SNOW IN CENTRAL OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27041, 28 March 1949, Page 4

SNOW IN CENTRAL OTAGO

Weather almost as cold and cheerless as mid-winter brought snow, hail, sleet, and rain to most parts of the Otago Province over the weekend. Fuel consumption in the city, both yesterday and on Saturday, rose sharply to offset a bitterly cold south-westerly wind. An unusually heavy drain on gas supplies in the city has produced a warning that rationing may be introduced during the coming week. Because of the sudden demand for big fires, there was a minor “ epidemic ” of chimney fires. Five were attended to by the City Fire Brigade over the week-end.

In Central Otago, the hills were thickly coated with snow, and snow fell, but did not lie, on the flat country. The floods earlier in the week at Queenstown were followed at the week-end by a fall of snow that thickly covered the mountains and lay two inches deep over the town itself. Early frosts are predicted and fears of a sudden thaw are held by residents in the back country.

Queenstown has experienced a wide variety of weather in the past week. Unusually heavy rain caused widespread flooding a week ago, but there was a return to almost summer weather on Thursday. On Saturday rain gave place to a heavy hailstorm in the afternoon. Later “wet” snow made conditions even more miserable. During the night snow continued to fall, and yesterday morning a blanket of snow two inches deep covered the town, and was down to the water’s edge. Sleet and rain melted the snow in the town in the afternoon, but the hills were still coated well below the normal snow line. Unseasonable Visitation Last night the weather was clearing from the west, and a hard frost seemed probable. These wintry conditions are unusual at this time of the year. Last winter no snow fell in Queenstown. It is usually the end of June before the hills are thickly coated. While ski-ing enthusiasts welcomed the prospect of a good season, other residents fear that a quick thaw may cause further flooding. The changeable weather has also affected the tourist trade. There have been few visitors to Queenstown during the past 10 days. Heavy Frosts Predicted “As cold as mid-winter ” was the description given to the weather at Alexandra over the week-end. The hills are covered with snow almost to the flat country, and flurries came with the strong gale that swept the town. Heavy frosts are predicted, and growers with late tomatoes still not picked are concerned over the sudden change in the weather. The Borough Council is renewing water mains, and residents are required to carry water for their needs. This minor hardship was keenly felt by many in the wintry conditions that have prevailed in the past two days. Rain and hail on the Maniototo Plain on Saturday made conditions unpleasant. Snow and hail fell yesterday. The hills are well covered with snow, but none is lying on the flat.