Low Temperatures, Rain, Some Snow

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30804, 16 July 1965, Page 1

Low Temperatures, Rain, Some Snow

Temperatures were low in Christchurch yesterday, with cloudy skies and intermittent rain. In other parts of Canterbury there were some falls of snow.

A few flakes of snow fell at Ealing during the day, although only rain fell at Ashburton. Further south, at Timaru, snow fell outside the town during the afternoon, and at 6 p.m. yesterday up to two inches of snow was lying at Fairlie. It snowed throughout the day at Arthur’s Pass, and as darkness fell the snow became very heavy. Early in the evening there was up to six inches of fresh snow on the roads, and chains on cars were essential. In the township there was about six inches of fresh snow lying on top of eight inches of older snow. Although snow fell in many high country areas the Lewis Pass was reported in good condition last evening. Motorists using the road at night were warned to carry chains. The local Automobile Association (Canterbury) patrol officer (Mr D. Armstrong) said the weather in the area did not look promising. Motorists using the pass should watch for ice on shaded sections of the road.

Yesterday the Meteorological Office at Harewood recorded a frost of 11 degrees, and 9 degrees was recorded at the Botanic Gardens. Icy

roads caused some motorists and two-wheelers trouble, particularly in Ferry road, where it was reported two cars turned over after skidding on ice. Nobody was hurt.

The main road near Kaikoura, which had a very heavy frost, became badly iced in places, and the A.A. broadcast warnings to motorists using the road. Sand was spread on bad ice patches, and no accidents were reported. In the city the weather remained cold throughout the day, and the highest temperature of 43 degrees was not recorded until after 5 p.m. At 9 a.m. it was 32 degrees, by noon the temperature had risen to 38 degrees, and by 3 p.m. it was up to 42 degrees. A warning to motorists to beware of icy roads was issued last evening by the traffic supintendent of the Christchurch City Council (Mr J. F. Thomas). Motorists should drive with caution, at a comparatively slow speed, and avoid using the brakes too hard when there was likely to be ice about, he said. They should keep a sharp watch for ice lying on the road in shaded areas.