Winter’s grip on province

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32659, 15 July 1971, Page 1

Winter’s grip on province

Heavy rain, violent passages of sleet, and extremely low temperatures were experienced throughout Canterbury yesterday. In the first really wintry conditions of the year, snow was down to 1500 ft on the foothills and Banks Peninsula.

Snow was general along the Southern Alps, and chains for cars were necessary on' the Lewis Pass. By last evening Bin of snow had fallen on the inland road to Kaikoura, which was closed to traffic for the night.

Conditions were very cold at Kaikoura, the temperature dropping to 4 deg. about 4.30 p.m. The southerly storm reached there about midday, bringing sleet, hail, and smm. of rain. Winds gusted to 42 knots, reported the meteorological office there. Mr D. Armstrong, Automobile Association service officer at Culverden, said that only about lin of snow fell at the top of the Lewis Pass, but underlying ice made the road hazardous. The Ministry of Works had been spreading grit to give a stable surface. The heaviest snowfall along the inland road seemed to be at Mason Hills, where Bin of

snow was lying on the road. I The Amuri County Council] hopes to reopen the road! early this morning. TRAFFIC LIGHT Conditions were clearing ] last evening, and Mr Armstrong expected conditions on the Lewis Pass route to be “pretty dicey” today if there was a hard frost during the night. Traffic yesterday was very light. Only light snow fell at Arthur’s Pass, and this was thawing, although temperatures were cool, reported Mr P. Croft, chief ranger to the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board. Traffic was light on this highway, too, which is reported to be in good order. The Ministry of Works said heavy frosts were not thawing on some sections until late in the day, and were loosening stones in the bank,] causing them to fall on the ’ : road. i HILLS WHITE At Mount Hutt in Mid-] Canterbury, about lin of Snow fell during Tuesday : night and was still lying on the ground yesterday. The foothills behind Oxford received a dusting, but the snow did not lie on the flat. On Banks Peninsula hills were white with snow but this soon disappeared with rain. At the Hilltop on the route to Akaroa there was a light dusting to 1500 ft, making the road mushy. Christchurch received a total of 17mm. of rain up to last evening. There was a frost of 4deg„ and the maximum temperature during the day was only sdeg. Frequent

brief falls of sleet lashed the I city. | FALLING DEBRIS There were small falls of rock and earth on the Sumner Road but these were soon cleared by council workmen and traffic was not disrupted. At Rangiora, 7.Bmm. of rain fell up to late yesterday afternoon. There were snow showers at North Loburn but the snow did not lie. ] The Christchurch Municipal Electricity Department jand the Post Office in Christ- ! church reported no damage !to . any installations as a reisult of the bad weather yes- ! terday.