Driving rain, and melting snow resulted in a record breaking temperature of 61 degrees yesterday caused a flood of serious proportions in the quadrangle between the Divinity School and the Biology Building.

When the artificial lake created threatened to inundate the basements, the Maintenance Department rushed to the rescue with a large gasoline pump at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

Charles F. Brooks, professor of Meteorology and director of the Blue Hill Observatory, attributed the freak weather to a current of tropical air flowing north from the Gulf Stream. He reported a maximum wind velocity of 71 miles an hour at the Observatory.

The thunder was caused by a layer of cold air overlying the warm wind, Professor Brooks said.