SNOWFALL

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1939, Page 6

SNOWFALL

A FOOT AT ASHBURTON

(Per Press Association —Copyright),

ASHBURTON, July 31

Th e Ashburton county, which escaped lightly from the previous storm, had its hrst real touch of , wintry weather yesterday, twelve inches ot snow being reported from districts along the loothiils. with live inches at til© Ashburton borougli, while the area between had only three. Snow fell in coastal areas up to three incites.

A report from the Rukaia Gorge says that some drifts arc. up to fifteen feet, and great difficulty is being experienced in saving sheep. On the plains a few lambs are about, and no heavy losses of stock have been, reported. It is still snowing heavily along the ln'lls and inteyfnittent hall and sleet is falling elsewhere. MAE TON’S EXPERIENCE. MAETON, July 33. An unprecedented snowfall was experienced at Marion this morning, the borough streets, being covered to a depth of nearly two inches, with lootdeep drifts filling hollows up to 9 o’clock, when the thaw set . in, followed later by a cold drizzle. At Mount Cuil and other highlands in the Tutaenui district, five miles south sncw. wns six inches ; this being a record. CANTERBURY CUT OFF. 3FT. ON WEST COAST ROAD. • CHRISTCHURCH, July 31. Sweeping the whole of the province, the second severe storm within a week cut off communication with the West Coast by road yesterday, and again lashed Banks Peninsula. Six inches of snow blocked the Akaroa road this morning, but it was cleared with a grader. While the road is open, only 'cars on urgent business are permitted to .pass by Main Highways Board inspectors, and chains are compulsory. Three feet of snow blocks the West Coast road, while the Lewis Pass route is also closed at Birdlings Flat. A foot of water covers the Akaroa road, but a detour through paddocks has been marked. 1 The main south road is clear to Tuvorcargill, .but care is needed on Mount Cargill and Kilmog. Heavy losses of stock are reported from Banks Peninsula, and it is expected the approaching lambing season will be disastrous to farmers. Sheep,' already weak through a lack of food in the autumn, are suffering severely because of th e storm. The. full loss will not he known for weeks until the heavy drifts are cleared. the rainfall. CHRISTCHURCH FIGURES. CHRISTCHURCH, July 31. Rainfall in Christchurch for July was the heaviest on record, * totalling 8.54. inches to 9.3 D a.m. to-day. The previous best was 7.9 3? J recorded,in December,' 1900. v Snow was followed in Die city by a frost of 5.8 degrees. Although the year's rainfall now totals 14.6 inches, it is a long- way short of last yeaFs figure at the same date of 22.67 inches. SNOW AT PALMERSTON NORTH. PALMERSTON NORTH, July 31. ' For the seventh time this month the hills in vicinity of Palmerston North are heavily , covered. with snow as the result of ranother spell of severe winter weather.. No snow 101 l in the city or lies op fie ground. Conditions are now improving. FALL IN HAWKE’S BAY. HASTINGS, July 31. Hastings and district experienced another wintry blast this morning, rain following frost and hail with heavy snowfalls in the back-country. Fortunately the main lambing does not begin for another week at least. On the higher country, sheep are likely to suffer and fall off in condition, unless the weather abates. Lambing has commenced on many farms on the plains and the lower hill country.; but no heavy losses have yet been reported and in most instances it has been possible to provide shelter for ewes with lambs. Another spell of cold wet weather early in August, however, would have disastrous results for many flock-.

MARLBOROUGH EXPERIENCE BLENHEIM, July 31. Snow fell on the flat last night for tlie first time in five years, but by this morning it had practically disappeared. It was a wild, stormy night, with heavy wind and rain. Residents were pot surprised on rising to see the heaviest mantle for years on the surrounding hills and mountains. Snow ranging from a depth of an inch to a foot is repotted from hackcon ntrv stations.

One of the heaviest falls occurred near Rai Valley and on Wangarnoa Hill, midway between Blenheim and Nelson, where main highway traffic was delayed for upwards of an hour this morning while a P.W.D. bulldozer cleared the road for about half a mile. There were also heavy falls on the Blen-heim-West Coast road over Tophouse, hut though the route carried heavy traffic during the week-end for the Soddon Shield match at Westport no seriCuS interruptions occurred.

Al! outlying districts report fulls of snow but no damage. To-day there is fitful sunshine interspersed with rain and sleet-. The steamer Gabriella hound from Newcastle to Wanganui is sheltering in Queen Charlotte Sound on account of stormy conditions, making Wanganui unworkable. Four Air Force bombers, en route from Palmerston North to Christchurch remained here overnight as a- result T snow at Wigram. The planes were picketed in the open and the crews had a somewhat anxious night on account of the high wind, which caused one to break partially adriftr