COLD SNAP IN CANTERBURY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28679, 1 September 1958, Page 8

COLD SNAP IN CANTERBURY

Heavy Snow In

Passes

Falls of snow of up to 12 inches on both the Arthur’s and the Lewis passes on Saturday night and yesterday morning made driving conditions on both routes to the West Coast very difficult yesterday and for a period in the morning the Otira gorge was impassable, If there were heavy ‘overnight frosts, motorists would have to exercise caution on both routes today, said the chief service officer for the Automobile Association (Mr B. A. Anderson) last evening. Before graders cleared the way on stretches of Arthur’s Pass the conditions for vehicles without chains were very difficult. Later, there was a reasonable thaw and by the afternoon conditions improved considerably. On the Lewis pass, the fall was heaviest at the summit and along the Rahu saddle. Graders and a bulldozer were used yesterday to remove the snow.

Last evening no further snow was expected. , A slip in the Buller gorge between Inangahua Junction and Westport early, yesterday closed the road but clearing work had been finished by ‘the late afternoon. The cold southerly change, about midday yesterday brought *a fall of snow to some areas of Banks peninsula. There was a light fall at Lyttelton and heavier falls on the hills' across the harbour. The weather cleared by 2.30 p.m., but temperatures remained low throughout the day. In Timaru yesterday, the southerly weather brought sleet, hail and some snowflakes to the city. The grass - temperature at the Timaru gardens at 9 a.m. was 31.8 degrees and 50.5 degrees at 3 p.m.