GREAT SNOW STORM

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1947, Page 5

GREAT SNOW STORM

SWEEPS EAST U.S.

COAST

HEAVIEST FOR. SIX YEARS

(Rec. 9.5). NEW YORK, February 22. For 22 hours a snowstorm swept coastal States from Maine down to the Carolinas, leaving a death toll which may be as high as fifty. Despite its severity, the storm was not a blizzard. The temperatures were not as low as are customarily experienced in most winter storms. The icing conditions on the streets were less severe than during earlier snowfalls this winter.

The snowfall was the heaviest for six years. It stopped yesterday afternoon. Secondary roads along the whole eastern seaboard then were hopelessly choked, and even some primary arteries were blocked. The ail* terminals were blanketed with two feet of snow, and all Friday night snowploughs worked in clearing runways. The temperatures stayed between 14 and 22 degrees. Trains around New York, where the snowfall was 11.6 inches, were up to two hours late. Motor cars were completely covered with piled-up snow, and were abandoned.

A record snowfall of 27 inches was registered at Virginia, but parts of Pennsylvania were buried under four feet of snow.

The storm blew northward out. to sea on Friday, leaving freezing winds and falling temperatures in its wake.

Most of the deaths in the storm were caused by traffic accidents and over-exertion in clearing snow, or in fighting through drifts. Vital food supplies were maintained. WORST FOOTBALL HOLD-UP (Rec. 7.0). LONDON, February 22. In the season’s worst hold-up, 23 Association football matches were postponed to-day. The frost and the snow beat every effort by the clubs to get the grounds into condition. Gangs of workmen in some cases used picks to clear skating rink surfaces, but heavy new falls of snow finally beat them.® The Rugby Union has decided to extend its season to the end of April from April 19, so that its congested fixture list may be cleared. The Football Association has a hopeless task to carry out IL<? normal programme before cricket begins.