Gale warning closes schools

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 5

Gale warning closes schools

Some secondary schools in Canterbury closed yesterday because of a Civil Defence warning of gale-force winds for the region. Although strong winds were recorded at Geraldine, Arthur’s Pass, and Culverden, the predicted north-westerly gale had not arrived late last evening. No damage was reported.

The schools were closed after the warning was given about 11.30 a.m. No primary school was closed.

The regional operations officer for Civil Defence in Canterbury, Mr Fraser Mackintosh, said the gale warning was issued from the Meteorological Service in Well-

ington and was passed on to all local authorities. The warning was withdrawn from about 3 p.m. when the Weather Office confirmed that gales were unlikely, said Mr Mackintosh.

It was not normal practice to withdraw the warning from other areas of Canterbury until later.

“If we can give a warning we do so but cannot do much more,” said Mr Mackintosh. The Automobile Association (Canterbury) warned motorists to take care in Arthur’s Pass because of the strong winds and advised that chains were required in the Otira Gorge, where it was snowing yesterday.