton’s County Cricket Ground in Northlands Road, the game against the West Indies team was abandoned, leaving rows of empty seats.

Hundreds of telephone lines in Southampton were out of order, with the area in and around Shirley suffering the most, while Bassett and the centre of the town were also badly hit.