Southerly Storm Hits Canterbury

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 12

Southerly Storm Hits Canterbury

The storm that caused damage in the North Island during the week-end struck Canterbury on Saturday night, bringing rain and sleet, a cold south-west wind with gusts up to 40 knots, and snow to country above 2000 ft. Flights north from Christchurch airport were cancelled yesterday, telephone lines near Cheviot were disrupted when a pole collapsed, and havy seas forced ships into the shelter of Lyttelton harbour.

Telephone contact between Christchurch and Auckland on the microwave system was lost about 11 a.m yesterday, due to damage north of Wellington. Land lines were used for all telephone calls between the centres until the system was restored.

A T.E.A.L. aircraft flew from Wellington to Christchurch to pick up 13 passengers bound for Sydney, after connecting flights to Wellington had been cancelled.

The National Airways Corporation operated flights to and from Dunedin and Invercargill only. To cater for passengers affected by yesterday’s cancellations. the Corporation has planned special flights to Wellington at 4.25 a.m., 6.15 a.m., and 845 a.m., and a flight to Auckland at 8 a.m. today. Vessels Shelter Heavy seas caused three coastal vessels to put into Lyttelton harbour yesterday They are the River City, bound from Wanganui to Tirnaru, the Holmlea, bound for Dunedin, and the Paroto bound for Kaiapoi. The vessels will leave when the weather eases. Snow was reported on the Oxford-Loburn foothills, at Hanmer, on the Hunter Hills north of Timaru. and the foothills near Kaikoura. Residents in most parts of North Canterbury reported some sleet in the rain.

All roads were open, the Automobile Association (Canterbury) reported late last evening In spite of an inch of snow on the Arthur’s Pass road the few cars that went through did so easily and without using chains ■ F 0 1" farmers—particularly m North Canterbury— the rain was welcome. " Most harvesting has been done, a ' some autumn wheat sown However, the fear was expressed that the storm might herald an early winter and slow growth. The weather office at Harewood said rain began falling on Saturday afternoon and at midnight five points had been recorded at the Christchurch airport. In the foilowing 12 hours up to middav yesterdav 41 points fell. The rain then became much heavier and from midday to 6 p.m 72 Points fell. P

„ south-west wind gradually increased in strength yesterday and by 6 p.m. was averaging from 20

to 25 knots, with gusts of up to 40 knots. The bad weather wa caused by a very deep depression moving from the northwest across central New Zealand, the weather office said.

The temperature ai the airport was 48 degrees at midnight on Saturday The temperature dropped steadily throughout the night. It was 45 degrees at 3 a-m., 44 degrees at 6 a.m. and at 9 a.m. it was down to 41 degrees. The temperature had rise slightly to 43 degrees at noon and it hovered around the 44 degree mark all yesterday afternoon

About 170 points of rain fell at Cheviot yesterday. Temperatures fell to about 40 degrees. Snow at Hanmer Hanmer Springs had snow from 6 am. yesterday to 3 p.m. when rain started, creating a deep sludge. Because autumn growth in the area is good, the cold :s not expected to affect stock feed and supplies. A cold wind with squalls of icy rain was experienced in Kaikoura. Watet was lying on the surface last evening, but no flooding was reported The temperature at Waipara yesterday fell to 39 degrees. Rainfall to last evening was about 145 points. This was Waipara's first rain for a month, and the country is expected to benefit. Gutters in Rangiora ran to capacity yesterday, but no flooding was reported. The temperature at 6 p.m.- was 39 degrees. Pouring rain. cold, and high winds were reported from Akaroa. Scargill, and Hororata

Since rain started falling about 3 p.m. on Saturday, nearly two inches has fallen in Ashburton. No serious flooding had been reported last evening although . there was local flooding in Ashburton caused by leaves ’blocking gratings.

At 9 a.m. yesterday, .78 inches of rain had fallen in the previous 24 hours in the domain, said the superintendent of parks and reserves (Mr I. Bonisch). Up to then the rain had been steady but not heavy. During yesterday, the rain became heavier and at 7.45 p.m. 1.84 inches of rain was recorded for the two days by Mr F. R. Gibben, of 19 Cameron street.

Rain was still last evening.