SNOW IN SOUTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23103, 30 July 1938, Page 12

SNOW IN SOUTH

RIGHT DOWN TO SEA GALE ON WEST COAST COLD OVER WHOLE ISLAND FURTHER FALLS LIKELY [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN* CORRESPONDENT] OREYMOUTII, Friday For the first time for seven years snow fell in Grey-mouth to-day, when weather suggestive of a blizzard was experienced right down to the sea coast. Mild temperatures wero experienced yesterday, but during t ho night a strong easterly wind brought a rapid change, with the whole of the South Island in the grip of a sub-antarctic storm. At Grevmonth at nine o'clock this morning the thermometer reading was 39 degrees and shortly after, driven by an easterly wind of gale force, snow which had been falling inland since early in the morning reached the sea coast. The snow did not settled on the ground in Grej'inouth. Heavy Falls Inland Inland tho fall was much heavier. At Rewanui there wero over 9in. of snow lving on tho ground at noon and it was still snowing, the fall being one of tho heaviest experienced there. At Dunollio and Runanga the fall was not so heavy, but the ground was being slowly covered this afternoon. In Blackball and most parts of tho Grey Valley rain preceded the snow early this morning and as a, result there was no accumulation of snow on the low levels, although hillsides are under a white mantle. 'lho strong galo prevented the snow from settling on the Otira lino below Jackson's, but from there right, through to Rolleston the fall has been heavy, Road 3 Impassable Snow commenced to fall in the "Reefton district early this morning and there has been a heavy fall. Liko the Otira route, tho Lewis Pass-Hanmer Road is impassable owing to snow. The indications in Grevmonth in tho afternoon wero that a heavy fall could be expected if tho wind ceased, but it continued to reach gale force, with gusts of up to 45 miles an hour. In spito of the heavy fall of snow in tho Alps, all trains were running to schedule tlii,<? afternoon and no trouble had been experienced on telegraph and telephone lines. Rarity In Greymouth The last time Greymouth experienced a fall of snow was on the morning of July 20, IU3I, when tho town itself was covered to a depth of 2in., the thawnot taking place until late in the afternoon. On that occasion there was a record fall inland, transport and communications being disorganised on the Midland lane. Snow is a rarity in Greymouth and has appeared 011 tho ground only about four times in tho town's history, iho heaviest falls recorded, both of about 2in., being in 1872 and 1931.

Violent gales raged this evening, but the only damage was of a minor nature.

MANTLE OF WHITE ASHBURTON COUNTY CONSEQUENCES NOT SERIOUS QUICK THAW EXPECTED [nr TF.LEGR.\rn —own- correspondent] ASHBURTON, Friday A mantle of snow covered Ashburton County this morning as a result of a fall which set in about II o'clock last night. Although of considerable depth in tbe higher levels, the fall was not accompanied by a biting wind and caused no loss of stock except very early lambs, of which there arc only a few. There was no interruption or damage to either tlio electric supply or telephones and telegraphs. , As the light wind was from a southerly direction the fall was greater on tlio higher levels of tho plains, which on tho avorage gain in altitudo 30ft. each niilo from tho sea coast, than among tho hills, tho greatest depth being 12in. at Staveley, under the foothills. Other figures woro Tin. at Mount Soiners, 4in. or sin. at Metliven, which is about 900 ft. above sea level, with Gin. further back, tho depth generally decreasing toward the sea until between lin and 2in. fell in Ashburton Borough, although Ealing, on tho railway line, reported oin. Occasional light falls continued inland from Ashburton to-day, but as the weather was mild the snow melted as soon as it fell and no 'greater depth is anticipated, although conditions had not cleared to-night. If the present mild temperature continues thera should be a ouiek thaw and no difficulty in feeding stock. In the gorge area oin. to Gin. fell on tho tlats, but at Lake .Heron, among tho ranges .">() miles from Ashburton, only 3iu. fell. There was no loss of stock, tho station owner reporting that the fall was noi as brtd as soino already experienced this winter. None fell there this afternoon.

OAMARU'S EXPERIENCE FIRST FOR TWO YEARS [nv telegraph—pjjess association] OAM AH IT. Friday Oamaru experienced its first snow for two years this morning. In tho town only a light fall was experienced, but (3in. fell at Ngapara. At Kurow the snow was .'Sin. deep and there was more in tho high country. No stock losses havo yet been reported. OTAGO PROVINCE ROADS FROZI'iX SURFACES [HT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"] DUXEDIX. Friday Snow and sleet fell last evening and this morning, with tho result that all roads throughout the province are covered with snow of varying depths. Between Dunedin and Gore 2in. of snow is on the road, while about lin. covers tho Milton-Roxburgh Road, tho surfaces being frozen.