HAIL AND SNOW

Southland Times, Issue 25309, 12 June 1935, Page 7

HAIL AND SNOW

COLD SNAP CONTINUES HEAVY FALLS AT GORE AND NIGHTCAPS WHITE MANTLE IN CITY On Monday evening there were signs of the weather clearing, but the ground was again white yesterday morning following falls of hail, sleet and snow during the night. The cold conditions continued throughout the day, a thick white mantle covering the ground by the time darkness set in. More snow fell after midnight Fortunately for back-country farmers the snow and hail were largely confined to coastal districts. In other winters the reverse has been the case and considerable loss of stock has occurred; but there is little cause for concern in this respect as the result of the present wintry snap. Districts that escaped lightly on Sunday now report heavier falls of snow.

A lorry driver who arrived in Invercargill from Lawrence at one o’clock this morning reported that snow had been falling continually on the journey. He said there was a particularly heavy fall at Edendale, where there was about five inches of snow on the ground. Eastern Southland escaped the greater part of the week-end fall of snow which was experienced in Invercargill, although conditions on Sunday were very cold with rain and a small amount of snow. Monday was fine with a strong westerly wind, but rain commenced shortly before midnight. Gore residents woke yesterday morning to find a light mantle of snow over the countryside, and a heavy fall occurred during the morning. Further snow fell in the late afternoon, and again last night. District rivers gave no indication of flooding yesterday and all roads were easily negotiable. At Winton on Monday night intermittent showers and a high wind made conditions most unpleasant. Early yesterday morning snow again commenced to fall, with the result that a layer of two to three inches covered the countryside. In the afternoon snow again commenced to fall about 1 o’clock and continued intermittently throughout the afternoon. By last evening only a little of the snow had disappeared. The fall was not sufficient to cause any damage or inconvenience to motor traffic.

Like most other provincial centres, Mataura has experienced two very wintry days with intermittent falls of snow. On Sunday a slight fall was recorded, but yesterday throughout the day there were very heavy falls and the countryside is now under a mantle of white.

Snow began to fall at Nightcaps at six o’clock yesterday morning and there were intermittent showers throughout the day. The ground was covered to a depth of four inches, and it was still snowing at 11.30 last night when the indications pointed to a heavy fall.

DUNEDIN ESCAPES WEATHER EXTREMELY COLD. (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, June 11. Although Canterbury and Southland experienced heavy falls of snow on Sunday the weather in Dunedin, although extremely cold, has remained fine. The severity of the storm in Canterbury resulted in serious dislocation of the telegraphic and telephone service north of Timaru and not until this evening was communication again restored, one telephone line and one for morse now being in operation. A light shower of snow fell in Dunedin this evening, but {he night is now cold, clear and bright. LITTLE DAMAGE SNOW IN SOUTH CANTERBURY. (Per United Press Association.) Timaru, June 11. The wintry blast in South Canterbury on Sunday gave way on Monday to bright sunshine in most parts, but there was still evidence this morning of the snow that had fallen, especially in the Mackenzie country where the fall was severe. In some districts the result of the storm made road travel difficult, but generally speaking South Canterbury escaped much of what was experienced further north. The heaviest falls of snow were in the Mackenzie Country. Fourteen inches fell at the Hermitage and a foot at Tekapo. Six inches fell in Fairlie township. On Sunday night there was a light fall of snow in Timaru and this extended right to the Alps. The Mt. Cook bus took 15 hours to come from the Hermitage on Monday, huge drifts causing the chief delay. The power and telephone services in the district were not damaged to any extent, the disorganization here being due to faults in North Canterbury. Heavy rain fell in Timaru this morning, but the weather is again clear. TELEGRAPH TRAFFIC • BACK TO NORMAL. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 11. The Post and Telegraph Department advised at 8.45 p.m. that communication with the south had been restored and traffic was now normal.