FALLS OF SNOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24034, 4 August 1941, Page 6

FALLS OF SNOW

THE NORTH ISLAND MANY ROADS AFFECTED COLDER WEATHER IN CITY Heavy falls of snow are reported from many parts of the North Island. Eight inches of snow lay around the Chateau Tongariro yesterday morning after a heavy fall during Saturday night, and it continued to snow intermittently yesterday. Heavy snowfalls were general during the week-end in the central area of the North Island. The road to the Chateau was well covered, but graders kept it open for traffic. An official of the Automobile Association (Auckland), driving from Taumarunui to Taihape yesterday morning, reported that he encountered snow on all the high portions of the road, and in some places it was 9in. deep. Conditions were treacherous for traffic.

The Gisborne - Opotiki highway was blocked by a slip in the Waioeka Valley. It is expected the road will be opened t-o-day. A motorist travelling south from Raurimu last night encountered snow almost all the way to Marton. There was an average depth of about Ift. on the higher portions of the country. Graders were at work clearing the roads, and although the traffic had to move slowly, no major difficulty was experienced. The Main Highways Board was making every effort to keep the roads clear, but if the storm continued all night, and there were indications of its doing so, blockages were likely to occur to-day. It was reported that it was snowing last evening in the Manawatu Gorge, and the hills in southern Hawke's Bay were thickly coated. Although the weather was comparatively calm and mild on Saturday, a strong wind from the south brought cold conditions to Auckland yesterday. There were heavy rain squalls during the day. The minimum temperature was 43 degrees and the maximum 54 degrees. The rainfall for the 24 hours ended at midnight last night was .29in. GOLD IN FAR SOUTH BAROMETER RISING (0.G.) DUNEDIN, Sunday A further fall of snow occurred in Dunedin during the week-end. After a hard frost on Saturday morning, the weather became wet and cold, the maximum temperature being 45 degrees. To-day was again cold, with a light fall of snow on the hills. The sun shone brightly in the afternoon and there was a maximum temperature of 49 degrees. The barometer rose steadily, throughout the day to 30.15 inches (1021 millibars).