SNOW IN OTAGO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 25 July 1939, Page 2

SNOW IN OTAGO

ROAD TO CENTRAL DISTRICTS IMPASSABLE NARROW ESCAPES FROM ACCIDENTS l United Press Association! DUNEDIN, 24th July. After a comparatively fine weekend, Dunedin yesterday experienced a succession of heavy snow storms. Snow lay thickly in the city and on the hill suburbs, where bus services, over which there has been so much controversy, underwent the severest test to date. A number of narrow escapes from serious accidents were reported. The snowfall was general throughout the Otago provinces, the road to the central districts, through Outram and Middlemarch, being impassable. Chains were necessary on all other roads leading from the city. The snow storms were accompanied by an electrical disturbance of an unusual character, there being two particularly vivid flashes of lightning and rolling peals of thunder, the whole of Dunedin and surrounding hills being illuminated. Radio programmes were interrupted.

FALL AT WELLINGTON WELLINGTON, This Day. There was a marked rail of snow in Karori late last night, lasting from 10 to 15 minutes and covering window sills, lawns, and the branches of trees with a light mantle of white. The snow followed a series of heavy showers of rain and sleet. Snow was also reported from Kelburn, but the fall was less noticeable there than in Karori. Rain intermingled with flakes of snow fell in the city area shortly before midnight. Hail also fell in Wellington late last night and conditios out of doors were very unpleasant. As the night wore on the wind increased in strength and brought further heavy showers of rain, sleet and hail.