Snow, sleet hits S.I.

Press, 24 May 1988, Page 1

Snow, sleet hits S.I.

By

CHRISTOPHER MOORE

Winter continued to grip the South Island yesterday as snow, hail and sleet fell to low levels throughout Canterbury. While snow fell and the freezing level dropped to 200 metres in the high country, wintry showers swept across Canterbury from the south accompanied by plummeting temperatures. At 5 p.m., the temperature in Christchurch was a chill 4deg. By 6 p.m. it had fallen to 2deg. The Meteorological Office at Christchurch Airport offered good news for Canterbury: the “very cold” south-west winds would be followed by a slow improvement overnight. But meanwhile the province shivered. By 7 p.m. yesterday snow had closed Dyers Pass Road, was settling on Memorial Avenue and the northern motorway, and was reported in New Brighton. The Christ-church-Akaroa highway was closed.

It was an evening for people to stay at home, according to spokesman for the Ministry of Transport. Road conditions remained treacherous in many areas. State highway 73 at Arthur’s Pass was open only to essential vehicles. As snow covered the road, motorists were advised to carry chains.

State highway 6 through the Haast Pass was also affected by snow. Chains were essential.

While Canterbury faced snow and ice, the Grey-mouth-Reefton highway, closed since last week’s floods, was reopened to light traffic yesterday afternoon. The road had been closed at the Stony Creek bridge. Repairs also continued to roads in and out of the West Coast. The Buller Gorge and Shenandoah highways were reopened after slips and washouts were cleared.

Roads in the Nelson region remained open yesterday in spite of heavy overnight frost which caused icy conditions on many routes. At Mount Cook, 15cm of snow had fallen by 3 p.m. Roads in the area were passable while Mount Cook Park Board staff reported that all trampers and climbers in the park were safe and accounted for.

Light snow and sleet fell in most parts of South Canterbury. Sleet showers were reported in Timaru, the city’s temperature at 3 p.m. falling to 2deg.

Further reports, pictures, page 3, 7