NOVEMBER SNOWFALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18858, 8 November 1935, Page 4

NOVEMBER SNOWFALL

GISBORNE HIGH COUNTRY SHORN SHEEP SHELTERED Snow fell last night on some of the highest peaks in the Gisborne district, but cleared quickly to-day. A November snowfall, although unusual, is always to be reckoned with in tho high country, and shorn sheep were placed in sheltered paddocks when the cold snap threatened, while many of the sheep shorn during the day were retained in the shearing sheds. As a result, no mortality of any consequence is expected. The storm commenced during the afternoon in the western section of the district. Heavy hail showers fell over Tiniroto, the first being about 1.30 p.m. The. storm continued throughout the night, and on some of the highest peaks a light coating of |snow was noticed this morning. The southerly change did not reach Waimata until "towards evening, and the minimum temperature during the night was 38 degrees. Snow fell on the peaks. T'e Karaka. spent a very cold night, the minimum temperature being 34 degrees. The bright sunshine during the early part of the morning revealed a glistening white ridge on tho Mangahamia. range, until the sky clouded over again, shutting the snow from sight. Heavy showers of rain fell in 'Gisborne last night, and »the gauge reading for tho 24 hours ended at 9 l a.m. to-day was 42 points. SEVERE STORM IN BACK COUNTRY A cold southerly storm of exceptional severity for this time of the year visited the back country yesterday afternoon, and resulted in the high levels receiving

a sprinkling of snow, writes a- Rakauroa coirespondent. Shortly after 2 p.m. a strong southerly wind sprang up, followed by heavy hail, some of the stones being unusually large with jagged pieces of ice up to half an inch square. The hailstorm was succeeded by heavy rain, while on the higher levels around Rakauroa snow fell, and by evening the hills were lightly coated down to below the 3000 ft. level, but most of it subsequently disappeared.

During tho storm the temperature fell 22 degrees to a minimum of 39.7 degrees about 3 p.m. Further rain fell last evening, but during the early hours cf this morning the weather cleared and a heavy black frost of six degrees resulted. It is feared that this late frost will give potato crops a severe setback, as in most cases the plants were well above the ground. Fortunately for the farmers, the continued wet weather has prevented any shearing being done, and so they have escaped any losses of newly-shorn sheep that might have occurred otherwise. TERRIFIC HAILSTORM DAMAGE IN MANAWATU (Per Press Association.) FEILDING, this day. A terrific hailstorm passed over a narrow stip of country last night, doing much damage to fruit trees, crops, and vegetable gardens. Hail lay on the ground like snow for several hours after sunrise. Continuous wet weather is seriously retarding farming operations, shearing, etc. This spring has been a record one for rain.