TOUCH OF WINTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24969, 16 July 1942, Page 4

TOUCH OF WINTER

SNOW IN DUNEDIN HEAVY FALLS IN BACK COUNTRY Yesterday’s cold spell was the first taste of really wintry weather that Dunedin has experienced this year, and the sleety rain which fell throughout the day was accompanied by a cold, squally south-westerly wind and occasional light falls of snow. On the higher levels, the snow was heavier, and before mid-day the hills surrounding the city bore a fairly thicx coating which, before evening, became a mantle of white which covered them almost down to the town area. In the city itself, the rain prevented the snow from lying, although in the late afternoon there was sufficient slush in some, of the streets to make conditions unpleasant for pedestrians as well as for vehicular traffic. Light showers of snow and sleet which fell in the early morning were followed by a sharp frost, with the result that the surfaces of the footpaths and roadways in the hill suburbs were frozen over, necessitating the use ot sand in some areas where traffic was fairly heavy. Wintry conditions were general throughout the province, and reports received last night indicated that in the inland districts there had been heavy falls of snow on the high country. 'Snow fell throughout the day in the Strath-Taieri area, but while it did not lie on the plain, the ranges were heavily coated. At Oturehua heavy snow and rain fell all day. and last night the surrounding district was covered to a depth of about eight inches, and the roads between Wcdderburn and Ranfurly were blocked. The road over the Pigroot and the Middlemarch-Outram highway were negotiable for traffic late yesterday afternoon, but in the evening conditions were such that it was doubtful whether either route would be open to-day. So far as could be ascertained last night, all other routes were clear, but in the circumstances motorists would be well advised to make inquiries before travelling on any of the roads to Central Otago.