FALL OF SNOW IN CITY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22765, 18 July 1939, Page 10

FALL OF SNOW IN CITY

NOT GENERAL OYER PROVINCE RAIN AND SLEET IN SOME AREAS CANTERBURY REPORTS The fall of about one and a half inches of snow in the city between 8 and 9.15 o’clock last evening was not general throughout the province, but some districts had light falls and there was rain and sleet in other areas during the day and night. The morning was fine and sunny in the city yesterday after a frost of 7.1 degrees. The sky became overcast in the afternoon, and light rain began to fall in the early evening, when there was a very cold southwesterly wind. Snow began to fall fairly heavily about 8 o’clock and continued for about an hour, when it gave place to light rain. Snow fell again for a few minutes after II o’clock. The rain which followed the first fall created a good deal of slush in the streets, and motorists were obliged to exercise care in driving. A few persons in the Square had a snowball fight on the green in front of the War Memorial. The day in Arthur’s Pass yesterday was fine, but light snow began to fall there again about 10 o clock last night. It is reported that the heavy fall on Sunday night had made the West Coast road at the pass dangerous for traffic, and motorists on this route are advised to use chains. No report could be obtained from the Lewis Pass last night, but a report from Hanmer Springs—where the day was fine yesterday—said that the same weather had obtained yesterday at the Lewis Pass, The roads at Hanmer Springs are quite passable for traffic. The weather on Banks Peninsula yesterday was cold - and wet, and although there are a few inches of snow on the Summit road, the mail car from Christchurch had no difficulty in getting through to Akaroa. Reports from Districts Reports from various districts were: Kaikoura —Weather fine, with a clear sky during the day and night. Culverden —Fine and cold during day. Snow began to fall at 11 p.m. Waiau—After a fall of H inches of snow on Sunday night, the weather cleared yesterday, when the day was fine and sunny, and the evening overHanmer Springs—The day was fine and sunny after a sharp frost in the morning. The sky began to become overcast in the late evening, and it was thought that further bad weather was possible. Hawarden —Bright sunshine during day, the temperature being low, but there was no indication of bad weather. Amberley—Weather fine during day when there was a cold Southerly wind. The sky became overcast in the early evening, and showers of rain began to fall after 8 o’clock. Oxford—The morning was fine and sunny after a sharp frost. The sky was overcast in the afternoon/ and snow began to fall again last evening. Darfleld—Fairly low temperatures during day, with light falls of snow in the evening. Eangiora—After a fine morning the weather changed, and rain and sleet fell intermittently after 5 p.m. Little River —The day was fairly rough and cold, and a heavy drizzle fell. Akaroa —Showers of hail and sleet throughout the day. There were also a few flakes of snow. Leeston—The morning was fine and cold, and rain and sleet, with a few flakes of snow, fell throughout the afternoon and evening. Methven—Bright sunshine in the morning, but the sky became overcast later, and there was a light fall of snow after 6 p.m. Ashburton—The morning was bright after a frost of 9.5 degrees. The weather changed in the afternoon, and about half an inch of snow fell from 5.45 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., followed by light showfes of rain. Geraldine—The weather was fine during the morning and early afternoon. Flakes of snow fell about 6 p.m., and heavy rain then set in. Timaru —The day was very cold, with a few light showers of rain. SOUTHERLY CHANGE AT BLENHEIM HEAVIEST SNOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS [THE PRESS Special Service.] BLENHEIM, July 17. A swift change to southerly conditions has brought a return of wintry weather, one of the heaviest falls in snow "for several years clothing the hills on both sides, of the plain this morning. The Ned and Blairich ranges, which' were not free from the fall which occurred towards the end of last week, " were again heavily coated and further up the valley even deeper show was to be seen. Ranges near Tuamariria also carried a coating which was thicker on the exposed ridges, but the locality evidently escaped the full severity of the storm. Similar conditions are reported from the Rai Valley and Tophouse, where the snow is very low down, and at the hydro-electric headworks at Benopai. There were some three inches of snow covering the flats this morning. The fall extends well down the Waihopai Valley and several inches are reported at Craiglockhart. A total‘fall of rain for the week-end of 22 points was gauged, 20 points being registered for the 24 hours up to 9 o’clock this morning. This brings the month’s rainfall to 2.78 inches, and the year’s to 6.71 inches. WIDESPREAD FALLS IN HAWKE’S BAY HEAVY LAMB MORTALITY FEARED HASTINGS, July 17. The whole of Hawke’s Bay Province this morning experienced a sharp drop in temperature, with widespread snowfalls, the third in eight . days.. The weather in the central areas’is particularly bad. Falls up to seven inches were recorded on the plains and more on the foothills and ranges. Severe snowstorms are still raging in the Ruahines and Kaiwakas, and it is possible

that if there is a sudden .thaw the riysrs will rise, with possibls hoodshowers of snow fell in Napier and Hastings during the day, but melted on the ground. The hills nearby were covered. Old residents described the conditions as the worst for 40 years, as such a general snowfall has not previously occurred. The roads generally are passable, but care is necessary on the Napier-Taupo and Napier-Gisborne roads, and also on the Main South road, which has a frozen, glassy surface. There is believed to have been a heavy mortality in early lambs. The weather to-night was still wintry, but there are prospects of an improvement. SUMMIT OF RIMUTAKA ROAD AFFECTED WELLINGTON, July 17. Snow fell on the summit of the Rimutaka road last night- and early this morning, and caused trouble for motorists using the road who were not prepared for such conditions. The fall was not as heavy as that of the previous week-end, and affected the road for only about a mile on either side of the summit. The Automobile Association (Wellington) was advising motorists to avoid the Rimutaka route early to-day, but the Public Works Department broke a track through the hard snow by sending a heavy lorry equipped with chains over the road. All the hills on the eastern side of Wellington harbour and Hutt Valley bore a dusting of snow, but it was seen only through brief gaps in the clouds. - i